Device and method for amplifying and detecting target nucleic acids
First Claim
1. An article of manufacture for use as a nucleic acid sample analysis device comprising:
- an elongated reaction unit having a lower closed end and an upper open end, said reaction unit having an interior chamber, the upper end being adapted for receiving an amplification reaction sample into the interior chamber;
a detection unit having an opening into a detection chamber, said detection chamber housing means for collecting amplified target nucleic acid, whereby said amplified target nucleic acid can enter said detection unit through said opening;
wherein at least one of said reaction unit and said detection unit includes means for sealably engaging the open end of said reaction unit to the opening of said detection unit to form a sealed reaction/detection unit such that the interior chamber of said reaction unit is in fluid communication with the detection chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, devices, apparatus and kits for amplifying and detecting nucleic acid are provided. The apparatus is a thermal cycling device that operates in conjunction with a reaction/detection unit. A sample is loaded into a reaction chamber of the device which is then sealably mated with a detection chamber to form a sealed reaction/detection unit that is virtually irreversibly closed. One or more heating elements of the thermal cycling apparatus applies a desired temperature to the reaction/detection device to amplify target nucleic acid in the sample. The reaction mixture is then transferred to the detection chamber and amplified target nucleic acid is immobilized on a support in the detection chamber. A detection system associated with the apparatus detects and analyzes the immobilized amplified nucleic acid target. Kits include the reaction/detection units and reagents for amplification.
248 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An article of manufacture for use as a nucleic acid sample analysis device comprising:
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an elongated reaction unit having a lower closed end and an upper open end, said reaction unit having an interior chamber, the upper end being adapted for receiving an amplification reaction sample into the interior chamber; a detection unit having an opening into a detection chamber, said detection chamber housing means for collecting amplified target nucleic acid, whereby said amplified target nucleic acid can enter said detection unit through said opening; wherein at least one of said reaction unit and said detection unit includes means for sealably engaging the open end of said reaction unit to the opening of said detection unit to form a sealed reaction/detection unit such that the interior chamber of said reaction unit is in fluid communication with the detection chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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14. An article of manufacture for use as a nucleic acid sample analysis device comprising:
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an elongated reaction unit having a lower closed end and an upper open end, said reaction unit having an interior chamber, the upper end being adapted for receiving an amplification reaction sample into the interior chamber, wherein the interior houses a propellant near the closed end; a detection unit having an opening into a detection chamber, said detection chamber housing means for collecting amplified nucleic acid, whereby said amplified target nucleic acid can enter said detection unit through said opening; wherein at least one of said reaction unit and said detection unit includes means for sealably engaging the open end of said reaction unit to the opening of said detection unit to form a sealed reaction/detection unit such that the interior chamber of said reaction unit is in fluid communication with the detection chamber. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of amplifying and detecting a target nucleic acid, comprising the steps:
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(a) inserting a reaction sample into a sample analysis device comprising; an elongated reaction unit having a lower closed end and an upper open end, said reaction unit having an interior chamber, the upper end being adapted for receiving an amplification reaction sample into the interior chamber; a detection unit having an opening into a detection chamber, said detection chamber housing means for collecting amplified target nucleic acid, whereby said amplified target nucleic acid can enter said detection unit through said opening; wherein at least one of said reaction unit and said detection unit includes means for sealably engaging the open end of said reaction unit to the opening of said detection unit to form a sealed reaction/detection unit such that the interior chamber of said reaction unit is in fluid communication with the detection chamber, and wherein detectable reagents for detecting said amplified target nucleic acid are disposed in said reaction/detection unit; (b) engaging said reaction chamber and said detection chamber together to form a sealed reaction/detection unit; (c) conducting an amplification reaction in said reaction chamber of said sealed unit; (d) transferring the amplified reaction sample from said reaction chamber to said detection chamber of said sealed unit without disengaging the reaction unit from the detection unit; and (e) examining said means for collecting amplified target nucleic acid for the presence of detectable reagent to determine the presence of said target nucleic acid analyte. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification