Magnetic stirring and heating/cooling apparatus
AssigneeDuke University
InventorsL. Allen Kindman, Ronald F. Overaker, Brian C. Dodge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic stirring device which also provides for simultaneous heating/cooling of samples. The magnetic stirring apparatus comprises a plurality of wells into which respective vessels can be placed and continuously stirred by motivating a magnetic stirring bar therein with a three phase frequency controller. Simultaneously, the temperature of the vessels can be maintained at a predetermined temperature either above or below room temperature by means of thermoelectric elements in contact with a heat conducting block within which the wells are located.
Claims17
A device adapted to magnetically stir and temperature control a plurality of liquid samples comprising:
- (a) a plurality of vessels for containing the plurality of liquid samples to be stirred at a predetermined controlled temperature;
- (b) a plurality of wells for supporting said plurality of vessels, and each of the wells having a bottom;
- (c) power means for generating a plurality of continuously varying currents wherein said currents are in phase shifted relationship relative to each other;
- (d) coil means electrically connected to said power means and positioned around each of said wells for establishing a rotating magnetic field in each of said wells in response to said plurality of continuously varying currents;
- (e) a plurality of magnetic stir bars for positioning in said plurality of vessels supported within said corresponding plurality of wells and which are responsive to the rotating magnetic field within said wells so that the stir bars will rotate at a selected speed and stir the samples within said vessels;
- (f) heating and cooling means thermoelectrically connected with said plurality of wells for heating and cooling said wells and said plurality of vessels supported in said wells;
- and
- (g) temperature control means electrically connected to said heating and cooling means for providing thermostatic temperature control to said vessels supported within said wells;
- whereby simultaneous thermostatic heating and cooling and stirring of the plurality of liquid samples contained within said plurality of vessels can be accomplished.
A device adapted to magnetically stir liquid samples in a plurality of vessels with a corresponding plurality of magnetic stir bars and simultaneously temperature control the liquid samples, said device comprising:
- (a) a plurality of wells for supporting the plurality of vessels, and each of the wells having a bottom;
- (b) power means for generating a plurality of continuously varying currents wherein said currents are in phase shifted relationship relative to each other;
- (c) coil means electrically connected to said power means and positioned around each of said wells for establishing a rotating magnetic field in each of said wells in response to said plurality of continuously varying currents to motivate the plurality of stir bars in the plurality of vessels so that the stir bars will rotate at a selected speed and stir the samples within said vessels;
- (d) heating and cooling means thermoelectrically connected with said plurality of wells for heating and cooling said wells and the plurality of vessels supported in said wells;
- and
- (e) temperature control means electrically connected to said heating and cooling means for providing thermostatic temperature control to the vessels supported within said wells;
- whereby simultaneous thermostatic heating and cooling and stirring of the plurality of liquid samples contained within the plurality of vessels can be accomplished.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.