Changing the temperature of a liquid sample and a receptacle useful therefor

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of changing the temperature of a liquid sample, comprising: providing a receptacle having inner and outer walls defining an annular portion therebetween for receiving therein a liquid sample, inserting said liquid sample, at a first temperature, into said annular portion, and exposing said receptacle to a second temperature different from said first temperature, Further disclosed are a receptacle useful in the above method and a chamber useful for performing said method.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A receptacle having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising: an outer wall and an inner wall fixed relative to said outer wall, said outer wall and inner wall together defining an annular portion there between, and
 an inner space defined by said inner wall open at each of said proximal end, and said distal end, enabling passage of fluid via said inner space whilst holding said liquid within said annular portion.   
     
     
         26 . The receptacle according to  claim 25 , for use in changing the temperature of a biological sample, said sample being characterized by a cross-sectional dimension along which the change of temperature may be performed with a predetermined acceptable resultant quality of the sample, wherein:
 said annular portion has a distance between said inner wall and said outer wall not exceeding said cross-sectional dimension of the sample.   
     
     
         27 . The receptacle according to  claim 25 , wherein the receptacle has a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, and the inner wall defines an inner space extending along said longitudinal axis, and a substantially round cross-section taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, and the inner space is open at both the proximal end and distal end of the receptacle. 
     
     
         28 . A method of changing the temperature of a liquid sample, comprising:
 (i) providing a receptacle having an outer wall and an inner fixed relative to said outer wall, said outer wall and inner wall together defining an annular portion therebetween for receiving therein said liquid sample;   (ii) inserting said liquid sample, at a first temperature, into said annular portion, and   (iii) exposing said receptacle to a second temperature different from said first temperature.   
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the receptacle has a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, and the inner wall defines an inner space extending along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the receptacle has a longitudinal axis and a substantially round cross-section taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the inner space is open at both the proximal end and distal end of the receptacle. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising providing an environment with a temperature gradient in a given direction and wherein step (iii) is performed at least partially by passing the receptacle in said environment along said direction, with the longitudinal axis of the receptacle being parallel to said direction. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the annular portion of the receptacle is sealed at the distal end and sealable at the proximal end of the receptacle. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein step (iii) comprises providing a heat transfer fluid at the second temperature for flowing around the receptacle and into the inner space via one of the proximal or distal ends and out of the other. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising, before step (iii):
 (i) providing a conduit tightly insertable in the inner space of the receptacle at the proximal end thereof, being adapted to direct the heat transfer fluid flowing out of the inner space so as not to enter the annular portion, and   (ii) inserting said conduit into the inner space at said proximal end.   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the conduit is configured, such that the flowing of the heat transfer fluid therethrough imparts rotation to the receptacle. 
     
     
         37 . A chamber for facilitating changing the temperature of a liquid sample held within a receptacle comprising:
 a cavity for receiving said receptacle, and   an inlet for inputting a heat transfer fluid into said cavity,   wherein the receptacle comprises   a proximal end and a distal end;   an outer wall and an inner wall fixed relative to said outer all, said outer wall and inner wall together defining an annular portion therebetween for receiving liquid therein; and   an inner space defined by said inner wall open at each of said proximal and distal ends,   wherein said chamber comprises a manifold for distributing the heat transfer fluid through the inner space and around said receptacle.   
     
     
         38 . The chamber according to  claim 37 , wherein the cavity is adapted to accommodate the distal end of the receptacle, and the manifold further comprises a projection adapted to be received into the inner space at the distal end of said receptacle. 
     
     
         39 . A chamber for facilitating changing the temperature of a liquid sample held within a receptacle, the chamber comprising:
 a receptacle having a proximal end and a distal end;   a cavity for receiving said receptacle; and   an inlet for inputting a heat transfer fluid into said cavity;   wherein said receptacle comprises:   an outer wall and an inner wall fixed relative to said outer wall, said outer wall and inner wall together defining an annular portion therebetween; and an inner space defined by said inner wall open at each of said proximal end and distal end, enabling passage of fluid via said inner space whilst holding said fluid within said annular portion, the receptacle further comprising a conduit adapted for insertion into the inner space so as to allow the fluid to exit therefrom via said conduit, wherein the conduit is configured such that the flowing of a fluid therethrough imparts rotation to said receptacle.   
     
     
         40 . The chamber of  claim 39 , comprising a manifold for distributing the heat transfer fluid through the inner space and around said receptacle. 
     
     
         41 . The chamber of  claim 40 , wherein the cavity is adapted to accommodate the distal end of the receptacle, and the manifold further comprises a projection adapted to be received into the inner space at the distal end of said receptacle. 
     
     
         42 . The chamber of  claim 39 , for changing the temperature of a biological sample, said sample being characterized by a cross-sectional dimension along which the change of temperature may be performed with a predetermined acceptable resultant quality of the sample, wherein: said annular portion has a distance between said inner wall and said outer wall not exceeding said cross-sectional dimension of the sample. 
     
     
         43 . The chamber of  claim 39 , wherein the receptacle has a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, and the inner wall defines an inner space extending along said longitudinal axis, and a substantially round cross-section taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, and the inner space is open at both the proximal end and distal end of the receptacle. 
     
     
         44 . The chamber of  claim 39 , wherein the inner wall of the receptacle is securely fixed in place and configured sufficient to prevent said inner wall from longitudinal movement with respect to said outer wall.