System and method including thermal cycler modules

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing and analyzing samples are disclosed. The system may process samples, such as biological fluids, using assay cartridges which can be processed at different processing locations. In some cases, the system can be used for PCR processing. The different processing locations may include a preparation location where samples can be prepared and an analysis location where samples can be analyzed. To assist with the preparation of samples, the system may also include a number of processing stations which may include processing lanes. During the analysis of samples, in some cases, thermal cycler modules and an appropriate optical detection system can be used to detect the presence or absence of certain nucleic acid sequences in the samples. The system can be used to accurately and rapidly process samples.

1 - 241 . (canceled) 
     
     
         242 . A thermal cycler for heating a reaction vessel, the thermal cycler comprising:
 a thermal block including a receptacle for receiving a reaction vessel; and   a movable lid having an open position and a closed position, the movable lid capable of moving between the open and closed positions,   wherein the lid is configured to dislodge the reaction vessel from the receptacle as the lid moves from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         243 . The thermal cycler of  claim 242 ,
 wherein the movable lid is configured to slide in a sliding direction between the open position and the closed position, wherein the movable lid includes a base plate having an aperture and a bottom wall surrounding the aperture, the aperture elongated in the sliding direction, and the bottom wall comprising a tapered ridge, and   wherein the thickness of the tapered ridge increases progressively in the sliding direction such that a thinner portion of the tapered ridge aligns with the receptacle when lid is in the closed position and a thicker portion of the tapered ridge aligns with the receptacle when the lid is in the open position.   
     
     
         244 . The thermal cycler of  claim 243  further comprising:
 a first window; and 
 a second window, 
 wherein the first window and the second window are in optical communication with the receptacle. 
 
     
     
         245 . The thermal cycler of  claim 244 , wherein the receptacle is in the form of a truncated conical cavity defined by a bottom wall and a conical side wall, and wherein the first window communicates through the bottom wall and the second window communicates through the side wall. 
     
     
         246 . The thermal cycler of  claim 245  further comprising:
 a fluorescent target in optical communication with the receptacle. 
 
     
     
         247 . The thermal cycler of  claim 246  further comprising:
 a laser, 
 a galvanometer configured to direct light from the laser into a plurality of positions across the first window; and 
 a detector configured to receive light from the second window. 
 
     
     
         248 . The thermal cycler of  claim 247  further comprising:
 a first optical fiber in optical communication with the galvanometer and the first window; and 
 a second optical fiber in optical communication with the second window and the detector. 
 
     
     
         249 . The thermal cycler of  claim 245 , wherein the thermal block includes a heater and a temperature sensor, and wherein the receptacle is cooperatively configured with the reaction vessel and is in thermal contact with the reaction vessel when the reaction vessel is in the receptacle. 
     
     
         250 . A thermal cycler comprising:
 a thermal block including a receptacle for receiving a reaction vessel;   a first window in optical communication with the receptacle;   a second window in optical communication with the receptacle;   a fluorescent target in optical communication with the receptacle;   a laser;   a galvanometer configured to direct light from the laser into a plurality of positions on the first window;   a detector configured to receive light from the second window and to produce a signal in response to the received light; and   a controller coupled to the galvanometer and to the detector,   wherein the controller is configured to control the galvanometer angle to direct light from the laser to the plurality of positions, and to monitor each signal from the detector when the directed light is at each of the plurality of positions, and   wherein the controller identifies the signal with the maximum intensity, records the galvanometer angle corresponding to the signal with the maximum intensity, and assigns the corresponding galvanometer angle as the selected galvanometer angle for the thermal cycler.   
     
     
         251 . The thermal cycler of  claim 250 , wherein the fluorescent target is disposed within the receptacle. 
     
     
         252 . The thermal cycler of  claim 250  further comprising:
 a movable lid, wherein the fluorescent target is disposed on the movable lid. 
 
     
     
         253 . The thermal cycler of  claim 252 , wherein the movable lid is configured to slide linearly between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the lid is configured to dislodge the reaction vessel from the receptacle as the lid moves from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         254 . The thermal cycler of  claim 250  further comprising:
 a first optical fiber interposed between the galvanometer and the first window; and 
 a second optical fiber interposed between the second window and the detector. 
 
     
     
         255 . The thermal cycler of  claim 253 , wherein the galvanometer includes a two axis galvanometer, and the first optical fiber is one of a plurality of first optical fibers arranged in a two-dimensional array. 
     
     
         256 . The thermal cycler of  claim 254 , wherein the detector comprises a spectrophotometer. 
     
     
         257 . A thermal cycler comprising:
 a thermal block including a receptacle for receiving a reaction vessel;   a first window in optical communication with the receptacle;   a second window in optical communication with the receptacle;   a first optical fiber in optical communication with the first window; and   a second optical fiber in optical communication with the second window,   wherein the receptacle is in the form of a truncated conical cavity defined by a bottom wall and a conical side wall, the receptacle cooperatively configured with the reaction vessel, and   wherein the first window communicates through the bottom wall and the second window communicates through the side wall.   
     
     
         258 . The thermal cycler of  claim 257  further comprising:
 a movable lid configured to slide linearly in a sliding direction between an open position and a closed position, 
 wherein the movable lid includes a lid heater, and 
 wherein the movable lid is configured to dislodge the reaction vessel from the receptacle as the lid slides from the closed position to the open position, and wherein the detector comprises a spectrophotometer. 
 
     
     
         259 . The thermal cycler of  claim 258 ,
 wherein the thermal block includes a heater and a temperature sensor,   wherein the thermal block is in thermal contact with the reaction vessel when the reaction vessel is in the receptacle, and   wherein the movable lid includes a base plate having an aperture and a bottom wall surrounding the aperture, the aperture elongated in the sliding direction, and the bottom wall comprising a tapered ridge.   
     
     
         260 . The thermal cycler of  claim 259  further comprising:
 a fluorescent target disposed on the movable lid and a two-axis galvanometer in optical communication with the first optical fiber. 
 
     
     
         261 . The thermal cycler of  claim 260 ,
 wherein the conical cavity has walls which form an internal angle of about 4 degrees to about 8 degrees, and   wherein the thermal block has a thermal conductivity of about 100 W/mK or greater, a specific heat of about 0.30 kJ/kgK or less, and a thickness between about 0.015 inches and about 0.04 inches.