JPH04502580A - Constant temperature chamber, especially for controlling the temperature of the contents of microtitration plates. - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Constant temperature chamber, especially for controlling the temperature of the contents of microtitration plates. The invention provides a controllable heat exchange formed by electrically constant temperature elements, preferably in the form of plates. A constant temperature bath having a container having a bottom plate and a lid plate configured as a constant temperature plate, Contains a constant temperature bath for controlling the temperature of the contents of the microtitration plate. .

Such a constant temperature bath is particularly used for photometric measurements of blood samples.

The micro titerage 3 template has 8 x 12 = 96 micro holes arranged. has been a standard for photometric testing in microbiology and similar specialties for several years. It is standard.

With the spread of reaction kinetic microtests, existing measurement equipment such as photometers can A permanent fixture that can be used for small hole and conventional microtitration plates. A heating device is required.

Thermostatic chambers that are separated from the reader are known, but these have not reached the latest technological level. Advantageously, a device for reading liquid contained within a microtitration plate is used. To prevent the temperature of the liquid from changing when supplying it to the placed inside.

A constant temperature device requires rapid temperature rise and appropriate temperature constancy (for example, 37°C ± 0.3°C). ) is requested. Conventional thermostats never meet these demands.

With conventional equipment, it is difficult to measure the temperature of the microtitration plate or over a long period of time. Difficulties arise in maintaining the temperature during the process.

For this reason, conventional devices are geometrically constrained and have different thermal properties. During heating, the edges and corners of the microtight region plate heat up faster than the central area. The following points must be taken into account. This means that the microtight region This is inconsistent with efforts to make all holes in the rate the same temperature during at least the read operation.

An even more difficult point is that the movement of air inside the heating tank and reading tank promotes transpiration. Therefore, air movement must be avoided as much as possible.

The object of the invention is to improve and evenly distribute the contents of microtitration plates. The object of the present invention is to provide a constant temperature device of the type mentioned at the outset, which ensures uniform heating or cooling.

Similarly, it must be possible to keep the temperature constant for as long as possible. No.

With this, measurements can be made using, for example, a measurement system that performs several individual measurements at intervals of, for example, 5 minutes. It can also be carried out over long periods in the form of columns.

This is achieved according to the invention by providing at least two separately controllable heat exchangers. This is solved by

In one embodiment of the invention, the bottom plate has two heat exchangers, one heat exchanger over the other. Surrounding and microtightage 3 is assigned to the edge of the plate.

Temperature control generally refers to, for example, keeping a blood sample at room temperature (approximately 20°C) or refrigerator temperature (approximately 4°C). ) to body temperature (approximately 37°C), which means raising the temperature. But the temperature In areas with high temperatures, this thermostatic bath can also be used for cooling.

In the following, we will refer to a constant temperature bath configured as a heating bath, but this is often used as a reference. This is because this is a case that appears.

The heat exchanger is preferably formed by a heating circuit, for example an electrical resistance heating element.

With the configuration of the present invention, for example, the heating air internal heater circuit can be heated to a higher temperature than the external heater circuit. Set up and compensate for the large diameter of the microtight region plate, making sure that every hole is It is possible to heat them substantially equally regardless of their positions.

A stabilization phase is achieved, i.e. the liquid contained within the holes of the microtitration plate. Once the body temperature is at the desired value (typically 37°C), a switch is made. Already touched on Due to its thermal properties, the edges and corners of the microtight region plate can be The external heater circuit should be placed inside the tight region plate as it dissipates more heat than the internal holes. The temperature is set higher than that of the heater circuit.

In another embodiment of the invention, one heater circuit is in the bottom plate and one heater circuit is in the bottom plate. channels are assigned to the cover, the cover is implemented in the form of a flap, and the micro It covers the tight region plate in a bell shape.

