Thermal cycler for PCR
First Claim
1. An apparatus for performing the polymerase chain reaction in a plurality of liquid reaction mixtures, said apparatus including a plurality of vials containing such liquid reaction mixtures, each of said plurality of vials having an upper portion and a lower portion, said apparatus comprising:
- an assembly for cycling said plurality of vials through a series of temperature excursions, the assembly comprising a sample block for receiving the plurality of vials, a plurality of thermoelectric devices, a heatsink, and a seal that seals the plurality of thermoelectric devices; and
a computing apparatus for controlling said temperature excursions of said assembly.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing an assembly, a heated cover, and an internal computer, is provided. The assembly is made up of a sample block, a number of Peltier thermal electric devices, and a heat sink, clamped together. A control algorithm manipulates the current supplied to thermoelectric coolers such that the dynamic thermal performance of a block can be controlled so that pre-defined thermal profiles of sample temperature can be executed. The sample temperature is calculated instead of measured using a design specific model and equations. The control software includes calibration diagnostics which permit variation in the performance of thermoelectric coolers from instrument to instrument to be compensated for such that all instruments perform identically. The block/heat sink assembly can be changed to another of the same or different design. The assembly carries the necessary information required to characterize its own performance in an on-board memory device, allowing the assembly to be interchangeable among instruments while retaining its precision operating characteristics.
105 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for performing the polymerase chain reaction in a plurality of liquid reaction mixtures, said apparatus including a plurality of vials containing such liquid reaction mixtures, each of said plurality of vials having an upper portion and a lower portion, said apparatus comprising:
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an assembly for cycling said plurality of vials through a series of temperature excursions, the assembly comprising a sample block for receiving the plurality of vials, a plurality of thermoelectric devices, a heatsink, and a seal that seals the plurality of thermoelectric devices; and a computing apparatus for controlling said temperature excursions of said assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An assembly for cycling vials of reaction mixtures through a series of temperature excursions, comprising:
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a sample block for receiving vials of reaction mixtures; a plurality of thermoelectric devices; a heat sink; a clamping mechanism positioned to clamp said thermoelectric devices between said sample block and said heatsink; a seal that seals the plurality of thermoelectric devices; a heater positioned around the perimeter of said sample block; and a computing apparatus for controlling said temperature excursions of said assembly and said heater. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification