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Thermal cycling system comprising transport heater

  • US 10,434,514 B2
  • Filed: 11/18/2009
  • Issued: 10/08/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A thermal cycling system, comprising:

  • a plurality of heating devices for thermally cycling a sample, each of the plurality of heating devices comprising a transparent substrate with a major surface and a minor surface, each of the transparent substrates comprising sapphire and having a heating element integrated therein, the heating element of each of the transparent substrates being a resistive heating wire,a cartridge having at least one opening;

    a chamber adapted to receive a sample, the chamber being accommodated in the at least one opening of the cartridge and formed as a component separate from the heating device, the chamber comprising a top face and a bottom face that define respective major surfaces of the chamber, each of the top and bottom faces comprising a transparent foil, the transparent foil of the top face being disposed adjacent the transparent substrate of a first of the plurality of heating devices such that, at least during operation, the transparent foil of the top face enters into contact with the major surface of the transparent substrate of the first of the plurality of heating devices, the transparent foil of the top face being sufficiently flexible such that it can expand toward the transparent substrate of the first heating device when the chamber is heated with the sample contained therein, the transparent foil of the bottom face being disposed adjacent the transparent substrate of a second of the plurality of heating devices such that, at least during operation, the transparent foil of the bottom face enters into contact with the major surface of the transparent substrate of the second of the plurality of heating devices, the transparent foil of the bottom face being sufficiently flexible such that it can expand toward the transparent substrate of the second heating device when the chamber is heated with the sample contained therein, the respective transparent foils of the top and bottom faces and the major surfaces of the respective transparent substrates of the first and second heating devices having a flat shape to facilitate thermal cycling through the respective major surfaces of the chamber; and

    a monitor,wherein the cartridge abuts the chamber without obstructing light from entering into or out of the chamber through the major surfaces of the chamber,wherein the heating wire of each of the transparent substrates is formed as a ring that forms a window through which light can pass; and

    wherein the transparent substrates of the first and second heating devices, the transparent foils of the top and bottom faces and the monitor are aligned such that light can pass through the transparent substrates and the transparent foils and to the monitor to permit the monitor to optically detect a sample in the chamber through the windows formed by the resistive heating wires of the respective transparent substrates.

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