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A device for processing a biological sample includes a processing unit having at least one opening to receive a sample vessel and a plurality of processing stations positioned along the opening. The processing stations each have a compression member adapted to compress the sample vessel within the o

A device for processing a biological sample includes a processing unit having at least one opening to receive a sample vessel and a plurality of processing stations positioned along the opening. The processing stations each have a compression member adapted to compress the sample vessel within the opening and thereby move a substance within the sample vessel among the processing stations. An energy transfer element can be coupled to one or more of the processing stations for transferring thermal energy to the content at a processing station.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A temperature cycling apparatus for repeatedly heating and cooling a reaction mixture, the system comprising: a first heater translatable between a first orientation in which the first heater affects the temperature of the reaction mixture and a second orientation in wh

The invention claimed is: 1. A temperature cycling apparatus for repeatedly heating and cooling a reaction mixture, the system comprising: a first heater translatable between a first orientation in which the first heater affects the temperature of the reaction mixture and a second orientation in which the first heater does not substantially affect the temperature of the reaction mixture, and a first prime mover for moving the first heater between the first heater's first and second orientations, a second heater adjacent the first heater, the second heater translatable between a first orientation in which the second heater affects the temperature of the reaction mixture and a second orientation in which the second heater does not substantially affect the temperature of the reaction mixture, and a second prime mover for moving the second heater between the second heater's first and second orientations, the second heater being in the second orientation when the first heater is in the first orientation, and the second heater being in the first orientation when the first heater is in the second orientation during temperature cycling. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first prime mover includes a first stepper motor coupled to the first heater to move the first heater between the first heater's first and second orientations, and the second prime mover includes a second stepper motor coupled to the second heater to move the second heater between the second heater's first and second orientations. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first heater includes a first heater element and a second heater element spaced apart from the first heater element and coupled to the first prime mover, and wherein the second heater includes a first heater element and a second heater element spaced apart from the first heater element and coupled to the second prime mover. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first prime mover includes a first stepper motor and the second prime mover includes a second stepper motor. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first prime mover includes a first bladder and the second prime mover includes a second bladder. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second heater elements are electronic heat elements. 7. A temperature cycling system for repeatedly heating and cooling a reaction mixture, the system comprising: a flexible reaction vessel configured to contain the reaction mixture therein, the reaction vessel including a body having first and second portions coupled together, a first heater translatable between a first orientation in which the first heater affects the temperature of the first portion and a second orientation in which the first heater does not substantially affect the temperature of the first portion, and a second heater translatable between a first orientation in which the second heater affects the temperature of reaction mixture in the second portion and a second orientation in which the second heater does not substantially affect the temperature of reaction mixture in the second portion. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the vessel further includes a cap coupled to the body and a sample area within the cap normally separated from the body by a seal. 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first heater includes two heater elements and the second heater includes two heater elements, and wherein the vessel is positioned between the heater elements of each heater. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein one of the heater elements of each of the first and second heaters is stationary and the other heater element of each of the first and second heaters is movable. 11. The system of claim 10, further including a first motor coupled the movable heater element of the first heater and a second motor coupled to the movable heater element of the second heater. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second motors are stepper motors. 13. The system of claim 9, wherein each heater element includes a temperature sensor. 14. The system of claim 7, further including a first prime mover for moving the first heater between the first heater's first and second orientations and a second prime mover for moving the second heater between the second heater's first and second orientations. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first and second prime movers each include a stepper motor. