Micro channel device temperature control

Abstract

A micro channel device includes at least one micro channel and at least one heating/cooling channel. The at least one heating/cooling channel is in thermal communication with the at least one micro channel. A temperature of a heating/cooling fluid in the least one heating/cooling channel determines a temperature of a fluid in the at least one micro channel.

1 . A micro channel device, comprising:
 at least one micro channel; and   at least one heating/cooling channel in thermal communication with the at least one micro channel, wherein a temperature of a heating/cooling fluid in the least one heating/cooling channel determines a temperature of a fluid in the at least one micro channel.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fluid control system that controls a flow of the heating/cooling fluid in the least one heating/cooling channel.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , the fluid control system further comprising:
 a pressure system, wherein the fluid control system controls the flow of the heating/cooling fluid in the least one heating/cooling channel via pressure.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid control system controls a flow of the fluid in the least one micro channel via pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature control system that controls the temperature of the heating/cooling fluid.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the temperature control system includes a temperature servomechanism that dynamically controls the temperature of the heating/cooling fluid based on a predetermined temperature range. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating/cooling channel is internal to the micro channel device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating/cooling channel is part of the micro channel device. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the micro channel device includes a biochip. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the biochip includes at least one region configured for DNA analysis of the fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating/cooling fluid is air. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating/cooling fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating/cooling channel is in physical contact with the at least one micro channel. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 controlling a temperature of a fluid in a micro channel of a micro channel device through a temperature of a heating/cooling fluid in a heating/cooling channel that is in thermal communication with the micro channel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 controlling the temperature of the heating/cooling fluid based on a predetermined temperature range that corresponds to a temperature range for processing the fluid.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the temperature of the heating/cooling fluid is controlled through a servomechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising,
 controlling a flow of the heating/cooling fluid in the heating/cooling channel via pressure.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising,
 controlling a flow of the fluid in the micro channel and the flow of the heating/cooling fluid in the heating/cooling channel with a same fluid control system.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid includes a bio-sample, and further comprising:
 controlling the temperature of the fluid for DNA analysis of the bio-sample.   
     
     
         20 . A micro channel device, comprising:
 a micro channel; and   means, internal to the micro channel device, for controlling a temperature of a fluid in the micro channel.