The heat exchanger is preferably formed by an electrically thermostatic element, which element is embedded in a membrane. Or formed by a heat exchanger plate. At that time, there is a separation mark on the thin film or plate between the two heat exchangers. The ground is established. The heat exchanger can be, for example, a heater circuit for an electric resistance heater. Wear.

The invention should not be limited to electric constant temperature elements, but tubes carrying liquids can also be heated. However, construction using electric constant temperature elements is relatively simple for such heaters. It also offers design advantages because it is easy to manufacture. Separation joints between thin films reduce heat. Thermal isolation of the power circuit or cooling circuit is improved.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, inserting a microtitration plate 1. and one or more temperature sensors abutting the temperature sensor. via these sensors. The starting temperature of the plate can be detected or if a temperature change occurs during the reading operation. When confirmed, it can be compensated through appropriate control of the constant temperature unit.

This microtight region plate heating method uses a microtight region plate to heat the computer. The starting and target temperatures for the contents of the trayon plate are entered and the fill volume is considered. The amount of energy required to achieve the target temperature is now calculated. Ru.

The method of the present invention makes it possible to significantly shorten the temperature control time, and in this case, The contents of the tight region plate are heated above the set target temperature. This is to ensure that no damage occurs.

In particular, the heating time is calculated based on the filling amount.

The heating temperature can be selected empirically.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a reading device for a microtitration plate having a constant temperature bath according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the thermostatic chamber. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the thermostatic chamber, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the support at the outer edge of the cover. 6 is a plan view of a constant temperature element according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a temperature diagram, And FIG. 8 shows a circuit implementing the method of the invention.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the original reading device 1 and thermostatic chamber 2 are placed directly side by side and are commonly used. It is stored in a container 3. The dimensions of thermostatic chamber 2 are microtight region pre-heated. The cover 5 is adapted to fit the seat 4 and is closed with a cover 5 configured as a flap-like lid.

The microtitration plate 4 is locked on the slide 6 in the thermostatic chamber 2. The slide is guided on a rod 7 and reciprocated between the constant temperature bath 2 and the reader 1. .

In other words, insert the microtight region plate 4 into the thermostatic chamber 2 and close the cover 5. I get teased. The contents of the holes in the microtitration plate 4 are desired for the constant temperature bath 2. heated or cooled until the target temperature (typically 37”C) is reached, then the micro When the tight region plate 4 is exposed to room temperature, the temperature will change, so It is fed directly to the reading device 1 together with the slide 6 without exposure to temperature.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a constant temperature thin film 8 is placed at the bottom of the constant temperature bath 2. but The constant-temperature thin film 8 is not necessarily a heated thin film in the case of multi-layered heating.The constant-temperature thin film 8 is made of aluminum. It is covered with a thin film 9.

The microtight region plate 4 is heated mainly from below through a constant temperature thin film 8. It will be done.

A thermostatic thin film 10 is also provided on the bottom surface of the cover 5 to prevent transpiration and to ensure uniform temperature control. This is also covered with a thin aluminum film 9. In this example, the constant A separate heater or cooling circuit is provided associated with the thermal membrane 10.

The lower constant temperature thin film 8 is divided as shown in FIG. It has a heat exchanger 12.

As mentioned in the opening number, instead of electric resistance heaters, heaters or heaters in which fluid is the heating medium can be used. It would be possible to install a roller as well. In addition, a ceramic plate coated with a semiconductor layer or metal plates can also be used. Similarly, various cooling devices are also used. Available for use.

In this embodiment, two or three heater circuits are provided for the heating tank. heat exchanger 11.12 In this case, the heater circuit dissipates more heat from the heat exchanger 11 than from the heat exchanger 12 during the heating phase. controlled to do so. This allows all holes in the microtight region plate to be uniform heating is achieved.

After reaching the target temperature, the heat The heater circuit of the exchanger 12 has a strong In order to compensate for heat radiation, more heat is radiated than the heater circuit of the heat exchanger 11. Main implementation In the example, another sensor 13, 14 is in contact with the microtight region plate 4. It is a provision. Temperature measured by sensors 13.14 and transferred to computer 18 degree actually dominates the interior of the adjacent holes of the microtight region plate 4 at least approximately matches the temperature.

