Apparatus for repeated automatic execution of a thermal cycle for treatment of samples
First Claim
1. Apparatus for the treatment of biological and microbiological samples comprising:
- (a) a pathway which is physically closed throughout the treatment;
(b) means for introducing one of said biological or microbiological samples to the pathway prior to the commencement of treatment and for removing said sample subsequent to the completion of treatment;
(c) means for physically closing the pathway during treatment so that nothing can be added thereto or withdrawn therefrom;
(d) a plurality of thermal means positioned along the pathway for heating or cooling of said sample, said thermal means providing treatment of said sample at a temperature of from 4°
C. to 150°
C.; and
(e) means for automatically and repeatedly, through a plurality of cycles, moving said sample between said different thermal positions along the pathway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for repeated automatic execution of a thermal cycle for the treatment of a sample, especially a biological sample, comprises means (6) defining a pathway which is physically closed throughout the treatment and within which the sample is resident throughout the treatment. Means (3, 4, 11, 12) are provided to move the sample between different positions along the pathway and (7, 15, 16) to heat or cool the sample as a function of its position within the pathway. Preferably the pathway is a capillary tube, which may be in spiral, closed loop or linear form. Heating and cooling means are provided by thermostated zones which may provide a continuous thermal gradient regular or irregular, or be in a discontinuous arrangement. The preferred means of moving the samples is magnetic.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for the treatment of biological and microbiological samples comprising:
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(a) a pathway which is physically closed throughout the treatment; (b) means for introducing one of said biological or microbiological samples to the pathway prior to the commencement of treatment and for removing said sample subsequent to the completion of treatment; (c) means for physically closing the pathway during treatment so that nothing can be added thereto or withdrawn therefrom; (d) a plurality of thermal means positioned along the pathway for heating or cooling of said sample, said thermal means providing treatment of said sample at a temperature of from 4°
C. to 150°
C.; and(e) means for automatically and repeatedly, through a plurality of cycles, moving said sample between said different thermal positions along the pathway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for the treatment of biological and microbiological samples comprising:
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(a) a loop pathway which is physically closed throughout the treatment; (b) means for introducing one of said biological or microbiological samples to the loop pathway prior to the commencement of treatment and for removing said sample subsequent to the completion of treatment; (c) means for physically closing the loop pathway during treatment so that nothing can be added thereto or withdrawn therefrom; (d) a plurality of thermal means positioned along the loop pathway for heating or cooling of said sample, said thermal means providing treatment of said sample at a temperature of from 4°
C. to 150°
C.; and(e) means for automatically and repeatedly, through a plurality of cycles, moving said sample between said different thermal positions along the loop pathway.
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Specification