Abstract:
A temperature control apparatus for sample storage includes: a well block comprising at least one accommodation groove accommodating at least one container for containing at least one sample therein, respectively; and a temperature control unit controlling a respective temperature of the at least one sample to be uniform, wherein the temperature control unit includes: a heat source portion generating heat or cold; and a heat transfer object transferring the heat or the cold of the heat source portion to the well block.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0025392, filed on Mar. 22, 2011, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to temperature control for sample storage. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Bio equipment is a scientific instrument used in researching phenomena of life, and specifically, is used to study and understand biological phenomena of stages of molecules, cells, and individuals using physical or chemical principles. 
         [0006]    More specifically, bio equipment is used to conduct researches in bio technology such as gene modification techniques (e.g., recombination deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technique, gene cure, cloning, and antisense), biological sample analysis techniques using absorption, phosphorescence, and Raman spectroscopy, patterning of living bodies, gene chips, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gene map, and protein engineering, etc. In addition to biology, bio equipment is also widely used in various technological fields such as chemistry, physics, electronics, mechanics, etc. and may be advanced through cooperation between these technological fields. 
         [0007]    Bio equipment may be classified into six specific fields, namely, sample manufacture, bio separation, bio spectroscopy, bio patterning, cell technology, and mass spectrometry. 
         [0008]    In regard to conducting researches in biotechnology, maintaining temperatures of bio samples to be uniform is a key factor, and the uniform temperatures are used for reliable research results. In addition, if the temperatures of samples are maintained to be uniform, it may be useful to extend the storage period of samples produced in a manufacture process. 
         [0009]    Thus, demands for an apparatus for maintaining sample temperatures to be uniform are rapidly increasing. In detail, in studies on biological phenomena and applications in bio-tech industries, an amount of processing samples processed per unit time using a single container having several wells is increasing. If there is deviation in temperatures of solutions in the wells of the container, results of data of samples that are experimented upon are unreliable, and storage periods of the manufactured samples may vary, which has become a main issue in the field. An example of such issues is storage of specimens, from which nucleic acid extraction is completed before DNA amplification using a PCR device, for purposes of quantitative/qualitative examination of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), etc., at 4° C. 
         [0010]    In apparatuses for maintaining temperature according to the related art, a problem of deviation in temperatures between solutions in large-surface multi-wells containing samples occurs away from a heat source such as a heating/cooling device or a thermoelectric device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    One or more embodiments provide a temperature control apparatus for sample storage in which the temperatures of samples in large-surface multi-wells may be maintained to be uniform. 
         [0012]    According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a temperature control apparatus including: a well block comprising at least one accommodation groove accommodating at least one container for containing at least one sample therein, respectively; and a temperature control unit controlling a respective temperature of the at least one sample to be uniform, wherein the temperature control unit includes: a heat source portion generating heat or cold; and a heat transfer object transferring the heat or the cold of the heat source portion to the well block, wherein the heat transfer object controls the heat or the cold to be transferred substantially uniformly to an entire portion of the heat transfer object, and controls the respective temperature of the at least one sample to be uniform by transferring the heat or the cold to the well block. 
         [0013]    The at least one accommodation groove comprises two or more accommodation grooves which are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. 
         [0014]    The heat transfer object may be disposed between the well block and the heat source portion. 
         [0015]    The heat transfer object may include at least one heat pipe. 
         [0016]    The heat transfer object may include at least one heat transfer unit which is arranged to correspond to the at least one accommodation groove, respectively. 
         [0017]    The at least one accommodation groove may include two or more accommodation grooves which are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. The heat transfer object may include two or more heat transfer units. Each of the heat transfer units may be arranged between two adjacent accommodation grooves. 
         [0018]    The heat transfer object may be disposed inside the well block. 
         [0019]    When a surface of the heat source portion facing the well block is heated, an opposite surface of the heat source portion may be cooled, and when the surface of the heat source portion facing the well block is cooled, the opposite surface of the heat source portion may be heated. 
         [0020]    The heat source portion may be formed of a Peltier device. 
