KR20020068516A - A system for controlling laboratory sample temperature and a thermal tray for use in such system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system 10 for controlling the temperature of a laboratory sample is shown to include a thermal support tray 12 having a body formed of a thermally conductive material and tubing 50 disposed inside the body 12. A pair of couplers 40, 42 connect the input and output ends of the tubing to the fluid control unit 14. To control the temperature of the laboratory sample, the control unit maintains the temperature of the fluid at the desired level and circulates the fluid through the coupler and the tubing. The thermally conductive material is preferably a nonmagnetic material such as aluminum. A cavity 38 shaped to receive the beaker or petri dish is formed in the body. The outer coating is attached to the tray and is preferably a powder coating.

Description

A SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING LABORATORY SAMPLE TEMPERATURE AND A THERMAL TRAY FOR USE IN SUCH SYSTEM}

In the laboratory, especially in biomedical research laboratories, many protocols for research and analysis require samples to be maintained at accurate and appropriate temperatures. For example, some experimental reactions require incubation at low temperatures. Biological samples should generally be maintained at temperatures below 0 ° C. to prevent rot or degeneration. Harvesting and manipulating biological materials can also require rapid deployment and long term maintenance at very low temperatures. In addition, in tissue culture settings, biological samples must be kept uncontaminated. For example, tissue or cells from a mammalian source should not be contaminated with microorganisms found in the air and on the surface of things in a laboratory. The best form of sample temperature control system will allow researchers to accurately select and control the temperature at which the sample is maintained without compromising the sterilization of the sample and without interfering with the easy manipulation of the sample.

One of the simplest means of achieving a cooling or refrigerated environment for samples in a laboratory is an ice bucket. Samples and solutions located in protective tubes and containers may be maintained at temperatures near 0 ° C. when immersed in crushed ice. However, as the ice begins to melt, the tube will sink, float, or otherwise fall over. Overlying supports and shelves located in the ice can prevent loss of tubes and containers in the melted ice, but can be cumbersome. Moreover, ice culture is always constrained by temperature selection. The operator may not select the temperature accurately, nor may the temperature below 0 ° C be selected. As the ice melts, the temperature rises towards the ambient temperature until the bucket with the sample is at ambient temperature. Thus, the standard ice bin method of cold cultivation is not critical for thermal accuracy and temperature selection and can only be limited for short-term treatment.

Some procedures, such as mining of biological tissue, are performed in a shallow, sterile Petri dish. Resection at 0 ° C. is required to maintain the integrity of the protein and other cytoplasmic contents. This has typically been accomplished by placing a Petri dish on a bed of crushed ice. However, the bed of crushed ice has an overall uneven surface that can cause it to tip over during the cutting and shredding process. At a minimum, the crushed ice provides a non-uniform and unstable support surface for the shredding operation. Another danger with this methodology is the possibility that the crushed ice pieces will splash into the dish causing contamination of the sample. This can occur because a person who cuts tissue pushes the Petri dish downwards with a tool and the cutting force moves the dish to the underlying ice cubes.

Thus, there is a need for refrigeration surfaces for manipulation with Petri dishes having a solid plane. Such surfaces allow the dish to be essentially level during the cutting operation. In addition, such a surface will maintain its shape against pressure generated by cuts, cuts, or scraping tools moving in the plate in all directions.

Another procedure performed on a tissue sample involves constant stirring of the solution of sterilization in the beaker under refrigerated conditions. If such cell or tissue extracts are incubated in a shaker of crushed ice, the combined thickness of the ice and insulated shaker can make impractical, but not impossible, the use of a magnetic stir plate to induce automatic stirring of the solution. Thus, there is also a need for a refrigeration surface that can be used in conjunction with a magnetic stir plate.

In addition, in tissue culture settings where cells and tissues must be operated under sterile conditions, ice bins become a source of contamination. Like other devices in the laboratory, the ice bucket can accommodate spills or splashes of other ingredients. Therefore, any device to be used in a culture hood or biological safety cabinet should easily clean or disinfect external materials and tissues. Typically, ice bins are made of materials that are not easily disinfected or sterilized, such as styrofoam, polyvinyl chloride foam, and polyurethane surface foam. Thus, introduction into the biological safety hood environment of the ice bin can ensure sterilization. Thus, there is a need for a cooling surface that can be easily disinfected or sterilized.

