Polymerase chain reaction device and method of regulating opening and closing of inlet and outlet of the polymerase chain reaction device

• US 20040235154A1
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoon, Dae-sung, Lim, Geun-bae, Han, Jung-im, Oh, Kwang-wook, Kim, Sun-hee, Lee, Young-sun, Kim, Young-a
• Application Number:
  US10/783,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20040235154A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/303.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1872 Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046

Abstract

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) device with micro-valves, which are opened or closed using a simple control mechanism is provided. The PCR device includes: an inlet through which a biochemical fluid is injected; an outlet through which the biochemical fluid is discharged; a PCR channel positioned between the inlet and the outlet; first and second micro-valves, which control opening and closing of the inlet and the outlet; and a sol-gel transformable material, which transforms from a sol state into a gel state at a temperature lower than DNA denaturation temperature, annealing temperature and extension temperature and higher than room temperature.

Claims

1. A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) device comprising:

an inlet through which a biochemical fluid is injected;

an outlet through which the biochemical fluid is discharged;

a PCR channel positioned between the inlet and the outlet;

first and second micro-valves, which control opening and closing of the inlet and the outlet; and

a sol-gel transformable material, which transforms from a sol state into a gel state at a temperature lower than DNA denaturation temperature, annealing temperature and extension temperature and higher than room temperature.

2. The PCR device of claim 1, wherein the sol-gel transformable material is methyl cellulose.

3. The PCR device of claim 1, wherein the first and second micro-valves form the inlet and outlet of the PCR device, respectively.

4. The PCR device of claim 1, wherein the first micro-valve extends in a direction in which the biochemical fluid is injected into the inlet, and the second micro-valve extends in a direction in which the biochemical fluid is discharged through the outlet.

5. The PCR device of claim 1, wherein the first and second micro-valves are interconnected with the inlet and the outlet, respectively, the first micro-valve branches off from a portion of the PCR channel near the inlet in a different direction from a direction in which the biochemical fluid is injected, and the second micro-valve branches off from a portion of the PCR channel near the outlet in a different direction from a direction in which the biochemical fluid is discharged.

6. The PCR device of claim 1, wherein the first and second micro-valves intersect portions of the PCR channel near the inlet and the outlet of the PCR device, respectively.

7. The PCR device of claim 6, wherein one end of the first micro-valve is connected to one end of the second micro-valve.

8. The PCR device of claim 1, wherein the first and second micro-valves intersect portions of PCR channels of a plurality of PCR devices near inlets and outlets of the PCR devices, respectively.

9. The PCR device of claim 8, wherein one end of the first micro-valve is connected to one end of the second micro-valve.

12. The PCR device of claim 2, wherein the first and second micro-valves form the inlet and outlet of the PCR device, respectively.

13. The PCR device of claim 2, wherein the first micro-valve extends in a direction in which the biochemical fluid is injected into the inlet, and the second micro-valve extends in a direction in which the biochemical fluid is discharged through the outlet.

14. The PCR device of claim 2, wherein the first and second micro-valves are interconnected with the inlet and the outlet, respectively, the first micro-valve branches off from a portion of the PCR channel near the inlet in a different direction from a direction in which the biochemical fluid is injected, and the second micro-valve branches off from a portion of the PCR channel near the outlet in a different direction from a direction in which the biochemical fluid is discharged.

15. The PCR device of claim 2, wherein the first and second micro-valves intersect portions of the PCR channel near the inlet and the outlet of the PCR device, respectively.

16. The PCR device of claim 2, wherein the first and second micro-valves intersect portions of PCR channels of a plurality of PCR devices near inlets and outlets of the PCR devices, respectively.

10. A method of regulating opening and closing of an inlet and an outlet of a PCR device, the method comprising:

connecting micro-valves, each of which contains a sol-gel transformable material that transforms from a sol state to a gel state at a temperature lower than DNA denaturation temperature, annealing temperature and extension temperature regarding PCR and higher than room temperature, to the inlet and the outlet of the PCR device; and

inducing a sol-to-gel transformation in the micro-valves using temperature variations in a thermal cycle of PCR.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the sol-gel transformable material is methyl cellulose.