Apparatus and method for a continuous rapid thermal cycle system
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal cycle system and method suitable for mass production of DNA comprising a temperature control body having at least two sectors. Each sector has at least one heater, cooler, or other means for changing temperature. A path traverses the sectors in a cyclical fashion. In use, a piece of tubing or other means for conveying is placed along the path and a reaction mixture is pumped or otherwise moved along the path such that the reaction mixture is repetitively heated or cooled to varying temperatures as the reaction mixture cyclically traverses the sectors. The reaction mixture thereby reacts to form a product. In particular, polymerase chain reaction reactants may continuously be pumped through the tubing to amplify DNA. The temperature control body is preferably a single aluminum cylinder with a grooved channel circling around its exterior surface, and preferably has wedge-shaped or pie-shaped sectors separated by a thermal barrier.
74 Citations
49 Claims
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1-24. -24. (canceled)
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25. A method for the facilitation of a chemical reaction requiring cyclical temperature changes for production of a product in bulk quantities, comprising:
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activating means for changing temperature on a thermal cycle system, wherein said thermal cycle system comprises; a temperature control body comprising an exterior surface, at least two sectors forming a portion of said exterior surface, and a path cyclically passing through said sectors, wherein each said sector comprises at least one of said means for changing temperature and is an independent temperature sink; a means for conveying a fluid having a length, a first end, and a second end, wherein said means for conveying extends along said path; and a means for moving in communication with said means for conveying wherein said means for moving is adapted for moving said fluid through said means for conveying; continuously replenishing said fluid at said second end of said means for conveying so that said fluid is continuously supplied through said length of said means for conveying; introducing a substantially homogeneous temperature-dependent reaction mixture into said means for conveying; activating said means for moving such that said reaction mixture moves through said means for conveying, and such that said reaction mixture reacts to form a product; and collecting said product at said first end of said means for conveying. - View Dependent Claims (26, 28, 29)
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27. (canceled)
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30. A method for the facilitation of a chemical reaction requiring cyclical temperature changes for production of a product in bulk quantities, comprising:
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controlling temperatures of at least twelve sectors so as to achieve a target temperature for each sector, wherein each sector is an independent temperature sink substantially made of a solid material and constitutes a respective portion of a single temperature control body; conveying a temperature-dependent reaction mixture along a path that passes through the at least twelve sectors repeatedly for several consecutive cycles, wherein for each cycle, the path passes once through a width of a first sector, and passes once through a width of one or more successive sectors, before returning to the first sector. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for continuously regulating temperature of a fluid for production of a product in bulk quantities, comprising:
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dispensing a reaction mixture into a tubing having a first end, a second end, and a length, wherein said first end of said tubing extends from a first end of a channel and said second end of said tubing extends from a second end of said channel, said reaction mixture being dispensed into said second end, wherein said channel spirals around a perimeter of a temperature control body comprising at least two sectors that each form a portion of the perimeter, wherein each sector has at least one temperature control means and is substantially made of a solid material so as to be configured to operate as an independent temperature sink; conveying said reaction mixture through said tubing from said second end of said tubing to said first end of said tubing; continuously replenishing said reaction mixture into said second end of said tubing so that said reaction mixture is continuously supplied through said length of said tubing; determining a temperature of said tubing as said reaction mixture flows through said tubing across each said sector of said temperature control body; and regulating said at least one temperature control means of each sector based on the determined temperature so as to achieve a target temperature for the sector. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. An apparatus for the facilitation of a chemical reaction requiring cyclical temperature changes for production of a product in bulk quantities, comprising:
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a thermal cycle system including a temperature control body comprising an exterior surface, at least twelve sectors forming a portion of said exterior surface, and a path cyclically passing through said sectors, wherein each said sector has at least one temperature changing means so as to be configured to operate as an independent temperature sink; a means for conveying a reaction mixture, wherein said means for conveying extends along said path; and a means for moving in communication with said means for conveying wherein said means for moving is adapted for moving the reaction mixture through said means for conveying such that the reaction mixture reacts to form a product.
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47. A thermal cycle system for production of a product in bulk quantities comprising:
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a single temperature control body, wherein a plurality of sectors form a respective portion of the single temperature control body, each sector being an independent temperature sink substantially made of a solid material and having a temperature that is controlled so as to achieve a target temperature; and a path which passes through the plurality of sectors repeatedly for several consecutive cycles, wherein for each cycle, the path passes once through a width of a first sector, and passes once through a width of one or more successive sectors, before returning to the first sector, wherein a temperature-dependent reaction mixture is continuously supplied to the system so that the temperature-dependent reaction mixture continuously flows along said path.
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48. An apparatus for continuously regulating temperature of a fluid for production of a product in bulk quantities, comprising:
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a temperature control body including a perimeter, at least two sectors that each form a portion of the perimeter and that are substantially made of a solid material so as to be configured to operate as an independent temperature sink, at least one temperature control means within each sector, and a channel having a first end and a second end, wherein said channel spirals around the perimeter of said temperature control body; a tubing having a first end, a second end, and a length, wherein said first end of said tubing extends from a first end of said channel and said second end of said tubing extends from a second end of said channel; a dispensing mechanism that continuously dispenses a reaction mixture into said second end of said tubing; a fluid moving means in communication with said tubing that conveys said reaction mixture from said second end of said tubing to said first end of said tubing, wherein said reaction mixture is continuously supplied through said length of said tubing; a temperature sensor that determines the temperature of said tubing as said reaction mixture flows through said tubing across each said sector along each perimeter portion thereof of said temperature control body; and a temperature regulator that regulates the at least one temperature control means of each sector based on the temperature determined by said temperature sensor so as to achieve a target temperature for each sector. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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Specification