Thermal cycling in polymerase chain reactions by thermodynamic methods
First Claim
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1. A method for thermal cycling for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a chamber;
depositing a PCR mixture in the chamber; and
performing first adiabatic work, thereby changing a temperature of the PCR mixture from a first temperature to a second temperature.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for rapid thermal cycling in a polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”). Thermodynamic work is performed, directly, or indirectly, or both, on or by analyte and reagents comprising a PCR mixture. The thermodynamic work, which is typically adiabatic, reversible, and isentropic, causes a rapid and uniform change in the temperature of the PCR mixture. Consequently, the denaturing, annealing, and extension steps in the PCR procedure may be performed rapidly, uniformly, and with greater efficiency and higher throughput.
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Citations
98 Claims
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1. A method for thermal cycling for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a chamber;
depositing a PCR mixture in the chamber; and
performing first adiabatic work, thereby changing a temperature of the PCR mixture from a first temperature to a second temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18-48. -48. (canceled)
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49. A method for thermal cycling for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an adiabatic chamber;
depositing a PCR mixture in the chamber at a first temperature;
performing first adiabatic work, thereby raising the temperature of the PCR mixture from the first temperature to a second temperature;
performing second adiabatic work, thereby lowering the temperature of the PCR mixture from the second temperature to a third temperature; and
repeating the two performing steps in sequence until a desired characteristic is obtained for the PCR mixture.
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50-72. -72. (canceled)
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73. A method for thermal cycling for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an adiabatic chamber;
depositing a PCR mixture in the chamber at a first temperature;
performing first adiabatic work, thereby raising the temperature of the PCR mixture from the first temperature to a second temperature;
performing second adiabatic work, thereby lowering the temperature of the PCR mixture from the second temperature to a third temperature;
performing third adiabatic work, thereby raising the temperature of the PCR mixture from the third temperature to a fourth temperature; and
repeating the three performing steps in sequence until a desired characteristic is obtained for the PCR mixture.
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74-96. -96. (canceled)
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97. A system for thermal cycling for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure, the system comprising:
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an elastomeric chamber defining a cavity for receiving a PCR mixture, the elastomeric chamber having a first end and a second end; and
means for cyclically increasing and decreasing the distance between the first end and the second end, thereby changing a temperature of the elastomeric chamber.
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98-103. -103. (canceled)
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