Temperature control devices and methods

Abstract

Temperature control devices and methods are described. The described temperature control devices and methods comprise optical emission and detection assemblies and can be used in PCR and qPCR applications.

1 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A microfluidic thermal cycling system comprising:
 a microfluidic chamber;   a heater;   a thermal mass being moveable between a first position wherein thermal connection between the thermal mass and the microfluidic chamber is absent and a second position wherein the thermal mass is in thermal connection with the microfluidic chamber,
 wherein the system cycles between 
 a first operative condition where the heater is on and the thermal mass is in the first position; and 
 a second operative condition where the heater is off and the thermal mass is in the second position. 
   
     
     
         7 . The microfluidic thermal cycling system of  claim 6 , further comprising a solenoid configurable to present a first state and a second state, wherein the thermal mass is in the first position when the solenoid is in the first state and the thermal mass is the second position when the solenoid is in the second state. 
     
     
         8 . The microfluidic thermal cycling system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a feedback control system comprising a temperature sensor monitoring the microfluidic chamber temperature and generating control signals accordingly, and   electronics control circuits using the control signals to control the solenoid position.   
     
     
         9 . The microfluidic thermal cycling system of  claim 6 , wherein the microfluidic chamber comprises:
 a substrate having a bottom side and a top side, the substrate comprising a microfluidic reservoir, and   a transparent cover bonded or glued to the top side of the substrate.   
     
     
         10 . The microfluidic thermal cycling system of  claim 9 , wherein the substrate is made of a metal. 
     
     
         11 . The microfluidic thermal cycling system of  claim 10 , wherein the heater is a thin film heater bonded to the bottom side of the substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The microfluidic thermal cycling system of  claim 6 , wherein the microfluidic chamber is a three-layer device comprising polymer spacers sandwiched between a transparent cover and a top side of a substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The microfluidic thermal cycling system of  claim 12  wherein the substrate is a metal substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The microfluidic thermal cycling system of  claim 12 , wherein the transparent cover, the substrate and the polymer spacers are adhesively bonded. 
     
     
         15 . The microfluidic thermal cycling system of  claim 12 , wherein the heater is a thin film heater bonded to a bottom side of the substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The microfluidic thermal cycling system of  claim 6 , wherein the microfluidic chamber comprises a transparent cover bonded to a top side of a metal substrate, the transparent cover having an etched or molded cavity. 
     
     
         17 .- 30 . (canceled)