The cover 5 is equipped with an edge plate 15 to reduce the influence of ambient air on the temperature inside the thermostatic chamber. Thus, it is engaged with the groove 16 provided in the side wall j7 of the heating chamber 20. This allows airflow An obstacle is formed that extends the path of the object.

For example, to facilitate heating, according to the invention, a microtight rayon plate is used. Target temperature and starting temperature (room temperature or refrigerator temperature) to be achieved for the liquid in hole 4 is entered into the computer]8. The temperature value is sent to computer 16. It can be entered manually, but also detected by sensors and transferred directly.

As a third parameter, the computer 18 is entered with the amount of liquid contained in the hole. The computer will now display the contents of microtitration plate 4. The amount of energy or temperature increase required to heat or cool the to the desired target temperature. Calculate time or cooling time.

In this regard, reference is made to the diagram of FIG. 7. The horizontal axis shows the heating time in minutes. The temperature is shown on the vertical axis.

The curve FT is the temperature gradient of the liquid contained in the holes of the microtitration plate 4. and the curve WT shows the temperature gradient of the heat exchanger 9.11.12.

By using the method of the present invention, the target temperature of, for example, 37°C can be set to a microtitration region. There is a risk that the contents of plate 4 will be heated above this value, apart from the specified tolerance range. It can be achieved quickly and without any risk.

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 7 Figure 8 international search report "" PCT/AT90100107 ----Cod-Mari-^--Squirrel 1-Toku-PCT/AT90-0 (1107 International Survey Report Notice AT900010)

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. with a controllable heat exchanger formed by an electrically constant temperature element, preferably in the form of a plate. A constant temperature bath having a container with a bottom plate and a lid plate configured as a constant temperature plate, especially a microplate. For controlling the temperature of the contents of the crotitration plate, Both are characterized by having two separately controllable heat exchangers (9, 11, 12). constant temperature bath 2. The bottom plate has two heat exchangers (11, 12), one heat exchanger (12) surrounding the edge and assigned to the edge of the microtitration plate (4). The constant temperature bath according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. Split one heat exchanger into the bottom plate and one heat exchanger (9) into the cover (5). 2. The constant temperature bath according to claim 1, wherein 4. The constant temperature elements of the heat exchanger (9, 11, 12) are embedded in a thin film, and the heat exchanger (11 , 12), wherein a separation joint is provided in the thin film between the thermostatic chamber. 5. The constant temperature elements of the heat exchanger (9, 11, 12) are made of ceramic coated with a semiconductor layer. The constant temperature according to claim 1, characterized in that it is formed by a plate or a metal plate. Tank. 6. The heat exchanger (9, 11, 12) is formed by a heater circuit, for example an electric resistance heating element. The constant temperature bath according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: 7. Both heater circuits (11, 12) are kept at different temperatures, and temperature sensors (13, 14) ) displays a predetermined target value, both heater circuits (11, 12) The heater circuit (11), which had been emitting high temperature, is now low. Claim 2 and/or 6 characterized by an automatic control device for emitting a high temperature. A constant temperature bath. 8. Receive a microtitration plate or similar and place it next to the heating tank (2). Claims 1 to 8 characterized by a slide (16) that reciprocates between the close reading part (1) and the reading part (1). The constant temperature bath described in any one of the items. 9. The cover (5) and the edge (17) of the heating tank (2) on at least one side of the cover (5) A shield is installed in the area between the The constant temperature bath according to claim 1 and/or 3, characterized in that: 10. At least a In the method of controlling one heater circuit, a microtight tray is installed on the computer. Input the starting temperature and target temperature of the contents of the filling plate (4) and detect the filling amount. After that, the amount of energy required to achieve the target temperature is calculated. Law. 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the heating time is calculated based on the filling amount. .