Device And Method For Heating A Fluid Chamber

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus, system and method for heating a fluid chamber. Devices for heating a fluid chamber, in which a temperature sensitive or temperature-initiated chemical reaction takes place, typically comprise a heater and a temperature sensor. A heater device heats a fluid container which is separable from the heater device. The device comprises one or more substrates each forming a surface of a receiving location for the fluid container. A first heater is disposed on a surface of a substrate in thermal communication with a second heat transfer surface and is spaced apart from the first heat transfer surface. A first temperature sensor is in thermal communication with the first heater and a second temperature sensor is in thermal communication with the second heater. The device is configured to conform to the shape of the fluid container such that the first and the second heat transfer surfaces come into contact with the fluid container.

1 . A heater device to heat a fluid container separable from the heater device comprising:
 one or more substrates each forming a surface of a receiving location for the fluid container,   a first heater disposed on a surface of a substrate in thermal communication with a first heat transfer surface within the receiving location,   a second heater disposed on a surface of a substrate in thermal communication with a second heat transfer surface within the receiving location spaced apart from the first heat transfer surface,   a first temperature sensor in thermal communication with the first heater,   a second temperature sensor in thermal communication with the second heater,   wherein the receiving location is configured to conform to the fluid container such that the first and the second heat transfer surfaces come into contact with the fluid container.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A heater device according to  claim 1  wherein the thermal conduction pathway from the first heater to the first temperature sensor has a greater thermal conductance than that from the first heater to the second sensor and the thermal conduction pathway from the second heater to the second temperature sensor has a greater thermal conductance than that from the second heater to the first sensor. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1  comprising a control means adapted to control the first heater using data from the first temperature sensor and to control the second heater using data from the second temperature sensor, each heater being controlled independently of the other. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein the control means has a first mode of operation in which it controls both heaters to heat the fluid chamber simultaneously, and a second mode in which it controls the first heater to heat the fluid chamber and measures the temperature of the second sensor against time. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 6  wherein in the second mode the control means controls the first heater to change from a first to a second constant temperature at the first sensor while measuring the temperature of the second sensor against time. 
     
     
         8 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 1  comprising a control means wherein the control means comprises a computer and a data store, wherein the control means comprises an algorithm configured to:
 receive fluid container data and liquid data comprising the volume of the liquid, 
 heat the fluid container using both the first and the second heaters, 
 receive data from the first temperature sensor and use the data to control the first heater, 
 receive data from the second temperature sensor and use the data to control the second heater, 
 use fluid container data and liquid data to derive a temperature Tr within the fluid chamber, and 
 use the value of Tr to control the first and the second heaters. 
 
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein the control means is adapted to receive fluid container identification data from a remote data source and to use temperature relationship data stored in the data store in response to the fluid container identification data. 
     
     
         22 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein the control program comprises an algorithm to derive a minimum heating time tmin following a change of heater power of the first or the second heater after which a temperature Tr within the fluid chamber is within a chosen range of one of T 1  and T 2 . 
     
     
         23 . A device according to  claim 5  adapted to carry out a thermocycling reaction within the fluid chamber, the control means being configured to:
 derive a minimum heating time tmin as described herein, 
 control one or both of the first and the second heaters to heat the fluid chamber until one of T 1  and T 2  reaches a first chosen control value Tc 1 , 
 control one or both of the first and the second heaters to maintain one of T 1  or T 2  within a chosen range of Tc 1  for a time t 1 , 
 control one or both of the first and the second heaters to heat the fluid chamber until one of T 1  and T 2  reaches a second chosen control value Tc 2 , 
 control one or both of the first and the second heaters to maintain one of T 1  or T 2  within a chosen range of Tc 2  for a time t 2 , 
 wherein t 1  and t 2  are both greater than or substantially equal to the minimum heating time tmin. 
 
     
     
         24 . A device according to  claim 5  adapted to carry out a thermocycling reaction within the fluid chamber, the control means being configured to:
 derive temperature relationship data relating Tr to one or both of T 1  and T 2  as described herein, 
 control one or both of the first and the second heaters to heat the fluid chamber while receiving data from the first and the second temperature sensors, and use the temperature relationship data together with values of T 1  and/or T 2  to: 
 control the first and the second heaters to maintain Tr within a chosen range of a first control temperature Tc 1  for a first time t 1 , and 
 control the first and the second heaters to maintain Tr within a chosen range of a second control temperature Tc 2  for a second time t 2 . 
 
     
     
         25 . A device according to  claim 5  configured to derive the volume of liquid in the fluid chamber wherein the control program comprises an algorithm to:
 (i) control the first heater at a first temperature T 1 , 
 (ii) read data from the second temperature sensor as a function of time and store it in the data store to form T 2 ( time ) data, and 
 (iii) use fluid container data and liquid data stored in the data store as parameters in an algorithm to derive the liquid volume from T 2 ( time ) data. 
 
     
     
         26 . A device according to  claim 25  wherein the control program is configured to compare the liquid volume with a control liquid volume stored in the data store and indicate to a user a fault condition if the liquid volume differs from the control liquid volume. 
     
     
         27 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein the control means is configured to use T 2 ( time ) data to derive a value characteristic of the heat transfer coefficient between one or more heat transfer surfaces and the fluid container and to indicate to a user a fault condition that the heat transfer coefficient is greater than a control value. 
     
     
         28 . A device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a separable fluid container which can be checked for proper location on the heat transfer surface(s) wherein the control program comprises an algorithm adapted to:
 (i) compare T 2 ( time ) data with model T 2 ( time ) data stored in the data store associated with parameters of fluid container data, liquid data and liquid volume for the fluid container and liquid being used, and   (ii) determine whether one or more T 2 ( time ) data values are within an chosen range of one ore or more model T 2 ( time ) data values.   
     
     
         29 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein the control means is configured to derive fluid container data and/or liquid data using measurements of T 2 ( time ) made when an empty fluid container is in thermal communication with the device and heated by the first heater. 
     
     
         30 . A device according to  claim 29  wherein the control program comprises an algorithm configured to:
 (i) heat an empty fluid container by applying a temperature change to the first heater while measuring T 2 ( time ), 
 (ii) store T 2 ( time ) data in the data store to form calibration temperature relationship data, 
 use the calibration temperature relationship data to derive fluid container data. 
 (iii) store the fluid container data in the data store for use as a parameter in another algorithm as described herein. 
 
     
     
         31 . A device according to  claim 1  comprising a gas flow means to direct gas over the surface of the heater device and over a fluid container when in thermal communication with the heater device. 
     
     
         32 . A device according to  claim 31  comprising a control means configured to control the gas flow rate by means of one or both of: (i) controlling the speed of a fan driving the gas flow; (ii) controlling a valve to control the rate of flow of gas from a gas source. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus comprising a plurality of heating devices according to  claim 1  and a control means configured to control the heating devices independently. 
     
     
         35 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method for heating a fluid container using a heater device according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 (i) heating the fluid container using both the first and the second heaters, 
 (ii) receiving data from the first temperature sensor and using the data to control at least the first heater. 
 
     
     
         40 - 61 . (canceled)