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first heater includes a stationary heater element and a movable heater element spaced-apart from the stationary heater element and coupled to the first prime mover, and wherein the second heater includes a stationary heater element and a movable heater element spaced-apart from the stationary heater element and coupled to the second prime mover. 17. The system of claim 7, wherein the first heater is configured such that when the first heater is moved from the first orientation to the second orientation, the first heater forces the reaction mixture into the second portion of the reaction vessel, and wherein the second heater is configured such that when the second heater is moved from the first orientation to the second orientation, the second heater forces the reaction mixture into the first portion of the reaction vessel. 18. A method for thermal cycling a fluid sample, the sample provided in a flexible reaction vessel comprising a first region and a second region adjacent to and in fluid communication with the first region, comprising: a. compressing the second region to force the sample into the first region and into contact with a first pair of heaters at a first temperature, and b. subsequently compressing the first region to force the sample into the second region and into contact with a second pair of heaters at a second temperature, the second temperature being different from the first temperature. 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising repeating steps a and b throughout a plurality of temperature cycles. 20. A method for amplifying a nucleic acid in a biological sample comprising: a. placing the biological sample into a flexible reaction vessel comprising a first region and a second region adjacent to and in fluid communication with the first region, b. compressing the first region to force the sample into the second region and into contact with a pair of denaturation heaters at a denaturation temperature, c. compressing the second region to force the sample into the first region and into contact with a pair of annealing heaters at an annealing temperature, and d. repeating steps b and c for a plurality of amplification cycles. 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the nucleic acid is amplified by PCR and the sample vessel further comprises therein reagents for performing PCR. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the reagents include a polymerase and primers. 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the reaction vessel further comprises a fluorescent entity therein, the fluorescent entity capable of providing a fluorescent signal related to the quantity of the nucleic acid. 24. The method of claim 23 further comprising monitoring the fluorescent signal during each of the amplification cycles. 25. The method of claim 24 wherein the vessel further comprises an end adjacent to the second region and the monitoring step further comprises measuring the fluorescent signal at a plurality of points along the end to obtain a plurality of data points for each amplification cycle. 26. The method of claim 20, wherein the flexible reaction vessel comprises a plurality of individual reaction vessels arranged to form a row of reaction vessels, the method further comprising simultaneously amplifying a plurality of additional nucleic acids in a plurality of additional biological samples wherein step (a) comprises placing each respective additional biological sample in its respective individual reaction vessel. 27. A method for repeatedly heating and cooling a reaction mixture contained within a flexible reaction vessel comprising: placing the reaction vessel adjacent a first heater and a second heater, heating the first heater to a first temperature, heating the second heater to a second temperature, alternately opening and closing the first and second heaters so that the reaction mixture is in thermal contact with the respective heater when the heater is in the opened position and the reaction mixture is not in thermal contact with the respective heater when the heater is in the closed position. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein opening and closing includes moving the first heater to a closed position to move substantially all of the reaction mixture to a position adjacent the second heater, heating the reaction mixture to the second temperature, moving the first pair of heaters to an opened position and moving the second pair of heaters to a closed position to move substantially all of the reaction mixture to a position adjacent the first pair of heaters, and heating the reaction mixture to the first temperature. 29. A method for heating and cooling a reaction mixture contained within a flexible reaction vessel comprising: heating a first pair of heaters positioned in a first zone to a first temperature, heating a second pair of heaters positioned in a second zone to a second temperature, placing the reaction vessel between each of the first and second pair of heaters so that the first heater engages a first portion of the reaction vessel and the second heater engages a second portion of the reaction vessel, and moving the reaction mixture between the first zone in thermal contact with the first pair of heaters and the second zone in thermal contact with the second pair of heaters by alternately opening and closing the first and second pairs of heaters around the reaction vessel. 30. A device for thermal cycling a sample provided in a flexible vessel, comprising a first heating element for heating the sample to a first temperature, the first heating element repeatably movable between an open position and a closed position, the first heating element defining a first gap for receiving a first portion of the flexible vessel, a second heating element for heating the sample to a second temperature, the second heating element repeatably movable between an open position and a closed position, the second heating element defining a second gap contiguous with the first gap, the second gap for receiving a second portion of the flexible vessel, wherein when the first heating element is in the closed position, the sample is forced from the first portion of the flexible vessel, and when the second heating element is in the closed position, the sample is forced from the second portion of the flexible vessel. 31. The device of claim 30, wherein during thermal cycling when the first heating element is in the closed position, the second heating element is in the open position and the sample is forced into the second portion of the sample vessel and when the second heating element is in the closed position, the first heating element is in the open position and the sample is forced into the first portion of the sample vessel. 32. The device of claim 30, further comprising a third heating element for heating the sample to a third temperature, the third heating element repeatably movable between an open position and a closed position, the third heating element defining a third gap for receiving a third portion of the flexible vessel, wherein when the third heating element is in the closed position, the sample is forced from the third portion of the flexible vessel. 33. The device of claim 32, wherein the fluorimeter is positioned to measure fluorescence in the second portion of the flexible vessel and wherein the first temperature is higher than the second temperature. 34. The device of claim 30, further comprising a fluorimeter positioned to measure fluorescence in the reaction vessel. 35. The device of claim 30, wherein the first and second gaps are configured for receiving a plurality of flexible vessels, each of the plurality of flexible vessels having a first portion and a second portion. 36. The device of claim 35, wherein the plurality of reaction vessels received within the first and second gaps are in a parallel arrangement. 37. The device of claim 36, wherein the plurality of flexible reaction vessels are arranged to form a row. 38. The device of claim 30, wherein the first heating element comprises a first stationary heating element, a first movable heating element, and a means for moving the first movable heating element from the open position toward the first stationary heating element and to the closed position. 39. The device of claim 38, wherein the second heating element comprises a second stationary heating element, a second movable heating element, and a means for moving the second movable heating element, from the open position toward the second stationary heating element and to the closed position. 40. The device of claim 30, further comprising a pneumatic system, and wherein the first heating element comprises a first stationary heating element and a first movable heating element coupled to the pneumatic system to move the first movable heating element toward the first stationary heating element, and wherein the second heating element comprises a second stationary heating element and a second movable heating element coupled to the pneumatic system to move the second movable heating element toward the second stationary heating element. 41. A thermal cycling device for repeatedly heating and cooling a reaction mixture, the device comprising: a first energy transfer element translatable between a first orientation in which the first energy transfer element affects the temperature of the reaction mixture and a second orientation in which the first energy transfer element does not substantially affect the temperature of the reaction mixture, and a first driver for moving the first energy transfer element between the first energy transfer element's first and second orientations, a second energy transfer element adjacent the first energy transfer element, the second energy transfer element translatable between a first orientation in which the second energy transfer element affects the temperature of the reaction mixture and a second orientation in which the second energy transfer element does not substantially affect the temperature of the reaction mixture, and a second driver for moving the second energy transfer element between the second energy transfer element's first and second orientations, the second energy transfer element being in the second orientation when the first energy transfer element is in the first orientation, and the second energy transfer element being in the first orientation when the first energy transfer element is in the second orientation during temperature cycling. 42. The device of claim 41, wherein the first driver includes a first stepper motor coupled to the first energy transfer element to move the first energy transfer element between the first energy transfer element's first and second orientations, and the second driver includes a second stepper motor coupled to the second energy transfer element to move the second energy transfer element between the second energy transfer element's first and second orientations. 43. The device of claim 41, further comprising a third energy transfer element spaced apart from the first energy transfer element to define a first gap, and further comprising a fourth energy transfer element spaced apart from the second energy transfer element to define a second gap. 44. The device of claim 43, wherein the first driver includes a first stepper motor and the second driver includes a second stepper motor. 