Apparatus and methods for thermal cycling of sample

Abstract

This disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for thermally cycling a sample. Particular embodiments comprise a first pivot arm configured to pivot around a first pivot axis; a second pivot arm configured to pivot around a second pivot axis; a first thermal mass and a second thermal mass coupled to the first pivot arm; and a third thermal mass and a fourth thermal mass coupled to the second pivot arm, wherein the first and third thermal masses are proximal to the sample when the first and second pivot arms are in a first position, and the second and fourth thermal masses are proximal to the sample when the first and second pivot arms are in a second position.

1 . An apparatus for thermal cycling, the apparatus comprising:
 a retaining member configured to retain a sample module;   a first pivot arm configured to pivot around a first pivot axis;   a second pivot arm configured to pivot around a second pivot axis;   a first thermal mass and a second thermal mass coupled to the first pivot arm;   a third thermal mass and a fourth thermal mass coupled to the second pivot arm, wherein:
 the first thermal mass and the third thermal mass are proximal to the retaining member when the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm are in a first position; and 
 the second thermal mass and the fourth thermal mass are proximal to the retaining member when the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm are in a second position; and 
   a controller configured to control movement of the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         2 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the retaining member comprises an illumination module configured to illuminate contents of a sample module retained by the retaining member; and 
 the retaining member comprises a detection module configured to detect contents of the sample module illuminated by the illumination module. 
 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first thermal mass, the second thermal mass, the third thermal mass or the fourth thermal mass comprise an illumination module. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first thermal mass, the second thermal mass, the third thermal mass or the fourth thermal mass comprise a detection module. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one cooling element configured to reduce a temperature of the second thermal mass and a temperature of the fourth thermal mass. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first cooling element configured to reduce the temperature of the second thermal mass; 
 a second cooling element configured to reduce the temperature of the fourth thermal mass. 
 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the retaining member is coupled to a housing. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  further comprising:
 a first fan coupled to the housing; 
 a second fan coupled to the housing, wherein: 
 the first fan is configured to direct air from outside the housing toward the second thermal mass when the first pivot arm is in the first position; 
 the second fan is configured to direct air from outside the housing toward the fourth thermal mass when the second pivot arm is in the first position. 
 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first thermal mass and the third thermal mass comprises a heating element. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method of thermal cycling a sample in a polymerase chain reaction, the method comprising:
 retaining a sample module in a retaining member, wherein the sample module comprises a first side and a second side;   pivoting a first pivot arm comprising a first thermal mass and a second thermal mass such that the first thermal mass contacts the first side of the sample module;   pivoting a second pivot arm comprising a third thermal mass and a fourth thermal mass such that the third thermal mass contacts the second side of the sample module while the first thermal mass contacts the first side of the sample module;   pivoting the first pivot arm such that the second thermal mass contacts the first side of the sample module; and   pivoting the second pivot arm such that the fourth thermal mass contacts the second side of the sample module while the second thermal mass contacts the first side of the sample module.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein:
 the first thermal mass and the third thermal mass are within a first temperature range; 
 the second thermal mass and the fourth thermal mass are within a second temperature range; and 
 the first temperature range is a higher temperature range than the second temperature range. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein:
 the sample module contains a sample having a target denaturing temperature and a target annealing temperature; 
 said first temperature range is above the target denaturing temperature; and 
 
       said second temperature range is below the target annealing temperature. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said first temperature range is 98 C to 130 C, and said second temperature range is 15-40 C. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein:
 the sample module contains a sample having a target denaturing temperature and a target annealing temperature; 
 the first temperature range is centered around the target denaturing temperature; and 
 the second temperature range is centered around the target annealing temperature. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25  wherein:
 the sample module comprises a plurality of sample chambers; and 
 each sample chamber of the plurality of sample chambers has a length and a width, wherein the length is greater than the width. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein:
 the retaining member comprises an illumination module and a detection module; 
 the method further comprises emitting an excitation signal from the illumination module, wherein the excitation signal is emitted parallel to the length of each sample chamber of the plurality of sample chambers; and 
 the method further comprises detecting a response signal with the module, wherein the response signal is detected parallel to the length of each sample chamber of the plurality of sample chambers. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the illumination module comprises a plurality of illumination elements, and wherein each illumination element is configured to illuminate a sample chamber of the plurality of sample chambers. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the plurality of illumination elements comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
         33 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising:
 illuminating the sample module via an illumination module, wherein the first thermal mass, the second thermal mass, the third thermal mass or the fourth thermal mass comprise the illumination module; and 
 detecting a response signal from the sample module via a detection module, wherein the first thermal mass, the second thermal mass, the third thermal mass or the fourth thermal mass comprise the detection module. 
 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 24  wherein:
 the first pivot arm pivots around a first pivot axis; 
 the second pivot arm pivots around a second pivot axis; and 
 the method further comprises retaining the sample module between the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis. 
 
     
     
         39 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the first thermal mass and the third thermal mass comprises a heating element. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled)