iSystem Hardware : Temperature system

Screen 1
The goal of this module is to provide a basic understanding of the temperature
system. You will learn to:
x Locate the components of the temperature system
x And recognize the function of components in the temperature system

Screen 2
The temperature system consists of the following components:
x The temperature controller board
x The power supply heater board
x Process path thermistors
x Process path heaters
x Wash zone buffer heaters
x Pre-trigger and trigger heaters
x And the reagent cooler

Screen 3
The temperature controller board is located in slot thirteen of the card cage.

Screen 4
The settings for temperature control are downloaded to the temperature
controller board from the system software during initialization. The main functions
of the board are to receive and process information from thermistors and to
control the process path, wash zone buffer, trigger and pre-trigger heaters via the
power supply’s heater board.

The thermistor readings are also monitored for stability. The temperature
controller notifies the processing module controller when any thermistor has 10
instability events within 2 minutes. When this occurs, an appropriate temperature
out-of-specification message is sent to the SCC to alert the operator.

The wash zone 1 and wash zone 2 aspiration thermistors are also monitored to
assure that wash fluid was dispensed into an RV and that it was aspirated
completely within the allotted time. This process is called wash aspirate
monitoring or WAM.

Screen 5
The heater board is located in the module power supply. On the board, twelve
replaceable fuses protect each heater circuit.

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Screen 6
The main function of the heater board is to provide 27 volt AC power to the
heaters as instructed by the temperature controller board.

Screen 7
To ensure that the temperature of the process path is properly maintained, there
are six temperature zones. Each temperature zone consists of one thermistor
and one heater and is independently controlled. The temperature of each zone is
monitored by a thermistor. The thermistor output is monitored by the temperature
controller.

Screen 8
There are six heaters located under the process path, one in each temperature
zone. The main function of these heaters is to provide heating to maintain the
process path incubation temperature within the range of 36.4°C and 37.6°C. The
heater board in the power supply assembly provides the 27 volt AC power to the
heaters.

Screen 9
There are two buffer heaters located on the two wash zones on the i System
processing module. The main function of these heaters is to preheat buffer
before it is dispensed into RVs for washing. Each heater is independently
controlled. The heater board in the power supply assembly provides 27 volts AC
power to the buffer heaters.

Dispense of wash solution and its subsequent aspirations from reaction vessels
are essential steps in the assay protocol. Wash aspirate monitoring, or WAM,
provides assurance that the wash fluid was dispensed and subsequently
aspirated completely within the allotted time. WAM determination is based on
temperature measurements taken at 1-millisecond intervals. As the Wash Zone
probes aspirate the fluid from the RV, the thermistor located inside the waste
tubing monitors the fluid temperature. A normal wash aspiration produces a
temperature profile with predictable characteristics.

As the wash aspiration probe descends into the reaction vessel, vacuum is
applied causing ambient air to be drawn through the tubing. This results in a
small decrease in temperature sensed by the thermistor. As heated buffer is
aspirated from the RV and drawn into the tubing, the temperature sensed by the
thermistor rises abruptly. When the RV is empty and the probe is clear, free-
flowing air over residual buffer droplets result in evaporative cooling. This is
sensed by the thermistor as a drop in temperature.

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In a normal aspiration, the magnitude of evaporative cooling is substantial. The
resulting temperature drop is compared to a pre-determined threshold. From this
comparison, determination of failure or success of the aspiration is made.

WAM temperature measurements are saved in a log file on the module for use in
troubleshooting. The information saved in the WAM log includes peak
temperature read during aspiration as well as the subsequent cooling magnitude.
Temperature entries in the log are reported in degrees Celsius.

Screen 10
The pre-trigger and trigger heaters are formed into the tubing supplying fluid to
the pre-trigger/trigger manifold. This single manifold has two separate fluidic
paths for dispensing pre-trigger and trigger into reaction vessels. The main
function of these heaters is to heat pre-trigger or trigger solution before they are
dispensed into RVs. The heaters warm incoming pre-trigger or trigger solutions
from an initial temperature of 15 to 30 degrees centigrade to a final temperature
of 30 to 37.6 degrees centigrade. The pre-trigger and trigger heaters are
independently controlled. Their outputs are connected to their input of the trigger
manifold. The heater board provides the 27 Volt AC power to the heaters.

Screen 11
The reagent cooler is located in the rear of the system, next to the module power
supply. The air intake and output of the reagent cooler is in the center of the
reagent carousel. The cover over the reagent carousel provides a controlled
environment.

Power is supplied to the reagent cooler through a relay and circuit breaker
located within the main power supply. The power is then routed from a connector
on the bottom right side of the power supply to the top right side of the reagent
cooler. The cooler has its own internal thermistor that is used to monitor its
output temperature and control its compressor. The system monitors the reagent
carousel temperature via a thermistor located in the center of the reagent
carousel.

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