Laboratory plate thermal vault

Abstract

A portable temperature transfer device for transferring thermal energy to and/or from a laboratory plate is provided as well as its methods of use. The temperature transfer device comprises a base and a raised stage that comprises a thermal conductive material and an encasement that interfaces with the base to create a cavity that encloses a laboratory plate. The raised stage allows direct contact between individual wells of the laboratory plate and the temperature transfer device. The encasement completes the thermally conductive environment for the laboratory plate.

1 . A portable temperature transfer device for transferring thermal energy to and from a laboratory plate comprising a plurality of wells, said portable temperature transfer device comprising:
 a base;   a stage located on top of said base, wherein said stage comprises a thermo-conductive material adapted for transferring thermal energy from a temperature control device to the plurality of laboratory plate wells, and wherein said stage is adapted to be in contact with at least the bottom surface of the laboratory plate wells when the laboratory plate is placed on top of said portable temperature transfer device; and   an encasement comprising a thermally conductive material with cavity dimensions that will allow the enclosure of standard laboratory plates.   
     
     
         2 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 ; wherein the stage surface is contoured in a manner such that there is maximum contact with the bottom surface of the laboratory plate thereby insuring optimal thermal exchange with the stage and base, thereby providing optimally identical thermal history in all of the plate wells during the interval of interest. 
     
     
         3 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 ; wherein the base has a recess introduced that will receive an encasement rim protrusion. 
     
     
         4 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 3 ; wherein the encasement has attached a rim protrusion that will fit into the matching recess in the base. 
     
     
         5 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 3 ; wherein the base recess is designed to contain liquids that will form a seal to prevent direct gas exchange of the vault interior. 
     
     
         6 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 3 ; wherein the base recess includes lateral excavations of the base that will extend a liquid seal beyond the base area occupied by the encasement interface. 
     
     
         7 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 ; wherein the encasement has ports, slits, conduits, membranes, filters, or perforations that allow controlled gas exchange between the vault interior and the immediate environment surrounding the encasement. 
     
     
         8 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the stage is adapted to be operatively connected to a temperature control device. 
     
     
         9 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein said thermo-conductive material comprises a thermo-conductive metal. 
     
     
         10 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 9 , wherein said thermo-conductive metal comprises aluminum, copper, aluminum alloy, copper alloy, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein said stage further comprises a plurality of concavities, and wherein each concavity is adapted to fit at least a portion of individual laboratory plate well. 
     
     
         12 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device comprises a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of said stage. 
     
     
         13 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature control device comprises a timer control system. 
     
     
         14 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature control device comprises a central processing unit. 
     
     
         15 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature control device comprises a programmable unit for automatically adjusting the temperature setting, time setting, or a combination thereof of said stage. 
     
     
         16 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature control device is removably attached to said temperature transfer device. 
     
     
         17 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a thermo-conductive material. 
     
     
         18 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the area dimension of the stage is substantially identical to the area dimension of the bottom of the laboratory plate such that when the laboratory plate is placed on top of the stage, the stage prevents any significant lateral movement of the laboratory plate relative to the base. 
     
     
         19 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature transfer device has attached insulating feet. 
     
     
         20 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the encasement fits into a groove etched around the perimeter of the stage such that when the laboratory encasement is placed on top of the stage, the stage prevents any significant lateral movement of the encasement relative to the base. 
     
     
         21 . The portable temperature transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the encasement has a foam exterior to reduce heat exchange with the environment. 
     
     
         22 . A method for adjusting temperature of a laboratory plate comprising a plurality of wells, said method comprising:
 placing the laboratory plate on a portable temperature transfer device, wherein the portable temperature transfer device comprises a base and a stage located on top of the base and is adapted to be operatively connected to a temperature control device, wherein the stage comprises a thermo-conductive material adapted for rapidly transferring thermal energy to and from the temperature control device to the plurality of laboratory plate wells, and between the wells, and wherein the stage is adapted to be in contact with at least the bottom surface of each of the laboratory plate well when the laboratory plate is placed on top of the portable temperature transfer device;   covering the laboratory plate with an encasement comprising a thermally conductive material with cavity dimensions that will allow the enclosure of a standard laboratory plate; and   adjusting the temperature of the laboratory plate wells by controlling the temperature of the stage using the temperature control device.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the temperature control device is removably attached to the temperature transfer device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the temperature control device comprises a heating element, a cooling element, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the temperature of the stage is adjusted prior to placing the laboratory plate on the portable temperature transfer device. 
     
     
         26 . A method for culturing cells, said method comprising:
 placing the cell on at least one of the wells of a laboratory plate comprising a plurality of wells, wherein the well further comprises a culture medium;   placing the laboratory plate on a portable temperature transfer device, wherein the portable temperature transfer device comprises a base and a stage located on top of the base and is adapted to be operatively connected to a temperature control device, wherein the stage comprises a thermo-conductive material adapted for rapidly transferring thermal energy to and from the temperature control device to the plurality of laboratory plate wells, and wherein the stage is adapted to be in contact with at least the bottom surface of each of the laboratory plate well when the laboratory plate is placed on top of the portable temperature transfer device;   covering the laboratory plate with an encasement comprising a thermally conductive material with cavity dimensions that will allow the enclosure of a standard laboratory plate; and   culturing the cells by adjusting the temperature of the laboratory plate wells by controlling the temperature of the stage using the temperature control device.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the temperature control device is removably attached to the temperature transfer device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the temperature control device comprises a heating element, a cooling element, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the temperature of the stage is adjusted prior to placing the laboratory plate on the portable temperature transfer device. 
     
     
         30 . A method for conducting chemical, binding, and molecular biological reactions, said method comprising:
 placing assay components in at least one of the wells of a laboratory plate comprising a plurality of wells;   placing the laboratory plate on a portable temperature transfer device, wherein the portable temperature transfer device comprises a base and a stage located on top of the base and is adapted to be operatively connected to a temperature control device, wherein the stage comprises a thermo-conductive material adapted for rapidly transferring thermal energy to and from the temperature control device to the plurality of laboratory plate wells, and wherein the stage is adapted to be in contact with at least the bottom surface of each of the laboratory plate well when the laboratory plate is placed on top of the portable temperature transfer device;   covering the laboratory plate with an encasement comprising a thermally conductive material with cavity dimensions that will allow the enclosure of a standard laboratory plate; and   incubating the reaction assay by adjusting the temperature of the laboratory plate wells by controlling the temperature of the stage using the temperature control device.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the temperature control device is removably attached to the temperature transfer device. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the temperature control device comprises a heating element, a cooling element, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the temperature of the stage is adjusted prior to placing the laboratory plate on the portable temperature transfer device.