Sample container arrangement

Abstract

The invention provides a sample container arrangement comprising a carrier for at least one sample container and a tempering module, comprising at least one tempering element and being at least sectionally in contact with the carrier such that the at least one tempering element is suitable to temper the at least one sample container, wherein the sample container arrangement is such that the carrier is kept in contact to the tempering module by negative pressure relative to ambient pressure.

Claims

1. A sample container arrangement comprising: a carrier defining a plurality of sample containers, the carrier being a first disk having a first circular cross-sectional area, and a tempering module, the tempering module being a second disk having a second circular cross-sectional area that is axially aligned with the first circular cross-sectional area of the carrier, the tempering module comprising a plurality of tempering elements disposed in vertical alignment with each of the plurality of sample containers, the tempering module being in contact with each of the plurality of sample containers of the carrier such that the plurality of tempering elements is configured to cool or heat of the plurality of sample containers, wherein the tempering module and the carrier defines a cavity therebetween, the cavity being disposed laterally adjacent to each of the plurality of sample containers, wherein the carrier is configured to rotate with the tempering module, wherein the the carrier is kept in contact with the tempering module by negative pressure in the cavity relative to ambient pressure external to the sample container arrangement, said negative pressure being maintained even when the carrier rotates with the tempering module, wherein each of the plurality of sample containers define a first side configured to receive a sample and a second side opposite to the first side, the second side being in contact with the tempering module, wherein the negative pressure is created by a vacuum pump connected to the cavity through the tempering module.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one seal is provided between the carrier and the tempering module.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tempering module further comprises at least one air connection through which an air line is conducted to connect to the vacuum pump.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump further comprises a valve system for undocking the vacuum pump.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tempering element of the tempering module comprises at least one Peltier element.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement further comprises at least one temperature sensor.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured to rotate with the vacuum pump via sliding contacts.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tempering module is directly in contact with each of the plurality of sample containers of the carrier.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tempering module is indirectly in contact with each of the plurality of sample containers of the carrier via a heat conduction medium.

10. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement further comprises two differential pressure sensors to verify the negative pressure in the cavity relative to the ambient pressure external to the sample container arrangement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings,

(2) FIG. 1 is an overall view of a sample container arrangement comprising a tempering unit,

(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the sample container arrangement according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) The figures are described cohesively and in overlapping fashion, the same reference numerals denoting identical parts.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a sample container arrangement overall denoted with reference number 10. The arrangement 10 comprises a carrier 12 which is in this embodiment a disk-shaped disposable having a circular cross-sectional area. Furthermore, the arrangement 10 comprises a tempering module 14 which is also formed as a disk having a circular cross-sectional area. Therefore, the carrier 12 and the tempering module 14 congruently lie one upon the other.

(6) Within the carrier 12 a number of sample containers 16 are formed. The arrangement 10 can be rotated as illustrated with arrow 18. The arrangement 10 is such that it can be rotated in both directions.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through the arrangement 10 in FIG. 1. The drawing shows the arrangement 10 comprising the carrier 12 and the tempering module 14 which lie upon each other. Within the tempering module 14 are provided tempering elements 17. These are in alignment with the sample containers 16.

(8) Furthermore, the drawing shows a vacuum pump 20, two pressure sensosr 22, particularly, differential pressure sensors, air lines 24 and a temperature sensor 26.

(9) The carrier 12 has a first side 30 and a second side 32 which is opposite to the tempering module 14. The second side 32 is formed such that a number of sample containers 16 are formed within the carrier 12. The sample containers 16 can be formed by formation of the first side 30 as well. The second side 32 of the carrier 12 is in contact to the tempering module 14 in the range of the sample containers 16. The second side 32 can be in direct contact with the tempering module 14 or indirectly via a heat conduction medium 36 which is provided between the tempering module 14 and the second side 32 of the carrier 12. This medium 36 defines the thermal contact between the carrier 12 and the tempering module 14.

(10) The second side 32 of the carrier and the side of the tempering module 14 opposite to this second side 32 are the adjacent sides as mentioned in claim 1.

(11) Between the carrier 12 and the tempering element 14 a number of cavities 38 are formed. In this embodiment, the zigzag design of the carrier 12, particularly, the design of the second side 32 of the carrier 12 in the shown longitudinal section, determines the number and arrangement of the cavities 38 and the sample containers 16.

(12) Within the tempering module 14 there are air connections 40 through which the air lines 24 are conducted to connect the vacuum pump 20 to the cavities 38 between the carrier 12 and the tempering element 14. Therefore, the cavities 38 can be put under negative pressure in comparison to ambient pressure 42.

(13) To improve steadiness of the negative pressure in the cavities 38 a seal 44 is provided between the carrier 12 and the tempering element 14.

(14) The negative pressure can be used for positioning and fixing of the carrier 12 in relation to the tempering module 14. The tempering can be performed only in small regions in the range of the sample containers 16 to reduce the thermal capacity. Therefore, the tempering can be performed faster and less energy is consumed.

(15) The arrangement 10 can be designed as a point of need device being small, light, and portable. Batteries can be used as energy storage as only small areas have to be tempered. The thermal contact can be improved by using a heat conduction medium, e.g. a heat conduction film or a heat conduction adhesive.

(16) The vacuum pump 20 can be designed for rotating or moving together with the arrangement using sliding contacts. Using a stationary pump, a valve 25 can be used for relief of the seal and reducing the friction.

(17) Heating can be performed with help of Peltier elements or an inductive heating. Cooling can be performed by air.

(18) The shown arrangement 10 illustrates that there can be different zones for heat transfer and for providing a vacuum, i.e. there are tempering zones and vacuum zones.