Dual-sided thermal cycler

Abstract

A device, system, and method are provided for thermally treating a fluid processing device. According to various embodiments, a system is provided that can include a thermal device and a fluid processing device holder. The thermal device can include a first block having a thermal conductivity greater than 0.5 Watt per centimeter Kelvin (W/cm·K), a second block having a thermal conductivity greater than 0.5 W/cm·K, and a heat-pump device disposed between the first block and the second block. The heat-pump device can transfer thermal energy from at least one of the first block and the second block to the other of the first block and the second block. The fluid processing device holder can hold a fluid processing device in a heat-transfer position with respect to the first block and the second block. The fluid processing device can be a microfluidic device.

1 . A method comprising:
 positioning a fluid processing device between and in thermal contact with a first thermal device on a first surface of the fluid processing device, and a second thermal device on an opposite second surface of the fluid processing device; and   regulating the temperature of the fluid processing device for carrying out a reaction by thermally cycling the first and second thermal devices such that each carries out a heating portion of a thermal cycle and a cooling portion of the thermal cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid processing device comprises a plurality of fluid retainment regions, the plurality of fluid retainment regions comprising reaction components. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction carried out comprises an amplification reaction and the reaction components comprise a target nucleic acid material and a plurality of amplifying reagents. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising holding the fluid processing device with a fluid processing device holder configured to position the fluid processing device in heat-transfer position with respect to the first thermal device and the second thermal device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first thermal device and the second thermal device together comprise a dual-sided vertical Peltier thermal cycler. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein regulating the temperature of the plurality of fluid retainment regions comprises using a bi-directional power supply under computer control to affect the thermal cycling. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first thermal device and the second thermal device comprises at least one heat sink and the method further comprises directing air-flow over each of the heat sinks. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid processing device is compressible and the positioning comprises compressing the fluid processing device between the first thermal device and the second thermal device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid processing device comprises a microfluidic card device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second thermal devices are thermally cycled at the same time. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a fluid processing device comprising a first surface and an opposite second surface;   a first thermal device;   a second thermal device; and   a fluid processing device holder for positioning the fluid processing device in a heat-transfer position between the first thermal device and the second thermal device, wherein the first surface is in thermal contact with the first thermal device, the second surface is in thermal contact with the second thermal device, and the first thermal device and the second thermal device are configured to operate such that each carries out a heating portion of a thermal cycle and a cooling portion of the thermal cycle.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid processing device contains a plurality of fluid retainment regions and the plurality of fluid retainment regions comprise reaction components. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the reaction components comprise a target nucleic acid material and a plurality of amplifying reagents. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first thermal device and the second thermal device comprises a block, and each block comprises a flat surface. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first thermal device and the second thermal device together comprise a double-sided thermal cycler. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first thermal device and the second thermal device together comprise a dual-sided vertical Peltier thermal cycler. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first thermal device and the second thermal device comprises at least one heat sink. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising at least one fan adapted to create an air current in thermal contact with the first thermal device, the second thermal device, or both. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid processing device comprises a microfluidic card device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid processing device is compressible. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of amplifying reagents comprise polymerase chain reaction reagents. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first thermal device and second thermal device are configured to operate at the same time. 
     
     
         23 . A system comprising:
 a substrate comprising a first surface and an opposite second surface, and containing a plurality of fluid retainment regions;   a first thermal device;   a second thermal device; and   a substrate holder for positioning the substrate in a heat-transfer position between the first thermal device and the second thermal device, wherein the first surface is in thermal contact with the first thermal device, the second surface is in thermal contact with the second thermal device, and the first thermal device and the second thermal device are configured to operate such that each carries out a heating portion of a thermal cycle and a cooling portion of the thermal cycle.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of fluid retainment regions comprise reaction components and the reaction components comprise a target nucleic acid material and a plurality of amplifying reagents. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the substrate is formed at least partially from a deformable material. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the substrate comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein each of the first thermal device and the second thermal device comprises a block, and each block comprises a flat surface. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the first thermal device and the second thermal device together comprise a double-sided thermal cycler. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the first thermal device and the second thermal device together comprise a dual-sided vertical Peltier thermal cycler.