45. The device of claim 43, further comprising a processor coupled to the drivers to control their moving speeds. 46. The device of claim 43, wherein the first driver is coupled to a first inflatable membrane and the second driver is coupled to a second inflatable membrane. 47. The device of claim 46, further comprising means for controlling the inflation of the inflatable membranes. 48. The device of claim 47, further comprising means for controlling the inflation of the inflatable membranes separately. 49. The device of claim 46, wherein the first and second inflatable membranes are movable in a floating motion to bias the respective first and second energy transfer elements back and forth. 50. The device of claim 43, wherein at least one heater element comprises a Kapton heater. 51. The device of claim 43, wherein at least one driver or energy transfer element comprises a curved, angular, or non-planar surface. 52. The device of claim 43, wherein the respective gap between the first and third energy transfer elements or between the second and fourth energy transfer elements in the first orientation is in the range of approximately 0.1 millimeters to 1.4 millimeters. 53. The device of claim 43, wherein the respective gap between the first and third energy transfer elements or between the second and fourth energy transfer elements in the second orientation is in the range of approximately 0.02 millimeters to 1 millimeter. 54. A thermal cycling device for repeatedly heating and cooling a reaction mixture, the device comprising: a sample vessel configured to contain the reaction mixture therein, the sample vessel including a body having first and second segments coupled together, a first energy transfer element translatable between a first orientation in which the first energy transfer element affects the temperature of reaction mixture in the first segment and a second orientation in which the first energy transfer element does not substantially affect the temperature of reaction mixture in the first segment, a second energy transfer element translatable between a first orientation in which the second energy transfer element affects the temperature of reaction mixture in the second segment and a second orientation in which the second energy transfer element does not substantially affect the temperature of reaction mixture in the second segment. 55. The system of claim 54, wherein the sample vessel further includes an interface coupled to the body and a sample area within the interface normally separated from the body by a stopper or pressure gate. 56. The device of claim 54, further comprising third and fourth energy transfer elements, wherein the sample vessel is positioned between the first and third energy transfer elements and between the second and fourth energy transfer elements. 57. The device of claim 56, wherein one of the first and third energy transfer elements is stationary and the other is movable, and wherein one of the second and fourth energy transfer elements is stationary and the other is movable. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein one movable energy transfer element is coupled to a first inflatable membrane, and the other movable energy transfer element is coupled to a second inflatable membrane. 59. The system of claim 57, wherein a first motor is coupled to one movable energy transfer element, and a second motor is coupled to the other movable energy transfer element. 60. The device of claim 59, wherein each of the first and second motors are stepper motors. 61. The device of claim 56, wherein each energy transfer element includes a temperature sensor. 62. The device of claim 54, further including a first compression member for moving the first energy transfer element between the first energy transfer element's first and second orientations and a second compression member for moving the second energy transfer element between the second energy transfer element's first and second orientations. 63. The device of claim 62, wherein the first and second compression members each include a stepper motor. 64. The device of claim 63, further comprising third and fourth energy transfer elements, and wherein: the first and third energy transfer elements are spaced-apart from one another; one of the first and third energy transfer elements is stationary and the other is movable, the movable element being coupled to the first compression member; the second and fourth energy transfer elements are spaced-apart from one another; and one of the second and fourth energy transfer elements is stationary and the other is movable, the movable element being coupled to the second compression member. 65. The system of claim 54, wherein the first energy transfer element is configured such that when the first energy transfer element is moved from the first orientation to the second orientation, the first energy transfer element forces the reaction mixture into the second portion of the sample vessel, and wherein the second energy transfer element is configured such that when the second energy transfer element is moved from the first orientation to the second orientation, the second energy transfer element forces the reaction mixture into the first portion of the sample vessel. 66. A method for thermal cycling a fluid sample, the sample provided in a flexible sample vessel comprising a first segment and a second segment adjacent to and in fluid communication with the first segment, the method comprising: a. compressing the second segment to force the sample into the first segment and into contact with a first pair of energy transfer elements at a first temperature; and b. subsequently compressing the first segment to force the sample into the second segment and into contact with a second pair of energy transfer elements at a second temperature, the second temperature being different from the first temperature. 67. The method of claim 66 further comprising repeating steps a and b throughout a plurality of temperature cycles. 68. The method of claim 66 further comprising monitoring the fluorescent signal during each of the temperature cycles. 69. The method of claim 66, wherein the flexible reaction vessel comprises a plurality of individual reaction vessels arranged to form a row of reaction vessels, the method further comprising simultaneously thermal cycling a plurality of samples in a plurality of reaction vessels wherein the first step comprises placing each respective additional sample in its respective individual reaction vessel. 70. A method for amplifying a nucleic acid in a biological sample, comprising: a. placing the biological sample into a flexible sample vessel comprising a first segment and a second segment adjacent to and in fluid communication with the first segment; b. compressing the first segment to force the sample into the second segment and into contact with a pair of denaturation energy transfer elements at a denaturation temperature; c. compressing the second segment to force the sample into the first segment and into contact with a pair of annealing energy transfer elements at an annealing temperature; and d. repeating steps b and c for a plurality of amplification cycles. 71. The method of claim 70 wherein the nucleic acid is amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the sample vessel further comprises therein reagents for performing PCR. 72. The method of claim 71 wherein the reagents include a polymerase and primers. 73. The method of claim 70 wherein the sample vessel further comprises a fluorescent probe therein, the fluorescent probe capable of providing a fluorescent signal related to the quantity of the nucleic acid. 74. The method of claim 73 further comprising monitoring the fluorescent signal during each of the amplification cycles. 75. The method of claim 70 further comprising sensing a light signal emanating from the sample vessel using a charge coupled device. 76. The method of claim 75, further comprising analyzing the signal by signal processing. 77. A method for repeatedly heating and cooling a reaction mixture contained within a flexible sample vessel, the method comprising: placing the sample vessel adjacent a first energy transfer element and a second energy transfer element; heating the first energy transfer element to a first temperature; heating the second energy transfer element to a second temperature; and alternately opening and closing the first and second energy transfer elements so that the reaction mixture is in thermal contact with the respective energy transfer element when the energy transfer element is in the opened position and the reaction mixture is not in thermal contact with the respective energy transfer element when the energy transfer element is in the closed position. 78. The method of claim 77, wherein opening and closing includes moving the first energy transfer element to a closed position to move substantially all of the reaction mixture to a position adjacent the second energy transfer element, heating the reaction mixture to the second temperature, moving the first pair of energy transfer elements to an opened position and moving the second pair of energy transfer elements to a closed position to move substantially all of the reaction mixture to a position adjacent the first pair of energy transfer elements, and heating the reaction mixture to the first temperature. 79. A method for heating a reaction mixture contained within a flexible sample vessel, the method comprising: heating a first pair of energy transfer elements positioned in a first processing station to a first temperature; heating a second pair of energy transfer elements positioned in a second processing station to a second temperature; placing the sample vessel between each of the first and second pair of energy transfer elements so that the first energy transfer element engages a first segment of the sample vessel and the second energy transfer element engages a second segment of the sample vessel; and moving the reaction mixture between the first processing station in thermal contact with the first pair of energy transfer elements and the second processing station in thermal contact with the second pair of energy transfer elements by alternately opening and closing the first and second pairs of energy transfer elements around the sample vessel. 80. A device for thermal cycling a sample provided in a flexible sample vessel, comprising a first energy transfer element for heating or cooling the sample to a first temperature, the first energy transfer element repeatably movable between an open position and a closed position, the first energy transfer element defining a first gap for receiving a first segment of the flexible sample vessel, a second energy transfer element for heating or cooling the sample to a second temperature, the second energy transfer element repeatably movable between an open position and a closed position, the second energy transfer element defining a second gap contiguous with the first gap, the second gap for receiving a second segment of the flexible sample vessel, wherein when the first energy transfer element is in the closed position, the sample is forced from the first segment of the flexible sample vessel, and when the second energy transfer element is in the closed position, the sample is forced from the second segment of the flexible sample vessel. 81. The device of claim 80, wherein the device is configured so that during thermal cycling: when the first energy transfer element is in the closed position, the second energy transfer element is in the open position and the sample is forced into the second segment of the sample vessel; and when the second energy transfer element is in the closed position, the first energy transfer element is in the open position and the sample is forced into the first segment of the sample vessel. 82. The device of claim 80, further comprising a third energy transfer element for heating or cooling the sample to a third temperature, the third energy transfer element repeatably movable between an open position and a closed position, the third energy transfer element defining a third gap for receiving a third segment of the flexible sample vessel, wherein when the third energy transfer element is in the closed position, the sample is forced from the third segment of the flexible sample vessel. 83. The device of claim 80, further comprising a reaction sensor sensitive to fluorescent light and positioned to measure fluorescence in the sample vessel. 84. The device of claim 83, wherein the reaction sensor is positioned to measure fluorescence in the second segment of the sample vessel and wherein the first temperature is higher than the second temperature. 85. The device of claim 80, wherein each energy transfer element defines two or more gaps so that each energy transfer element is capable of receiving two or more sample vessels. 86. The device of claim 85, wherein the two or more sample vessels are received in their respective gaps in a parallel arrangement. 87. The device of claim 85, further comprising a reaction sensor sensitive to fluorescent light and positionable in a plurality of positions to measure fluorescence in the two or more sample vessels. 88. The device of claim 80, wherein the first energy transfer element comprises a first stationary element, a first movable element, and a means for moving the first movable element from the open position toward the first stationary element and to the closed position. 89. The device of claim 88, wherein the second energy transfer element comprises a second stationary element, a second movable element, and a means for moving the second movable element from the open position toward the second stationary element and to the closed position. 90. A temperature cycling system for repeatedly heating and cooling a reaction mixture contained within a flexible reaction vessel, the reaction vessel including a body having first and second portions coupled together, the system comprising: a first zone configured for receiving the first portion of the reaction vessel, the first zone comprising a first heater, the first zone movable between an open orientation in which the first heater affects the temperature of the reaction mixture contained within the first portion, and a closed orientation in which the reaction mixture is forced from the first portion and the first heater does not substantially affect the temperature of the reaction mixture, and a second zone configured for receiving the second portion of the reaction vessel, the second zone comprising a second heater, the second zone movable between an open orientation in which the second heater affects the temperature of the reaction mixture contained within the second portion, and a closed orientation in which the reaction mixture if forced from the second portion and the second heater does not substantially affect the temperature of the reaction mixture. 91. The temperature cycling system of claim 90 further comprising a processor for controlling movement of the first and second zones such that during temperature cycling the first zone is in the open orientation when the second zone is in the closed orientation and the first zone is in the closed orientation when the second zone is in the open orientation. 92. The temperature cycling system of claim 90 wherein the flexible reaction vessel comprises a plurality of individual reaction vessels arranged to form a row of reaction vessels, each individual reaction vessel including a body having a first and second portions coupled together, wherein the first zone is configured to receive a row of the first body portions, and the second zone is configured to receive a row of the second body portions. 93. The temperature cycling system of claim 90 wherein the second zone is set at a temperature different from that of the first zone. 94. A temperature cycling apparatus for repeatedly heating and cooling a reaction mixture, the system comprising: a first heater movable between a first orientation in which the first heater affects the temperature of the reaction mixture and a second orientation in which the first heater does not substantially affect the temperature of the reaction mixture, and a first prime mover, comprising a first bladder, for moving the first heater between the first heater's first and second orientations, a second heater adjacent the first heater, the second heater movable between a first orientation in which the second heater affects the temperature of the reaction mixture and a second orientation in which the second heater does not substantially affect the temperature of the reaction mixture, and a second prime mover, comprising a second bladder, for moving the second heater between the second heater's first and second orientations, the second heater being in the second orientation when the first heater is in the first orientation, and the second heater being in the first orientation when the first heater is in the second orientation during temperature cycling.