Device including inductively heatable fluid retainment region, and method

Abstract

A device is provided that comprises one or more fluid retainment regions each having at least one wall, and one or more loops in heat-transfer communication with the at least one wall. Each of the loops can comprise an electrical conductor that surrounds the same or a different fluid retainment region. A device is provided that comprises one or more fluid retainment regions each having particulates disposed therein. A system is provided that includes a platen adapted to hold a device including fluid retainment regions and one or more electrical conductors in heat-transfer communication with the fluid retainment regions. Methods of heating a sample are also provided.

1 . A system comprising:
 a fluid processing device comprising one or more fluid retainment regions each comprising at least one wall, and one or more loops in heat-transfer communication with the at least one wall of at least one of the one or more fluid retainment regions and surrounding at least one of the one or more fluid retainment regions, wherein each of the one or more loops comprises a material adapted to be inductively heated by a magnetically-induced electric current; and   one or more vials, each vial adapted to be removably disposed respectively in the one or more fluid retainment regions and each vial comprising at least one outer wall that is complementary to the at least one wall of the one or more fluid retainment regions.   
     
     
         2 . A system comprising:
 a holder adapted to hold one or more fluid processing devices comprising a substrate and a plurality of fluid retainment regions disposed in or on the substrate;   an electrical conductor in heat-transfer communication with at least one of the plurality of fluid retainment regions, when a fluid processing device is disposed in the holder; and   a magnetic field source adapted to form a varying magnetic field in the electrical conductor,   wherein the electrical conductor is adapted to be heated by an electric current induced by the varying magnetic field.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic field source comprises an electromagnet and a power supply adapted to provide power having at least one of a varying amplitude or a varying frequency to the electromagnet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic field source comprises a magnet providing a constant magnetic field, and a drive device adapted to cyclically move at least one of the holder and the magnet relative to the other of the holder and the magnet, such that in operation of the drive device a varying magnetic field is generated by the magnet in the electrical conductor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the holder is disposed in or on a rotatable platen having a central axis of rotation, and the drive device is adapted to spin the rotatable platen relative to the magnet, when one or more fluid processing devices are disposed in the holder. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the drive device is adapted to reciprocally move the holder relative to the magnet, when one or more fluid processing devices are disposed in the holder. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein there is a one to n correspondence between the plurality of fluid retainment regions and the electrical conductor, and n is greater than one. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein there is a n to one correspondence between the plurality of fluid retainment regions and the electrical conductor, and n is greater than one. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a temperature indicator adapted to measure a temperature of at least one of the one or more fluid retainment regions. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a holder adapted to hold one or more fluid-processing devices, each fluid-processing device comprising one or more fluid retainment regions and an electrical conductor surrounding at least one of the one or more fluid retainment regions and in heat-transfer communication with at least one of the one or more fluid retainment regions;   a magnetic field source adapted to form a magnetic field; and   a drive device adapted to cyclically move at least one of the holder and the magnetic field source relative to the other of the holder and the magnetic field source, such that in operation of the drive device a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source induces at least one eddy current in the electrical conductor to heat the electrical conductor.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the magnetic field source comprises an electromagnet and a power supply adapted to provide power having a varying amplitude to the electromagnet. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the magnetic field source comprises an electromagnet and an power supply adapted to provide power having a varying frequency to the electromagnet. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the magnetic field source comprises a magnet providing a constant magnetic field, and a drive device adapted to cyclically move at least one of the holder and the magnet relative to the other of the holder and the magnet, such that in operation of the drive device a varying magnetic field is generated by the magnet in the electrical conductor. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical conductor comprises magnetic material particulates adapted to be inductively heated by a magnetically-induced electric current in one or more of the magnetic material particulates.