LOCALIZED TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SPATIAL ARRAYS OF REACTION MEDIA
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for performing polymerase chain reactions in a plurality of samples, said apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of sample blocks for polymerase chain reactions, arranged in a fixed horizontal array and separated from each other by air gaps,a plurality of thermoelectric modules, one thermoelectric module positioned underneath each said sample block, adjacent thermoelectric modules separated from each other by air gaps, anda layer of thermally conductive grease between each sample block and each thermoelectric module.
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Abstract
Individual temperature control in multiple reactions performed simultaneously in a spatial array such as a multi-well plate is achieved by thermoelectric modules with individual control, with each module supplying heat to or drawing heat from a single region within the array, the region containing either a single reaction vessel or a group of reaction vessels.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. Apparatus for performing polymerase chain reactions in a plurality of samples, said apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of sample blocks for polymerase chain reactions, arranged in a fixed horizontal array and separated from each other by air gaps, a plurality of thermoelectric modules, one thermoelectric module positioned underneath each said sample block, adjacent thermoelectric modules separated from each other by air gaps, and a layer of thermally conductive grease between each sample block and each thermoelectric module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for independently controlling temperatures of polymerase chain reactions in a plurality of samples retained in a plurality of sample blocks, said method comprising:
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placing said sample blocks in contact with a plurality of thermoelectric modules through a layer of thermally conductive grease between each sample block and thermoelectric module, while maintaining an air gap between each adjacent pair of sample blocks and between each adjacent pair of thermoelectric modules, with a separate thermoelectric module for each sample block, and supplying electric power to said thermoelectric modules while controlling the magnitude of power supplied to each of said thermoelectric modules independently, thereby maintaining the temperature of each sample block independently of other sample blocks. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification