Apparatus for applying thermal energy to a receptacle and detecting an emission signal from the receptacle
An apparatus for performing nucleic acid amplification reactions includes a thermally-conductive receptacle holder that includes multiple receptacle wells. Each well can receive a receptacle and has a through-hole extending from an inner surface of the well to an outer surface of the holder. The apparatus includes multiple optical fibers, and each optical fiber has a first end in optical communication with an associated well and a second end in optical communication with an excitation signal source and/or an emission signal detector. The first end of each optical fiber is moveable with respect to the through-hole. A cover is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the receptacle holder, and the first end of each optical fiber moves with respect to the through-hole of the associated well as the cover moves to the open or closed position or when the cover moves into or out of contact with any receptacles within the wells.
1. An apparatus for performing nucleic acid amplification reactions, the apparatus comprising:
a thermally-conductive receptacle holder, the receptacle holder comprising a plurality of receptacle wells, each of the receptacle wells being configured to receive a receptacle, and each of the receptacle wells having a through-hole extending from an inner surface of the receptacle well to an outer surface of the receptacle holder;
a cover movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the receptacle holder, the cover being configured to seat or secure receptacles disposed within the receptacle wells when the cover moves from the open position to the closed position; and
a plurality of optical fibers, each of the optical fibers having a first end and a second end, the first end of each optical fiber being in optical communication with an associated one of the receptacle wells, and the second end of each optical fiber being in optical communication with at least one of an excitation signal source and an emission signal detector, wherein the first end of each of the optical fibers extends through the through-hole of the associated receptacle well and into the associated receptacle well when a receptacle is not present in the associated receptacle well and the cover is in the closed position, and wherein the first end of each of the optical fibers contacts a receptacle disposed in the associated receptacle well when the cover is in the closed position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the through-hole of each of the receptacle wells is positioned at a bottom-center of the receptacle well.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle wells support one or more receptacles containing a reaction mixture, and wherein each of the receptacles is closed with a cap, the cap being situated above a top surface of the receptacle holder.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the receptacles is a single unit.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the optical fibers is in optical communication with the excitation signal source and the emission signal detector.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover is affixed to a rigid rotatable member in movable communication with an electric motor.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the rotatable member comprises a cylindrical rod having a circular cross-section and an axis of rotation at the center thereof.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the cover comprises a plurality of flexible extensions attached to and extending laterally away from the rotatable member.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each of the flexible extensions is configured to contact a receptacle in a corresponding one of the receptacle wells as the cover is rotated from the open position to the closed position, such that each of the flexible extensions contacts at least a portion of the receptacle in the corresponding receptacle well.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each of the flexible extensions is configured to apply a force to at least a portion of the receptacle in the corresponding receptacle well when the cover is in the closed position, thereby seating or securing the receptacle in the corresponding receptacle well.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a thermally-conductive support; and
a thermal element positioned between the support and the receptacle holder.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the thermal element is electrically connected to a controllable power source for applying a current across the thermal element, to thereby alter the temperature of the receptacle holder.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the support comprises a base portion and an upright portion, the base portion having a plurality of through-holes, wherein each of the through-holes of the base portion is in alignment with a corresponding one of the through-holes of the receptacle holder; and
the thermal element is positioned between a side surface of the upright portion and an opposed side surface of the receptacle holder.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each of the through-holes of the base portion of the support forms a channel supporting a fixed or moveable ferrule and through which a corresponding one of the optical fibers passes.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a spring biased against each ferrule and wherein each ferrule is movably supported in the channel so that the spring urges the first end of the corresponding optical fiber into the associated receptacle well.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a heat sink in thermal communication with the support.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the base portion of the support is disposed on a top surface of the heat sink, and wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of through-holes, each of the through-holes of the heat sink being in alignment with one of the through-holes of the receptacle holder, and wherein each of the optical fibers passes through a corresponding one of the through-holes of the heat sink.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a spring coupled to the first end of each optical fiber and configured to urge the first end of the optical fiber into the associated receptacle well.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of each of the optical fibers is moveable with respect to the through-hole relative to the inner surface of the associated receptacle well, and wherein movement of the first end of each of the optical fibers with respect to the through-hole of the associated receptacle well is caused by movement of the cover to the open position or by movement of the cover to the closed position.
20. A system for performing nucleic acid amplification reactions, the system comprising:
the apparatus of claim 1 ; and
a receptacle transport mechanism for transferring receptacles to and from the receptacle wells.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the receptacle transport mechanism is a pipettor.
22. The system of claim 20 further comprising a stripper plate mounted in moveable association with the receptacle holder, the stripper plate being moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein a receptacle can be transferred to or removed from any one of the receptacle wells when the stripper plate is in the unlocked position, and wherein a receptacle disposed in any one of the receptacle wells is inhibited from removal when the stripper plate is in the locked position.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the stripper plate is configured to move to the locked position after one or more receptacles have been transferred to one or more of the receptacle wells by the receptacle transport mechanism and before the receptacle transport mechanism is withdrawn from the one or more receptacle wells.
24. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein movement of the first end of each of the optical fibers with respect to the through-hole of the associated receptacle well is caused by movement of the cover into contact with the receptacle within the associated receptacle well or by movement of the cover out of contact with the receptacle within the associated receptacle well.