DEVICE FOR HEATING OFSAMPLES

Abstract

A container for the heating of samples and a system comprising such a container and provides a container for processing samples, wherein the container is made of a material comprising electrically conductive particles.

Claims

1. A container for processing samples, wherein the container is made of a material comprising electrically conductive particles.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is a tube, a vessel, a pipette tip, a plate with multiple recesses, a microfluidic device or a bottle.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive particles are beads of a magnetic metal.

4. A system for processing samples, comprising a container according to claim 1; and an inductor configured for applying a changing magnetic field to the container.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising an element for accommodating the container.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the element for accommodating the container is a pipette tip or a rack.

7. The system of claim 4, comprising a plurality of container.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each container from the plurality of container is arranged next to an inductor.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the system is a pipettor.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the system is a thermocycler.

11. A method for heating of a sample in a container, comprising the steps of: applying a sample to a container according to claim 1; applying the container in an inductor configured for applying a changing magnetic field to the container; and heating of the sample in the container by applying the changing magnetic field to the container comprising the sample.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] The invention will be described based on figures. It will be understood that the embodiments and aspects of the invention described in the figures are only examples and do not limit the protective scope of the claims in any way. The invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. It will be understood that features of one aspect or embodiment of the invention can be combined with a feature of a different aspect or aspects of other embodiments of the invention, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a container comprising an electrical conductor.

[0031] FIGS. 2A-2F show different types of containers.

[0032] FIGS. 3A-3C show a container arranged above of an inductor.

[0033] FIGS. 4A-4C show several containers arranged in a rack.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a pipette tip mounted to a pipette.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The technical problem is solved by the independent claims. The dependent claims cover further specific embodiments of the invention.

[0036] The term container refers within the meaning of the present disclosure to any receptacle or enclosure that is suitable for receiving a material or sample like fluids, liquids, gases or solids or mixtures thereof.

[0037] The invention relates to induction heating of a container like cuvettes (single or multiple), planar disks, disposable tips or other geometries, as well as of machined parts made with materials which are produced for such purposes. Induction heating requires a changing magnetic filed and electrically conductive material that is placed into the magnetic field. In an embodiment of the present disclosure is intended to add magnetic particles for instance to the material for manufacturing of the container.

[0038] In contrast to solutions known from the prior art, the container according to the present invention does not comprise a solid part like a heater plate, heater wires or a surrounding coating. The material of the container comprises electrically conductive particles so that the container remains transparent or translucent while it is possible to heat the container by applying a changing magnetic field.

[0039] There are no heating elements present in a container according to the present invention which require an electrical connection. Thus, the container according to the present invention can be moved without the need to take care for appropriate electrical connectors to be present.

[0040] The electrically conductive material is according to the present invention an inseparable part of the material for manufacturing the container. The technical effect is that the container remains transparent and can be freely moved while allowing its heating when applied to a changing magnetic field.

[0041] A container according to the present disclosure can be used in laboratory devices like automated analyser system which may be used for diagnostic purposes providing means for inductive heating. The component which is to be heated (usually the container/reaction vessel is present in the form of microtiter plates, cuvettes, microfluidic chips, etc) will have to made of a material comprising particles suitable for induction. In particular, the present disclosure refers to magnetic particles or beads which are embedded in the material of the respective container. The material that can be used for induction is added to the injection moulding granulate for instance so that the component acquires additional functionality. For heating, a component made of such a material will only have to be exposed to an alternating magnetic field.

[0042] Particles can be quickly and efficiently heated after applying an electromagnetic field by manufacturing particles suitable for inductive heating by adding an appropriate material to a moldable granulate followed by molding, e.g. in a form for a cuvette or a disposable tip. During application of a magnetic field when performing an assay, the particles transfer their induced heat energy to the plastic material, e.g. the cuvette and subsequently to the sample which is located within the container.

[0043] It is an advantage that magnetic particles can be mixed with different materials like cyclic olefin copolymers, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or poly urethane so that they are part of a container, e.g. a consumable which can be a tube or well for taking up a liquid.

[0044] The magnetic particles may also be added to a sample that is comprised in a container. which will then further be processed in an automatic analyser system like a diagnostic analyser. The magnetic particle can be coated to avoid any unintended chemical interaction between the magnetic particles and a material like a liquid that is comprised or added to the container. Depending on the respective application a coating of the magnetic particles will be required. The coating can be adapted to specific requirements regarding the chemical properties of components or compounds that will be used and get in contact with the magnetic particles.

[0045] By setting the specific Curie temperature of the magnetic particles, the maximum temperature of the component, e.g. cuvette, can be set. This would allow rapid heating to the required target temperature without exceeding it. The Curie point defines the temperature above which the influence of an alternating magnetic field no longer leads to a further heating so that over an overshooting of the temperature is avoided.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows in a sectional view a container 1 comprising an electrical conductor 5 which can be any magnetic material that can be mixed with the material of the container.

[0047] FIG. 2A-F show different types of container. FIG. 2A shows a tube 10, FIG. 2B shows a pipette tip 11, FIG. 2C shows a multi well plate 12, FIG. 2D shows a vessel 13 like a cuvette in a perspective view (left) and a sectional view (right), and FIG. 2E shows a micröfouidic device 14.

[0048] FIG. 3A-C show a container 1 comprising an electrical conductor 5 arranged above (FIG. 3A), between (FIG. 3B), and enclosed at three sides (FIG. 3C) by an inductor 20 producing a changing magnetic field. The container 1 will be heated by applying electrical power to the inductor 20 so that the changing magnetic field is produced.

[0049] FIG. 4A-C show multiple container 1 arranged in a rack 25 which is placed onto an inductor 20 (FIG. 4A). Rack 25 shown in FIG. 4B comprising multiple container 1 is located between two inductor 20, and in FIG. 4C the rack 25 is enclosed at three sides by inductor 20.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a pipettor 30 carrying a pipette tip 11.

[0051] The advantages of the invention can be summarized as follows: [0052] a. Heating is very efficient, as only the component to be heated (receptacles or container like consumables, cuvettes, etc.) is heated. Thus, the invention contributes to energy saving. [0053] b. Exceeding the target temperature will be avoided due to the Curie temperature setting, thus no degradation of sample quality will occur. [0054] c. Tolerances in e.g. cuvette geometry, does not lead to reduced heating ramps and target temperatures, due to unwanted air gaps between conventional heating elements and e.g. a cuvette in the interface. [0055] d. The alternating magnetic field can be generated in different geometries, thus a heating effect can be achieved under completely new aspects. Example: Disposable tip at the pipettor, can be preheated without contact, thus avoiding contamination. [0056] e. Preheating of a container or receptacle prior to adding the sample is possible to an increased target temperature before insertion into the incubator to optimize process times.

[0057] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents. The entirety of each of the aforementioned documents is incorporated by reference herein.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0058] 1 container [0059] 5 electrical conductor [0060] 10 tube [0061] 11 pipette tip [0062] 12 multi well plate [0063] 13 vessel [0064] 14 microfluidic device [0065] 15 bottle [0066] 20 inductor [0067] 25 rack [0068] 30 pipettor