Microplate manufactured from a thermally conductive material and methods for making and using such microplates
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsGregory R. Martin, Paul M. Szlosek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microplate that is manufactured from a thermally conductive material and methods for making and using the microplate are described herein. Basically, the microplate has a series of wells formed within a frame that is manufactured from a thermally conductive material which enables the wells to have relatively rigid walls which in turn makes it easier to handle the microplate. The thermally conductive material can be a metal or a mixture of a polymer (e.g., polypropylene, LCP) and one or more thermally conductive additives (e.g., carbon fiber, metal, ceramic). Also described herein is a tube manufactured from a thermally conductive material and methods for making and using the tube.
Claims61
A microplate, comprising:
- a frame including a plurality of wells formed therein, said frame is manufactured from a thermally conductive material that enables the wells to have relatively rigid walls which makes it easier to handle said frame.
A microplate manufactured in such a way so as to improve the ability to properly carry out a polymerase chain reaction process, said microplate comprising:
- a frame including a plurality of wells formed therein, said frame is manufactured from a thermally conductive material that enables the wells to have relatively thick walls which makes it easier to remove said frame from a thermocycler.
A method for making a microplate, said method comprising the steps of:
- mixing a polymer and at least one thermally conductive additive;
- extruding the mixed polymer and the at least one thermally conductive additive to create a melt blend;
- cooling said extruded melt blend;
- pelletizing said cooled melt blend;
- melting said pelletized melt blend;
- injecting said melted blend into a mold cavity of an injection molding machine, said mold cavity includes sections shaped to form said microplate;
- cooling the injected melt blend to create said microplate;
- and
- removing said microplate from the injection molding machine, wherein said microplate includes a plurality of wells.
A method for making a microplate, said method comprising the steps of:
- melting a thermally conductive material;
- injecting said melted thermally conductive material into a mold cavity of a machine, said mold cavity includes sections shaped to form said microplate;
- cooling the injected thermally conductive material to create said microplate;
- and
- removing said microplate from the machine, wherein said microplate includes a plurality of wells.
A method for using a microplate, said method comprising the steps of:
- placing the microplate into a thermocycler;
- operating the thermocycler so as to cycle the temperature of a solution within one or more wells in said microplate;
- and
- removing the microplate from the thermocycler, wherein said microplate is manufactured from a thermally conductive material that enables the wells to have relatively thick walls which makes it easier to remove said microplate from the thermocycler.
A tube manufactured in such a way so as to improve the ability to properly carry out a polymerase chain reaction process, said tube comprising:
- a well manufactured from a thermally conductive material that enables the well to have a relatively rigid wall.
A method for making a tube, said method comprising the steps of:
- melting a thermally conductive material;
- injecting said melted thermally conductive material into a mold cavity of an injection molding machine, said mold cavity includes sections shaped to form said tube;
- cooling the injected thermally conductive material to create said tube;
- and
- removing said tube from the injection molding machine, wherein said tube includes a well with an inner wall having a plurality of heat transfer fins extending therefrom.
A method for using a tube, said method comprising the steps of:
- placing said tube into a thermocycler, said tube is made from a thermally conductive material and includes a well with an inner wall having a plurality of heat transfer fins extending therefrom;
- operating the thermocycler so as to cycle the temperature of contents within the well of said tube;
- and
- removing said tube from the thermocycler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.