         [0021]    The temperature control unit may further comprise a heat sink contacting a side of the heat source portion. 
         [0022]    The temperature control unit may further comprise a cooling fan disposed on a side of the heat source portion. 
         [0023]    The temperature control unit may further comprise: a temperature sensor measuring a temperature of the well block; and a controller controlling the heat source portion to analyze the temperature of the well block that is measured by using the temperature sensor and to control the temperature of the well block to be uniform. 
         [0024]    The temperature control apparatus may further comprise an adhesion member disposed between the heat transfer object and the heat source portion, wherein the adhesion member fills an aperture between the heat transfer object and the heat source portion, and the heat or the cold of the heat source portion is transferred to the heat transfer object via the adhesion member. 
         [0025]    The temperature control apparatus may further comprise an adhesion member disposed between the well block and the heat transfer object, wherein the adhesion member fills an aperture between the heat transfer object and the well block, and the heat or the cold transferred from the heat source portion to the heat transfer object is transferred to the well block via the adhesion member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    The above and other aspects will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a temperature control apparatus for sample storage, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a heat transfer object illustrated in  FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a heat pipe illustrated in  FIG. 2 , according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a temperature control apparatus for sample storage, according to another exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a temperature control apparatus for sample storage, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    An inventive concept will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a temperature control apparatus for sample storage, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the temperature control apparatus may include a well block  121  and a temperature control unit. 
         [0035]    The temperature control unit may include a heat transfer object  122 , a heat source portion  123 , a heat sink  124 , a cooling fan  125 , a temperature sensor  126 , and a controller  127 . 
         [0036]    The well block  121  may include at least one accommodation groove  121   a  accommodating containers  210  (see  FIG. 4 ) for containing samples. The accommodation grooves  121   a  are concavely formed toward an inner portion of the well block  121  such that the containers  210  may be inserted into the accommodation grooves  121   a . The accommodation grooves  121   a  may be formed in the well block  121  in a plurality of columns and rows. The number of accommodation grooves  121   a  is determined by the number of containers  210  to be inserted therein. In general, containers such as 24DWP, 48DWP, 96DWP, and 384DWP (standards) are used, and thus, the number of accommodation grooves  121   a  of the well block  121  may vary according to the standard of containers. 
         [0037]    The temperature control unit may measure a temperature of the well block  121 , and heat or cool the well block  121  to control the temperatures of samples in the containers  210  (see  FIG. 4 ) accommodated in the well block  121  to be uniform. The temperature control unit may include the heat transfer object  122 , the heat source portion  123 , the heat sink  124 , the cooling fan  125 , the temperature sensor  126 , and the controller  127 . 
         [0038]    The heat transfer object  122  may be disposed below the well block  121 . The heat transfer object  122  transfers heat generated by the heat source portion  123  to the well block  121 . Since samples contained in the containers  210  (see  FIG. 4 ) accommodated in the well block  121  have to be maintained at a uniform temperature, the heat transfer object  122  may preferably, but not necessarily, be formed of a medium capable of uniformly transferring heat to the entire well block  121 . The heat transfer object  122  may be formed of a heat pipe. 
         [0039]    The well block  121  and the heat transfer object  122  may be adhered to each other by using an adhesion member  129 . The adhesion member  129  may be a thermally conductive bond. The adhesion member  129  is disposed between the well block  121  and the heat transfer object  122 , and fills an aperture between the well block  121  and the heat source portion  123  to maximize heat transfer efficiency from the heat transfer object  122  to the well block  121 . 
         [0040]    The heat transfer object  122  may be formed of a plurality of heat pipes  122   a  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The heat pipes  122   a  are used to transfer heat generated by the heat source portion  123  at an ultrahigh speed so that the entire area of the well block  121  is controlled to be at a uniform temperature.  FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heat pipes  122   a . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the heat pipes  122   a  includes a first passage  1221 , a second passage  1222 , and a wick  1223 . The wick  1223  is disposed between the first passage  1221  and the second passage  1222  to divide the first passage  1221  and the second passage  1222 . The first passage  1221  is disposed on outer portions of the second passage  1222 . A heat transfer medium in the form of a liquid moves in the first passage  1221 , and a heat transfer medium in the form of a gas moves in the second passage  1222 . Alternatively, the heat transfer medium in the form of a liquid moves in the second passage  1222 , and a heat transfer medium in the form of a gas moves in the first passage  1221 . In the heat pipes  122   a , a heat transfer medium repeats gasification and liquefaction to substantially uniformly transferring heat to the entire heat pipes  122   a.    
         [0041]    In detail, a heat transfer medium which is in a liquid form is gasified in a first portion A of the heat pipe  122   a  to which heat is transferred from the heat source portion  123 , and the gasified heat transfer medium moves from the first passage  1221  to the second passage  1222  via the wick  1223 . The heat transfer medium in the form of gas, which has arrived at the second passage  1222 , then moves to a second portion B which is not heated, along the second passage  1222 . In the second portion B, the heat transfer medium in the form of gas is liquefied by emitting heat. Here, the heat emitted by the heat transfer medium as it is being liquefied is transferred to the well block  121 . The heat transfer medium in the liquid form then moves from the second passage  1222  to the first passage  1221  in the second portion B. The heat transfer medium that has moved to the first passage  1221  moves again to the first portion A along the first passage  1221 . 
         [0042]    As described above, as heat is quickly transferred through liquefaction and gasification of the heat transfer medium through the heat pipes  122   a , the heat generated in the heat source portion  123  is uniformly transferred to the entire well block  121 , thereby maintaining uniform temperatures of samples in containers accommodated in the well block  121 . 
         [0043]    The heat source portion  123  may heat or cool the well block  121 . The heat source portion  123  may generate heat or absorb heat, to thereby heat or cool the well block  121 . The heat generated by or absorbed by the heat source portion  123  is used to heat or cool the well block  121  via the heat transfer object  122 . 
         [0044]    The heat transfer object  122  and the heat source portion  123  may be adhered to each other using the adhesion member  129 . The adhesion member  129  may be a thermally conductive bond. The adhesion member  129  is disposed between the heat transfer object  122  and the heat source portion  123 , and fills an aperture between the well block  121  and the heat source portion  123  to maximize heat transfer efficiency from the heat transfer object  122  to the well block  121 . 
         [0045]    The heat source portion  123  may be formed of a medium having a characteristic that when a first surface thereof is heated, a second surface thereof is cooled, and when the first surface is cooled, the second surface is heated. For example, the heat source portion  123  may be formed of a Peltier device. A Peltier device is an electricity/heat converting device using the Peltier effect, which is a heat transfer phenomenon that when two types of metals are bonded and a current is applied thereto, heat is generated by or absorbed by a bonding portion of the two metals. Accordingly, as the controller  127  applies a current to the heat source portion  123  via an electrical wiring  128 , a temperature of the well block  121  may increase or decrease to thereby control the temperatures of the containers  210 . 
         [0046]    The temperature sensor  126  may be installed in the well block  121 , and the controller  127  may control a temperature of the well block  121  based on a sensing signal of the temperature sensor  126 . 
         [0047]    The controller  127  may determine whether the temperature of the well block  121 , which is measured by using the temperature sensor  126 , is maintained at a predetermined level, and may control the heat source portion  123  such that the well block  121  maintains a uniform temperature. The controller  127  may be, for example, a semiconductor chip or a circuit board using a semiconductor chip. 
         [0048]    The temperature control apparatus  10  according to the current embodiment for sample storage may further include the heat sink  124  formed of a heat transferring material and contacting the first surface of the heat source portion  123 . The heat sink  124  may perform an auxiliary function of transferring heat generated by the heat source portion  123  to the outside for fast cooling. The heat sink  124  may be formed of a thermal conductive metal such as aluminum or copper. By including the heat sink  124 , a cooling effect may be obtained due to a natural convection current. Other than the illustrated structure, the heat sink  124  may also have a well-known heat pipe structure. 
         [0049]    Other various techniques may be used to supplement a cooling effect besides including the heat sink  124 . For example, the cooling fan  125  for ventilating the air may be included or a cooling pipe through which a cooling fluid flows may be included. 
         [0050]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a temperature control apparatus  20  for sample storage, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the temperature control apparatus  20  may include a well block  221  and a temperature control unit. The temperature control unit may include heat transfer objects  222  a heat source portion  223 , a heat sink  224 , a cooling fan  225 , a temperature sensor  226 , and a controller  227 . 
         [0052]    Containers  210  may be inserted into accommodation grooves  221   a  of the well block  221 . The containers  210  may be formed of a material such as a transparent plastic or glass. For example, a nucleic acid sample, which is to be amplified, may be contained in the containers  210 . An upper portion of the containers  210  is supported by using a support plate  215 . The containers  210  and the support plate  215  may be formed as a single unit. The containers  210  are inserted into the accommodation grooves  221   a  of the well block  221 . 
         [0053]    The temperature sensor  226  may be installed at the well block  221 , and the controller  227  may control the temperatures of the containers  210  based on a sensing signal of the temperature sensor  226 . The controller  227  may control the heat source portion  223  to generate heat or to cool based on a temperature of the well block  221  so that the temperature of the well block  221  is controlled to be uniform. 
         [0054]    The heat transfer objects  222  may be disposed inside the well block  221  to correspond to the accommodation grooves  221   a . The accommodation grooves  221   a  may be arranged in the well block  221  in a plurality of columns and rows. In the temperature control apparatus  20  according to the current exemplary embodiment, the heat transfer objects  222  may be arranged to correspond to the accommodation grooves  221   a  that are arranged in series. For example, the heat transfer object  222  may be in a bar form and be separated from concave portions of the accommodation grooves  221   a  that are serially arranged. Intervals between the heat transfer objects  222  below the accommodation grooves  221   a  may be identical. As the heat transfer objects  222  are arranged at the same intervals as the accommodation grooves  221   a  are, the temperatures of the containers  210  accommodated in the well block  221  may be controlled to be uniform. The heat transfer objects  222  according to the current exemplary embodiment may be heat pipes. 
         [0055]    The heat source portion  223  may heat or cool the well block  221 . The heat source portion  223  may generate heat or absorb heat to heat or cool the well block  221 , respectively. The heat generated by or absorbed by using the heat source portion  223  is used to heat or cool the well block  221  via the heat transfer objects  222 . The heat transfer objects  222  and the heat source portion  223  may be adhered to each other using a thermal conductive bond. 
         [0056]    The heat source portion  223  may be formed of a medium having a characteristic that when a first surface thereof is heated, a second surface thereof is cooled, and when the first surface is cooled, the second surface is heated). For example, the heat source portion  223  may be formed of a Peltier device. A Peltier device is an electricity/heat converting device using the Peltier effect, which is a heat transfer phenomenon that when two types of metals are bonded and a current is applied thereto, heat is generated by or absorbed by a bonding portion of the two metals. Accordingly, as the controller  227  applies a current to the heat source portion  223  via an electrical wiring  228 , a temperature of the well block  221  may increase or decrease to thereby control the temperatures of the containers  210 . 
         [0057]    The heat sink  224  may be disposed below the heat source portion  223 . The heat sink  224  may perform an auxiliary function of transferring heat generated by the heat source portion  223  to the outside for fast cooling. For example, the heat sink  224  may be formed of a thermal conductive metal such as aluminum or copper. When the first surface of the heat source portion  223 , that is, a surface facing the well block  221 , performs the function of cooling, the second surface of the heat source portion  223  is heated, and thus, the heat sink  224  dissipates heat of the second surface of the heat source portion  223 . 
         [0058]    The cooling fan  225  may be disposed under the heat sink  224 . When the first surface of the heat source portion  223  is cooled, the second surface of the heat source portion  223  is heated, and in this case, the cooling fan  225  operates to thereby cool the second surface of the heat source portion  223  with the heat sink  224 . However, when the first surface of the heat source portion  223  is heated and the second surface thereof is cooled, the cooling fan  225  may not operate. 
