Systems and methods for a thermal cycler heated cover

Abstract

A thermal cycler system for use with a sample holder configured to receive a plurality of samples includes a sample block configured to receive the sample holder, a cover lid configured to move in a direction toward the sample block from an open position to a closed position, a heated cover operatively coupled to the cover lid and configured to move in a direction toward the sample block from a raised position to a first lowered position, in which the heated cover contacts the sample holder when the sample holder is received by the sample block, and a drive assembly including a motion guide configured to move in a direction toward the sample block from a first position, wherein the cover lid is in the open position and the heated cover is in the raised position, to a second position, wherein the cover lid is in the closed position.

1 . A thermal cycler system for use with a sample holder configured to receive a plurality of samples, the system comprising:
 a sample block configured to receive the sample holder;   a heated cover configured to move in a direction toward the sample block from a raised position to a first lowered position when the sample holder is received by the sample block, and from the first lowered position to a second lowered position when the sample holder is removed from the sample block; and   a first sensor configured to detect whether the heated cover is in the first lowered position,   wherein, in the first lowered position, the heated cover is in contact with the sample holder in the first lowered position, and   wherein, in the second lowered position, the heated cover is in a position intermediate of the first lowered position and the sample block.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal cycler system of  claim 1 , wherein, when the sample holder is received by the sample block and the heated cover is in the first lowered position, the heated cover is configured to apply a force to the sample holder. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal cycler system of  claim 2 , wherein the heated cover is configured to apply a predetermined force to the sample holder. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal cycler system of  claim 3 , the system further comprising:
 a pressure bar coupled to the heated cover,   wherein, when the heated cover is applying the predetermined force to the sample holder, the pressure bar and the heated cover are spaced apart by a predetermined distance and the first sensor is configured to detect whether the pressure bar and the heated cover are spaced apart by the predetermined distance.   
     
     
         5 . The thermal cycler system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second sensor configured to detect whether the heated cover is in the second lowered position.   
     
     
         6 . The thermal cycler system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a motion guide configured to move in a direction toward the sample block from a first position to a second position when the sample holder is removed from the sample block,   wherein, in the first position of the motion guide, the heated cover is in the raised position in the first position of the motion guide,   wherein, in the second position of the motion guide, the heated cover is in the second lowered position,   wherein the second sensor is configured to detect whether the motion guide is in the second position.   
     
     
         7 . The thermal cycler system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a third sensor configured to detect whether the heated cover is in the raised position.   
     
     
         8 . The thermal cycler system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a cover lid configured to move in a direction toward the sample block from an open position to a closed position; and   a third sensor configured to detect whether the cover lid is in the open position,   wherein, in the open position of the cover lid, the heated cover is in the raised position.   
     
     
         9 . A thermal cycler system comprising:
 a sample block comprising a sample holder receiving surface configured to receive the sample holder; and   a cover assembly moveable in a first direction parallel to the sample holder receiving surface between an open position and a closed position relative to the sample holder receiving surface, wherein the cover assembly covers the sample holder receiving surface in the closed position and exposes the sample holder receiving surface in the open position, wherein the cover assembly comprises:
 a platen moveable, in the closed position of the cover assembly, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the sample holder receiving surface, 
 a cover lid over the platen, the cover lid having a first range of motion in the first direction from an initial position to a final position of the cover lid, 
 an actuatable linkage coupled to and extending transversely across the platen in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, the actuatable linkage moveable in the second direction between a raised position and a lowered position, and the actuatable linkage being movable in the first direction with the cover lid through the first range of motion of the cover lid, and 
 an elastically deformable member between the actuatable linkage and the platen, the elastically deformable member arranged to exert a compressive force against the platen in the lowered position of the platen and the actuatable linkage. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the platen is configured to be heated. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a drive assembly operably coupled to the cover assembly, the drive assembly configured to impart a drive force on the cover assembly in the first direction. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a motion guide coupled to the cover assembly and the drive assembly, the motion guide positioned to transfer the drive force from the drive assembly to the cover assembly, the motion guide and the cover assembly moving together over the first range of motion in the first direction in response to the drive force. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the platen is moveable over a second range of motion in the second direction in response to movement of the motion guide relative to the cover assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising imparting a drive force on the cover assembly in the first direction using a drive assembly operably coupled to the cover assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising transferring the drive force from the drive assembly to the cover assembly using a motion guide coupled to the cover assembly and the drive assembly, the motion guide and the cover assembly moving together over the first range of motion. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the platen is moved over a second range of motion in response to movement of the motion guide relative to the cover assembly. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a thermal cycler, the method comprising:
 moving a cover assembly in a first direction parallel to a sample holder receiving surface between an open position and a closed position relative to the sample holder receiving surface, wherein the cover assembly covers the sample holder receiving surface in the closed position and exposes the sample holder receiving surface in the open position, wherein the cover assembly comprises a platen, a cover lid located over the platen, an actuatable linkage, and an elastically deformable member;   moving the platen, in the closed position of the cover assembly, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the sample holder receiving surface;   moving the cover lid over a first range of motion in the first direction from an initial position to a final position of the cover lid;   moving the actuatable linkage in the second direction between a raised position and a lowered position; and   moving the actuatable linkage being in the first direction with the cover lid through the first range of motion of the cover lid.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the actuatable linkage is coupled to and extends transversely across the platen in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising exerting a compressive force against the platen in the lowered position of the platen and the actuatable linkage. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the compressive force is exerted using an elastically deformable member between the actuatable linkage and the platen.