Apparatus for automated incubation
System, apparatus, and method for cycling the temperature of at least one receptacle holder that is adapted for use in an automated instrument capable of performing nucleic acid-based amplification tests. Also provided are methods for conducting automated, random-access incubation processes using the same.
1. An apparatus comprising:
one or more receptacle holders, each receptacle holder being comprised of a heat-conducting material and including:
a plurality of receptacle wells, each receptacle well being configured to receive a receptacle therein; and
a plurality of through-holes, each through-hole extending from an inner surface of one of the receptacle wells to an outer surface of the receptacle holder;
a plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber having first and second ends, wherein the first end is in optical communication with one of the receptacle wells, and the second end is in optical communication with an excitation signal source and an emission signal detector, the first end of each optical fiber being disposed outside, within, or extending through, a corresponding through-hole in each receptacle well,
one or more thermal elements, each thermal element of the apparatus being coupled to only a first lateral side surface of a respective receptacle holder, such that each thermal element provides thermal energy through the first lateral side surface of the respective receptacle holder to each of the plurality of receptacle wells, thereby altering a temperature of the plurality of receptacle wells of the respective receptacle holder; and
one or more force-applying bodies, each force-applying body of the apparatus being positioned to provide a compressive force to only a second lateral side surface, opposite the first lateral side surface, of the respective receptacle holder in a direction toward a respective thermal element coupled to the first lateral side surface.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more supports, each support being coupled to a lateral side surface of a respective thermal element such that the respective thermal element is positioned between a portion of the support and the first lateral side surface of the respective receptacle holder.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more force-applying bodies comprise one or more cross-braces, each cross-brace being coupled to a respective support such that the receptacle holder coupled to the respective support is between the cross-brace and the respective support.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more force-applying bodies comprises a linker and a low thermal conductive body, each linker and low thermal conductive body being coupled to a second support separate from the support coupled to the lateral side surface of the respective thermal element.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more receptacle holders are in sliding engagement with the one or more supports.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more supports comprises:
a base portion having a plurality of through-holes aligned with a plurality of through-holes of a respective receptacle holder, and an upright portion extending from the base portion and coupled to the lateral side surface of the respective thermal element.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a heat sink coupled to each base portion of each of the one or more supports,
wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of through-holes aligned with the plurality of through-holes of each base portion of each of the one or more supports.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first controller electrically connected to the one or more thermal elements to cycle the temperature of the one or more thermal elements.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more thermistors disposed in contact with the one or more receptacle holders.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises two or more receptacle holders.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of each optical fiber is fixedly disposed within one of the through-holes relative to the surface of the receptacle well.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cover movable between an opened position and a closed position relative to the receptacle holder, wherein one or more receptacles disposed within one or more of the receptacle wells are seated or secured into the receptacle well by the cover when the cover is moved into the closed position,
wherein the first end of each optical fiber moves within its corresponding through-hole when (1) the cover is moved to the closed and/or open position, or (2) a receptacle is present in the receptacle well and the cover is moved to the closed and/or open position.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cover comprises a rigid element and one or more flexible extensions attached to, and extending laterally away from, the rigid element, wherein each flexible extension is associated with a respective receptacle well and is configured to apply a force when the cover is in the closed position to at least a portion of one or more receptacles when present within the receptacle wells.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus does not include a cover.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of each optical fiber is moveable with respect to one of the through-holes.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one stripper plate in movable association with the one or more receptacle holders for removing a receptacle from a receptacle transport mechanism that delivers a receptacle to the one or more receptacle holders.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the apparatus does not include a cover.
18. A system comprising one or more apparatus of claim 16 .
19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a receptacle transport mechanism, wherein the receptacle transport mechanism comprises:
a body having a plunger slidingly disposed therein; and
one or more limbs hingedly attached to the body and positioned in sliding communication with a knob fixedly attached to the plunger,
wherein when the plunger is in a first position, a lower portion of the one or more limbs are proximal to the body, and wherein when the plunger is in a second position, the lower portion of the one or more limbs are extended in a radial outward direction relative to the body.
20. A system comprising one or more apparatus of claim 1 .
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein:
the one or more receptacle holder(s) comprise a first receptacle holder and a second receptacle holder;
the one or more thermal elements comprise (a) a first thermal element positioned proximal to the first receptacle holder and configured to alter a temperature of the first receptacle holder, and (b) a second thermal element positioned proximal to the second receptacle holder and configured to alter a temperature of the second receptacle holder; and
each of the first and second thermal elements is independently controllable to only alter the temperature of the respective first or second receptacle holder.
22. The system of claim 20 , wherein each of the one or more apparatus is in independent thermal communication with a single heat sink.
23. The system of claim 20 , wherein the system comprises at least ten receptacle wells and at least ten corresponding optical fibers.
24. The system of claim 20 , wherein the second ends of the optical fibers are in optical communication with one or more excitation signal sources and one or more emission signal detectors.