         [0059]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a temperature control apparatus  30  for sample storage, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the temperature control apparatus  30  may include a well block  321  and a temperature control unit. The temperature control unit may include a plurality of heat transfer objects  322 , a heat source portion  323 , a heat sink  324 , a cooling can  325 , a temperature sensor  326 , and a controller  327 . 
         [0061]    A plurality of containers  310  may be inserted into a plurality of accommodation grooves  321   a  of the well block  321 . The containers  310  may be formed of a material such as a transparent plastic or glass. For example, a nucleic acid sample, which is to be amplified, may be contained in the containers  310 . An upper portion of the containers  310  is supported by using a support plate  315 . The containers  310  are inserted into the accommodation grooves  321   a  of the well block  321 . 
         [0062]    The temperature sensor  326  may be installed at the well block  321 , and the controller  327  may control the temperatures of the containers  310  based on a sensing signal of the temperature sensor  326 . The controller  327  may control the heat source portion  323  to generate heat or to cool based on a temperature of the well block  321  so that the temperature of the well block  321  is controlled to be uniform. 
         [0063]    The heat transfer objects  332  may be disposed inside the well block  321  to correspond to the accommodation grooves  321   a . The accommodation grooves  321   a  may be arranged in the well block  321  in a plurality of columns and rows. In the temperature control apparatus  30  according to the current embodiment, the heat transfer objects  322  may be arranged in respective spaces between the adjacent accommodation grooves  321   a . For example, the heat transfer objects  322  may be in a bar form and may be separated from the accommodation grooves  321   a  at the same intervals to be between the accommodation grooves  321   a . As the heat transfer objects  322  are arranged at the same intervals as the accommodation grooves  321   a  are, the temperatures of the containers  310  accommodated in the well block  321  may be controlled to be uniform. The heat transfer objects  322  according to the current embodiment may be heat pipes. 
         [0064]    The heat source portion  323  may heat or cool the well block  321 . The heat source portion  323  may generate heat or absorb heat to heat or cool the well block  321 , respectively. The heat generated by or absorbed by the heat source portion  323  is used to heat or cool the well block  321  via the heat transfer objects  322 . The heat transfer objects  322  and the heat source portion  323  may be adhered to each other using a thermal conductive bond. 
         [0065]    The heat source portion  323  may be formed of a medium having a characteristic that when a first surface thereof is heated, a second surface thereof is cooled, or when the first surface is cooled, the second surface is heated. For example, the heat source portion  323  may be formed of a Peltier device. A Peltier device is an electricity/heat converting device using the Peltier effect, which is a heat transfer phenomenon that when two types of metals are bonded and a current is applied thereto, heat is generated by or absorbed by a bonding portion of the two metals. Accordingly, as the controller  327  applies a current to the heat source portion  323  via an electrical wiring  328 , a temperature of the well block  321  may increase or decrease to thereby control the temperatures of the containers  310 . 
         [0066]    The heat sink  324  may be disposed below the heat source portion  323 . The heat sink  324  may perform an auxiliary function of transferring heat generated by the heat source portion  323  to the outside for fast cooling. For example, the heat sink  324  may be formed of a thermal conductive metal such as aluminum or copper. When the first surface of the heat source portion  323 , that is, a surface facing the well block  321 , performs the function of cooling, the second surface of the heat source portion  323  is heated, and thus, the heat sink  324  dissipates heat of the second surface of the heat source portion  323 . 
         [0067]    The cooling fan  325  may be disposed under the heat sink  324 . When the first surface of the heat source portion  323  is cooled, the second surface of the heat source portion  323  is heated, and in this case, the cooling fan  325  operates to thereby cool the second surface of the heat source portion  323  with the heat sink  324 . However, when the first surface of the heat source portion  323  is heated and the second surface thereof is cooled, the cooling fan  325  may not operate. 
         [0068]    According to the exemplary embodiments, the temperatures of samples stored in well blocks may be controlled to be uniform. 
         [0069]    While the inventive concept has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept as defined by the following claims.