# US 8,784,753 B2 · Thermal cycler with self-adjusting lid

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- Number: US 8,784,753 B2
- Document ID: US8784753B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/551,311
- Filed: 2012-07-17
- Published: 2012-11-08
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-02-15
- Assignees: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
- Applicants: Jeffry M. Ceremony; Daniel Y. Chu; Deepak K. Doshi; Rhoel Rumbaoa; Dennis W. Loring; Paul J. Patt; Cliff Baldwin
- Inventors: Jeffry M. Ceremony; Daniel Y. Chu; Deepak K. Doshi; Rhoel Rumbaoa; Dennis W. Loring; Paul J. Patt; Cliff Baldwin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784753B2

## CPC

- B01L 7/52: {with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples}
- B01L 2300/043: Hinged closures
- B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
- B01L 2300/0851: Bottom walls
- B01L 2300/14: Means for pressure control
- B01L 2300/1827: using resistive heater
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

## Abstract

A thermal cycling instrument for PCR and other reactions performed on multiple samples with temperature changes between sequential stages in the reaction procedure is supplied with a thermal block to provide rapid changes and close control over the temperature in each sample vessel and a pressure plate incorporated into a motorized lid that detects anomalies in the reaction vessels or in their positioning over the thermal block, and automatically adjusts the plate position to achieve an even force distribution over the sample vessels.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A heated pressure plate for pressing a plurality of sample vessels against a common temperature-controlled heat-conductive block, said heated pressure plate comprising a heat-conductive layer with an exposed undersurface, a heat insulating layer, a resistance heating layer between said heat conductive layer and said heat insulating layer, and at least one peripheral spacer between said resistance heating layer and said heat insulating layer to leave a gap between said resistance heating layer and said heat insulating layer and thereby allow said heat conductive layer to adjust in curvature when necessary to achieve uniform contact with said sample vessels.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The heated pressure plate of claim 1 wherein said pressure plate has an apertured central region and said spacer is peripheral to said central region.

### Claim 3

A heated pressure plate for pressing a plurality of sample vessels against a common temperature-controlled heat-conductive block, said heated pressure plate comprising a heat conductive layer with an exposed undersurface, a heat insulating layer, a resistance heating layer between said heat conductive layer and said heat insulating layer, and at least one peripheral spacer between said resistance heating layer and said heat insulating layer, wherein said heat conductive layer is bowed to cause said exposed undersurface to be convex.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A heated pressure plate according to claim 1, further comprising apertures that allow for radiation transmissions and optical signals through the heated pressure plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A heated pressure plate according to claim 1, further comprising apertures configured to align with indentations of a thermal block.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

A heated pressure plate according to claim 3, further comprising apertures that allow for radiation transmissions and optical signals through the heated pressure plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

A heated pressure plate according to claim 3, further comprising apertures configured to align with indentations of a thermal block.