The reservoir of water or other fluid can be accurately cooled down to room temperature and temperatures below 0 ° C. using cooling devices with various electrical power sources. However, fluid reservoirs are not practical for working under sterile conditions in tissue culture hoods and cannot be used to work with petri dishes.

The researchers may work with the sample in the cooling chamber, but this requires thermal protection for the operator and is also impractical for sterile tissue culture work.

Drying blocks that can cool and heat samples have been used in the laboratory. Such a block may be formed with a recess to provide a plane for the dish and to receive the sample tube. In addition, such blocks can be temperature controlled to -19 ° C (-2 ° F). However, such blocks operate via Peltier thermoelectric heating technology. Such cooling techniques typically require a device that must be plugged into an electrical outlet that poses an electrical hazard to the user of the metallic biological safety hood. In addition, such a device cannot be used with a magnetic stirrer because of its configuration.

Thus, there is still a need for a dry, sterile surface that can be uniformly and controllably refrigerated (in a container) placed in contact with the surface, can operate in conjunction with a magnetic stirrer, and which will not introduce the risk of electric shock. Do.

The present invention generally relates to systems, apparatus, and methods for use in a laboratory set up to control the temperature of a sample or specimen to be processed or analyzed. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for maintaining the temperature of a laboratory sample, for example, while the sample is being processed in a vent hood of a clean room.

1 is a schematic diagram of a system for controlling the temperature of a laboratory sample constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heat tray schematically shown in FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 shown in FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 shown in FIG.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a column holder constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The present invention relates to a system for controlling the temperature of a laboratory sample. The system includes a body formed of a thermally conductive material and a thermal support tray having a tubing disposed within the body. A pair of couplers connect the input and output ends of the tubing to the fluid control unit. To control the temperature of the laboratory sample, the control unit maintains the temperature of the fluid at a desirable level and circulates the fluid through the coupler and tubing. The thermally conductive material is preferably a nonmagnetic material such as aluminum. A cavity shaped to receive the beaker is formed in the body. Optionally, the cavity may be dimensioned to receive the petri dish. However, it is envisioned that Petri dishes will be used by placing them on the top plane formed on the body. The outer coating is attached to the tray, preferably a powder coating.

The tubing is formed of stainless steel and the fluid is preferably substantially a glycol solution.

The fluid control unit also preferably includes a compressor that operates to cool the glycol solution to the desired temperature and a pump for circulating the glycol solution through the piping. It is also desirable to attach a temperature sensor to the body to provide a temperature indication and to maintain the temperature of the fluid in relation to the sensed temperature.

The foregoing description, like the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below, is better understood when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, it is now understood that the preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings, but that the invention is not limited to the specific devices, systems, and means disclosed.

A system for controlling a laboratory sample temperature and a heat tray for use in a system that solves the problems described above and provides other beneficial features in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, which is better illustrated below, is illustrated in FIGS. It will be described below for reference. The description given herein for the drawings is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings in the following detailed description.

As shown in Figure 1, the present invention relates to a system 10 for controlling the temperature of a laboratory sample (not shown) and a heat tray 12 for use in such a system. In operation, the fluid control unit 14 maintains the temperature of the fluid, such as propylene glycol, at some desired level, such as 0 ° C. Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has been described for maintaining a sample at a relatively low temperature of 0 ° C., the present invention is not so limited. It is also within the scope of the present invention to maintain the temperature of the sample as low as, for example, as low as -100 ° F (-73.3 ° C) or as high as 200 ° F (93.3 ° C).

The control unit 14 includes a compressor 16 that acts to remove heat from the glycol reservoir. Temperature sensor 18 senses the temperature of the FDA approved propylene glycol and generates a temperature signal indicating the glycol temperature. The control unit 14 controls the operation of the compressor 16 in response to the temperature signal. In a preferred embodiment, the control unit 14 is a known unit, but is a glycol power pack unit or a glycol recycle cooler that is not conventionally considered to be used for cooling the heat tray, in the manner described herein.

