Cooling/heating module for tissue chambers and solutions: theoretical considerations and practical design.

Abstract

We provide a theoretical framework for the estimation of the performance of a modular cooling/heating device for tissue baths. The framework can be adapted to other designs using Peltier elements for cooling and heating. The design employs a Peltier as a heat pump and a flat heat pipe to transport heat to or from a 'remote' site. In the cooling mode heat from the hot side of the Peltier is removed by a heat sink cooled by a fan. The small cross section of the heat pipe permits cooling/heating of tissue chambers on microscope stages or in locations where it would be impractical to mount a Peltier element. The faces of the heat pipe can be used to pre-cool/heat solutions using a simple capillary heat exchanger.