Three-stage thermal convection apparatus and uses thereof
First Claim
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1. An apparatus adapted to perform thermal convection PCR comprising:
- (a) a first heat source for heating or cooling a channel and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the channel being adapted to receive a reaction vessel for performing PCR,(b) a second heat source for heating or cooling the channel and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface facing the top surface of the first heat source,(c) a third heat source for heating or cooling the channel and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface facing the top surface of the second heat source, wherein the channel is defined by a bottom end contacting the first heat source and a through hole contiguous with the top surface of the third heat source, and further wherein center points between the bottom end and the through hole form a channel axis about which the channel is disposed,(d) at least one chamber positioned exclusively within the second heat source and disposed around at least part of the channel, the chamber comprising a permanent chamber gap between the second heat source and the channel sufficient to reduce heat transfer between the second heat source and the channel,(e) a receptor hole adapted to receive the channel within the first heat source, wherein the receptor hole, the through hole and the chamber contact the channel during the thermal convection PCR, the contacting being sufficient to support PCR amplification by thermal convection within the reaction vessel; and
(f) wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one chamber disposed around the channel within the first or third heat source.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a multi-stage thermal convection apparatus and uses thereof. In one embodiment, the invention features a three-stage thermal convection apparatus that includes a temperature shaping element for assisting a thermal convection mediated Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The invention has a wide variety of applications including amplifying nucleic acid without cumbersome and expensive hardware associated with many prior devices. In a typical embodiment, the apparatus can fit in the palm of a user'"'"'s hand for use as a portable, simple to operate, and low cost PCR amplification device.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus adapted to perform thermal convection PCR comprising:
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(a) a first heat source for heating or cooling a channel and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the channel being adapted to receive a reaction vessel for performing PCR, (b) a second heat source for heating or cooling the channel and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface facing the top surface of the first heat source, (c) a third heat source for heating or cooling the channel and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface facing the top surface of the second heat source, wherein the channel is defined by a bottom end contacting the first heat source and a through hole contiguous with the top surface of the third heat source, and further wherein center points between the bottom end and the through hole form a channel axis about which the channel is disposed, (d) at least one chamber positioned exclusively within the second heat source and disposed around at least part of the channel, the chamber comprising a permanent chamber gap between the second heat source and the channel sufficient to reduce heat transfer between the second heat source and the channel, (e) a receptor hole adapted to receive the channel within the first heat source, wherein the receptor hole, the through hole and the chamber contact the channel during the thermal convection PCR, the contacting being sufficient to support PCR amplification by thermal convection within the reaction vessel; and (f) wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one chamber disposed around the channel within the first or third heat source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification