Method for thermal cycling nucleic acid assays
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for thermal cycling a sample comprising the steps of:
- a. directing the flow of a composite stream into the environment of a sample to achieve a first sample-target-temperature, wherein said composite stream is composed of a plurality of component fluid streams each from a distinct source and each maintained at a different constant temperature;
b. maintaining said first sample-target-temperature for a preselected period;
c. adjusting said composite stream to achieve a second sample-target-temperature wherein when said first sample-target-temperature is less than said second sample-target-temperature, a sample-ramp-speed of at least 1.0°
C./second is achieved, and wherein said adjusting is achieved by selectively blending in varying ratios said component fluid streams; and
d. maintaining said second sample-target-temperature for a preselected period.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The method for thermal cycling of nucleic acid assays includes a blended fluid stream produced from a plurality of constant velocity, constant volume, constant temperature fluid streams wherein to provide a variable temperature, constant velocity, constant volume fluid stream which is introduced into a sample chamber for heating and cooling samples contained therein. By diverting and altering the ratio of the constant temperature fluid streams relative to one another, the blended fluid stream is rapidly variable in temperature, providing for almost instantaneous temperature change within the environment defined by the sample chamber.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method for thermal cycling a sample comprising the steps of:
-
a. directing the flow of a composite stream into the environment of a sample to achieve a first sample-target-temperature, wherein said composite stream is composed of a plurality of component fluid streams each from a distinct source and each maintained at a different constant temperature; b. maintaining said first sample-target-temperature for a preselected period; c. adjusting said composite stream to achieve a second sample-target-temperature wherein when said first sample-target-temperature is less than said second sample-target-temperature, a sample-ramp-speed of at least 1.0°
C./second is achieved, and wherein said adjusting is achieved by selectively blending in varying ratios said component fluid streams; andd. maintaining said second sample-target-temperature for a preselected period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method for thermal cycling nucleic acids comprising the steps of:
-
a. directing the flow of a composite air stream into the environment of a sample of nucleic acids to achieve a first nucleic acid target-temperature, wherein said composite air stream is composed of a plurality of component air streams each from a distinct source and each maintained at a different constant temperature; b. maintaining said first nucleic acid target-temperature for a preselected period; c. adjusting said composite air stream to achieve a second nucleic acid target-temperature wherein when said first nucleic acid target-temperature is less than said second nucleic acid target-temperature, a sample-ramp-speed of at least 1.0°
C./second is achieved, and wherein said adjusting is achieved by selectively blending in varying ratios said component air streams; andd. maintaining said second nucleic acid target-temperature for a preselected period. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification