The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 2010
Filed:
Feb. 07, 2006
William W. LI, Miami, FL (US);
Rongchang Xin, Miami, FL (US);
Wing S. Pang, Rowland Heights, CA (US);
Dobson M. Okawa, Anaheim, CA (US);
William W. Li, Miami, FL (US);
Rongchang Xin, Miami, FL (US);
Wing S. Pang, Rowland Heights, CA (US);
Dobson M. Okawa, Anaheim, CA (US);
Beckman Coulter, Inc., Brea, CA (US);
Abstract
Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of one or more reaction vessels in a bio-chemical analyzer comprises a heat-exchange block, preferably made of cast aluminum or the like, and a thermoelectric device for heating or cooling the block to within a desired temperature range. The heat-transfer block cradles one or more reaction vessels in a thermal energy-transferring relationship, and further supports, in a thermal energy-transferring relationship, one or more fluid conduits serving to transmit a liquid or gas to the interior of the reaction vessels. Preferably, the heat-transfer block is cast from aluminum, and the fluid conduits are disposed inside the casting. By supporting the reaction vessel(s) and fluid conduit(s) in a common block, a single thermoelectric device and controller can be used to simultaneously control the respective temperatures of multiple fluid reagents and/or gases, as well as one or more reaction vessels, thereby reducing the power requirements of the thermal control system.