The pump 20 operates to circulate the glycol solution through the fluid circuit of the supply piping 22 and the return piping 24. Tubing is arranged to provide cooled glycol through the wall 26 into the clean room 28. The vent hood 30 is located in the clean room 28. The heat tray 12 is located inside the ventilation hood 30 and is connected to the pipes 22 and 24. As will be described in greater detail herein, the glycol fluid is circulated through the heat tray 12 and returned to the control unit 14. It should be noted that no heat tray is attached in positions 32 and 34. Instead, the tubing 22 is connected directly to the tubing 24, allowing the glycol to circulate back to the control unit 14. The temperature of the glycol can be accurately maintained at the desired level because it is constantly circulated back to the control unit 14.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the heat tray 12 will be described in more detail. The thermal tray 12 is formed of a thermally conductive material, preferably aluminum, and is shaped like a straight line. The tray 12 is particularly preferably formed of No. 713 grade aluminum, also known as tenzoly. It should be noted that the specific form of the tray 12 shown in FIG. 2 is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The tray 12 may be formed in any of a myriad of shapes without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Tray 12 includes a top plane 36. As will be discussed below, the entire surface of the tray 12 acts to control the temperature of something located thereon. For example, if a petri dish containing a sample is placed on the surface 36, the sample will be cooled. In addition, since the tray 12 is formed of a thermally conductive metal material, it provides an important support for the cutting process.

The cavity 38 is formed in the surface of the tray 12. The dimensions of the cavity 38 are preferably such that the beaker can be easily positioned therein. By forming a cavity extending through the thickness of the tray 12 and forming the body of the tray 12 with aluminum, a magnetic stirring device can be readily used to stir the contents of the beaker located in the cavity 38. Care must be taken.

The pair of couplers 40, 42 are connected to one side of the tray 12. As will be explained with reference to Figures 3 and 4, the length of the pipe is disposed in the body of the tray 12 through which the glycol is circulated. The couplers 40 and 42 serve to connect the pipe embedded in the tray 12 to provide and return the pipes 22 and 24, respectively. It should be noted that no special coupler design is required for the tray 12 to operate as described above. Any coupler design capable of connecting tubing 22, 24 and capable of operating under the temperature conditions imposed by the circulating fluid would be sufficient. Thus, no additional details are given to the coupler 40, 42.

In addition, a pair of handles 44 and 46 are provided on the opposite side of the tray 12. As can be seen from the description herein, the tray 12 made of metal may be heavy. The handles 44 and 46 serve to handle the tray 12 more easily. Moreover, the cavity 38 does not fully extend through the tray 12 to the lower side (not shown). In this embodiment, the lower side is formed in a continuous plane. Since the tray 12 is formed of a thermally conductive material, the lower side can also adjust the temperature. Therefore, when it is desirable to process the sample on the continuous plane using the handles 44 and 46, the tray 12 can be turned over to expose the lower side as the working surface.

Finally, it should be noted that the outer surface of the tray 12 is covered with a coating 48. In a preferred embodiment, the coating 48 is a powder coating. Particular preference is given to powder coatings with FDA White U 1585-1 1042, available under the CORVEL trademark available from ROHM and Haas, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. Such a coating may be electrostatically applied to the tray 12 according to the prior art. The edges of the tray 12 are all rounded to improve the application of this powder coating and for additional safety. It is known that when the powder coating is electrostatically applied to sharp edges, the coating can become too thin along the edge. After being used as a powder coating on the outer surface of the tray 12, it can be processed by itself without being connected in the pipes 22, 24. The durability of the preferred coating is such that the tray 12 can be sterilized using a liquid sterilizer. All traces of fungicides can be removed by baking tray 12 at a temperature on the order of 93.3 ° C. This sterilization / disinfection treatment is very desirable.

