Non-Modal Interplate Microwave Heating System and Method of Heating

Abstract

Disclosed is a microwave heater and a method of heating. The microwave heater includes a non-modal interplate microwave applicator and may include a nonresonant enclosure. The non-modal interplate microwave applicator is configured to receive therein a load to be heated by microwaves radiated from the non-modal interplate microwave applicator.

1 . A microwave heating system comprising:
 a non-modal interplate microwave applicator configured to receive a load to be heated by microwaves radiated from the applicator;   a microwave source connected to the non-modal interplate microwave applicator.   
     
     
         2 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a nonresonant enclosure, wherein the nonresonant enclosure at least partially encloses the non-modal interplate microwave applicator. 
     
     
         3 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the non-modal interplate microwave applicator comprises a closed-loop single-ended applicator or a balanced applicator. 
     
     
         4 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the non-modal interplate microwave applicator comprises an impedance matched applicator. 
     
     
         5 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the non-modal interplate microwave applicator comprises at least two applicator plates that are separated with a distance d that is less than λ/6. 
     
     
         6 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the non-modal interplate microwave applicator comprises at least two applicator plates wherein the distance between the applicator plates is variable. 
     
     
         7 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the non-modal interplate microwave applicator comprises at least two applicator plates, wherein the spaces between the applicator plates are at least partially filled with a dielectric material other then the load to be treated. 
     
     
         8 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the nonresonant enclosure comprises at least one material chosen from at least one conducting material and at least one semiconducting material. 
     
     
         9 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the load comprises a reaction mixture. 
     
     
         10 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a flow reactor 
     
     
         11 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a supporting structure in combination with the non-modal interplate microwave applicator for maintaining the load within the non-modal interplate microwave applicator. 
     
     
         12 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the supporting structure comprises at least one material chosen from a microwave transparent material and a partially microwave transparent material. 
     
     
         13 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the supporting structure contains one of a liquid or a gas. 
     
     
         14 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the supporting structure comprises at least one inlet and at least one outlet. 
     
     
         15 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a load holder, wherein the load holder comprises at least one of a reaction vial, a bulb, a tube, a capillary structure, a thin film substrate, a glass slab, a microscope slide, a film, a tissue cassette, a micro titer plate, a micro fluidic device, a micro array, or a micro fabricated structure, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a tuning device, wherein at least one property of the tuning device chosen from resistance, inductance, and capacitance can be varied. 
     
     
         17 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 16  further comprising a monitoring device providing a feedback signal to the tuning device. 
     
     
         18 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the monitoring device comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an ultraviolet (UV) sensor, an infrared (IR), an x-ray device, an ultrasound device, a laser, a fluorescence measuring device, a chemo-luminescence measuring device, or a spectroscopy device, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a controller to control a frequency of the microwaves. 
     
     
         20 . A microwave heating system in accordance with  claim 19  wherein the controller comprises one of a finite state machine, or a feedback machine, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A method for heating a load with microwaves, the method comprising:
 forming a non-modal interplate microwave applicator shaped to define an applicator for generating an electromagnetic field therein; and   configuring the non-modal interplate microwave applicator to generate the electromagnetic field to heat a load using microwaves.   
     
     
         22 . A method in accordance with  claim 21  wherein at least one property chosen from frequency and power of the microwaves is varied to control a reaction in the load. 
     
     
         23 . A method in accordance with  claim 21 , further comprising:
 positioning a fluid carrier carrying a fluid load between plates of a non-modal interpolate microwave applicator;   applying an electromagnetic field between the plates to the fluid; and   heating the fluid.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the fluid is chosen from a washing fluid, a rinsing fluid, a neutral fluid, a histochemical reagent, an immunohistochemical reagent, a hybridization reagent, a dewaxing fluid, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising:
 monitoring a characteristic of the fluid; and 
 adjusting the electromagnetic field between the plates in response at least in part to the monitoring. 
 
     
     
         26 . A method of processing a biological sample on a microscope slide for histochemical, immunohistochemical, or in situ hybridization analysis comprising:
 positioning the biological sample between plates of a non-modal interpolate microwave applicator;   connecting a microwave source to the non-modal interpolate microwave applicator;   applying an electromagnetic field between the plates to the biological sample on the microscope slide; and   heating the sample to perform at least one processing step.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising:
 monitoring a characteristic of the sample; and 
 adjusting the electromagnetic field between the plates in response at least in part to the monitoring. 
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the at least one processing step is a pretreatment step chosen from baking, dewaxing, target retrieval, blocking, denaturation, enzymatic digestion, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the at least one processing step is an incubation step chosen from histochemical incubation, immunohistochemical incubation, and in situ hybridization.