# US 8,739,554 B2 · Thermal block unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,554 B2 - Document ID: US8739554B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/268,360 - Filed: 2008-11-10 - Published: 2009-05-14 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2007-11-13 - Assignees: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Paul Federer - Inventors: Paul Federer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739554B2 ## CPC - B01L 7/52: {with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples} - B01L 2200/142: Preventing evaporation - B01L 2200/147: Employing temperature sensors - B01L 2300/024: Storing results with means integrated into the container - B01L 2300/046: Function or devices integrated in the closure - B01L 2300/0654: Lenses; Optical fibres - B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates - B01L 2300/1827: using resistive heater - B01L 2300/185: using a liquid as fluid - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE ## Abstract The present invention discloses a thermal block unit for thermal treatment of samples comprising temperature regulating units, temperature sensors for measuring temperature at different locations of the thermal block unit, a converter for converting signals from the temperature sensors into digital signals and a thermal block interface for communicating with an instrument. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermal block unit for thermal treatment of samples comprising: a plurality of temperature regulating units comprising one or more thermoelectric coolers and a heat sink, a sample block for holding multiple sample vials, the sample block being in close thermal contact with the thermoelectric coolers, wherein the thermoelectric coolers are positioned over the heat sink and between the sample block and the heat sink, and the number of the thermoelectric coolers is less than the number of the sample vials. a heatable cover for closing the sample vials and preventing condensation of sample vapors within the sample vials, the heatable cover comprising holes in correspondence of each sample in the sample vials for optical detection, one or more temperature sensor(s) for measuring temperature at one or more different locations of the thermal block unit, wherein the number of the temperature sensors is less than the number of sample vials held by the sample block, and the number of temperature regulating units is less than the number of sample vials held by the sample block, one or more converter(s) for converting signals from the temperature sensors into digital signals, at least one processor for processing said digital signals and configured to control the one or more temperature regulating units to restore condition of well-to-well homogeneity and reproducibility in case of a minimum bias from homogeneity, and one or more thermal block interface(s) for communicating with an instrument. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermal block unit according to claim 1 wherein said at least one processor comprises a thermal block processor for processing said digital signals directly within the thermal block unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermal block unit according to claim 1 wherein the thermal block interface is effective to send said digital signals to the instrument. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermal block unit according to claim 1 wherein the temperature regulating units comprise Peltier elements and a heat sink. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermal block unit according to claim 1 further comprising a memory. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The thermal block unit of claim 5 wherein the memory stores data selected from the group consisting of: thermal block specific counts, serial number, block type, calibration parameters, dates and errors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermal block unit according to claim 1 wherein the thermal block unit is a thermal block cycler. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A system for thermal treatment of samples, comprising: an instrument, and a thermal block unit according to claim 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8 wherein the at least one processor of the thermal block unit comprises a thermal block processor for processing said digital signals directly within the thermal block unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8 wherein the interface is effective to send said digital signals to the instrument. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8 wherein the instrument comprises a controller processor for processing said digital signals. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8 wherein the thermal block unit is releasably received within the instrument. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8 wherein the instrument further comprises an optical detection unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8 wherein the instrument further comprises a loading unit for loading/unloading multiwell plates or tube arrays. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9 wherein the instrument comprises a system processor for the control of the system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A method for thermal treatment of samples comprising: providing a thermal block unit according to claim 1, measuring the temperature at different locations of the thermal block unit with the temperature sensors, converting measured temperature signals into digital signals within the thermal block unit, processing digital signals, and controlling the temperature regulating units in response to the processed signals. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein processing of digital signals is carried out by a thermal block processor integrated within the thermal block. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 further comprising sending digital signals to an instrument. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein processing of digital signals is carried out by a controller processor within the instrument. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 further comprising exposing one or more samples to a temperature profile. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20 wherein the temperature profile comprises repeated temperature cycles. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The thermal block unit according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of temperature regulating units control the temperature at <0.01° C. across the thermal block unit. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The thermal block unit according to claim 1, further comprising one or more components for measuring and converting into digital signals one or more of electric potential differences, and/or currents, and/or resistances within the thermal block.