3 and 4, the internal operation of the tray 12 will be described in more detail. The length of the pipe 50 is disposed in the main body of the tray 12. The pipe 50 is particularly preferably a 316L stainless steel pipe with an outer diameter of 3/8 inch (0.95 cm). In one embodiment, the tubing 50 has a length of about 9 feet (about 274.32 cm) and a weight of about 1.35 lbs (about 612.35 g). In this embodiment, the body of the tray 12 is formed of about 18.15 lbs (about 8,232.71 g) of aluminum. A ratio of 2.02 inches (about 0.01 cm per gram) of tubing 50 per pound of aluminum was found to show the result of the best heat transfer properties. It has also been found that when this ratio is maintained and the tubing 50 is arranged in the pattern shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a relatively consistent temperature gradient is achieved across the surface of the tray 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, three coils of tubing 50 extend around the cavity 38. It should be noted that the tray 12 is shaped by positioning the tubing 50 in the desired pattern and direction in the mold and then overmolding the tubing with molten aluminum. In this way, the pipe 50 is disposed inside the body of the tray 12.

Referring again to FIG. 1, another embodiment of the present invention involves the attachment of a temperature sensor 52 to a tray 12. The sensor 52 senses the temperature of the tray 12 and generates a temperature signal indicative of the sensed temperature. The temperature signal is provided to the control unit 14 which in turn controls the temperature of the fluid in response to the temperature signal from the sensor 52.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of a tray 12 is shown. 5, a vessel 54 is shown. The container 54 has a cavity 56 formed therein. It should be noted that the cavity 56 is particularly shaped to accommodate test tubes and the like. The length of the tubing 58 is wound around the cavity 56. Fluid maintained at the desired temperature is circulated through piping 58 by couplers 60 and 62. Removable liner 64 is located inside cavity 56.

In some procedures it is necessary to place the sample inside the test tube and physically crush the sample using a device such as a plunger. Such mashing operation preferably occurs at a selected temperature, such as 0 ° C. The container 54 allows this treatment to take place. Occasionally, during the crushing operation, the test tube is broken. If such a situation occurs in the container 54, simply removing the liner 56 can remove any broken glass.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential scope for application in a particular situation or material. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode intended for carrying out the invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (21)

A system for controlling the temperature of a laboratory sample, A thermal support tray comprising a body formed of a thermally conductive material to support the sample, a tubing disposed within the body and having an input end and an output end; A pair of couplers connected to the input end and the output end of the pipe; A fluid control unit in fluid communication with the pair of couplers, And the unit maintains the temperature of the fluid at a predetermined level and circulates the fluid through the couplers and the piping to control the temperature of the laboratory sample. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive material comprises a nonmagnetic material. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the nonmagnetic material comprises aluminum. The system of claim 1, wherein a cavity is formed in the body and the cavity is shaped to receive a beaker. The system of claim 1, wherein a cavity is formed in the body and the cavity is shaped to receive a petri dish. The system of claim 1, further comprising an outer coating that is attached to the body. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the outer coating includes a powder coating. The system of claim 1, wherein the tubing comprises stainless steel. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a propylene glycol solution. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the fluid control unit includes a compressor operative to cool the glycol solution to a predetermined temperature, and a pump to circulate the glycol solution through the conduit. The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor attached to the body to provide an indication of the temperature of the body. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor includes an electronic temperature sensor to generate a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the body, and is electrically connected to the fluid control unit, wherein the temperature of the fluid is in response to the temperature signal. The system characterized in that it is maintained. An apparatus for use in a system for controlling the temperature of a laboratory sample, A body configured to receive the sample and formed of a thermally conductive material; A tubing disposed within the body and having an input end and an output end, Wherein the temperature of the laboratory sample is controlled when a fluid having a predetermined temperature is circulated through the tubing. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the thermally conductive material comprises a nonmagnetic material. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the nonmagnetic material comprises aluminum. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cavity formed in the body comprises a cavity formed to receive a beaker. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cavity formed in the body comprises a cavity formed to receive a petri dish. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an outer coating material attached to the body. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the outer coating includes a powder coating. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the tubing comprises stainless steel. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising handles attached to the body.