Nucleic acid amplification apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for containing a liquid biological sample and for performing a biological process thereon, comprising:
- a sample area for receiving a liquid biological sample, said sample area having an orifice for admitting said sample into said sample area;
at least one reaction area in fluid communication with said sample area;
a pneumatic area in pneumatic communication with said reaction area and said sample area;
a pneumatic port in said pneumatic area for connection of said apparatus to a pneumatic aspiration/dispensing means, said aspiration/dispensing means causing the flow of said liquid biological sample between said sample area and said reaction area; and
a sample tower located above said sample area and in fluid communication with said sample area through said orifice for reducing evaporative loss of said liquid biological sample from said sample area and said reaction area, said sample tower having a sample port at an upper end thereof for admitting said liquid biological sample into said sample area through said orifice, said sample tower having said orifice at a lower end thereof;
wherein said orifice is of smaller size than the adjacent portion of said sample area to provide a capillary lock for inhibiting capillary flow of said liquid biological sample from said sample area to said reaction area;
wherein said pneumatic area includes a pneumatic tower for reducing evaporative loss of said liquid biological sample through said pneumatic area, said pneumatic tower having said pneumatic port at an upper end thereof, and wherein said pneumatic port is encircled by a pair of rigid, concentric sealing rings adapted to make sealing contact with a resilient portion of said pneumatic aspiration/dispensing means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for containing a liquid biological sample and for performing a biological process thereon comprises a sample area for receiving the sample, at least one reaction area in fluid communication with the sample area, a pneumatic area in pneumatic communication with the reaction area and the sample area, and a pneumatic port in the pneumatic area for connection of the apparatus to a pneumatic aspiration/dispensing pipette. The pneumatic aspiration/dispensing pipette provides for controlled flow of the liquid biological sample between the sample area and the reaction area. To reduce evaporative loss of the sample from the apparatus, a sample tower is provided in fluid communication with the sample area. A similar tower may be provided at the pneumatic port to reduce evaporative loss through the pneumatic area. A restricted orifice between the sample tower and the sample area holds the liquid sample in place during removal of the sample from the apparatus, counteracting the tendency of the liquid bolus to flow back toward the reaction area due to capillary forces. Also disclosed is a novel sealing arrangement which provides an effective pneumatic seal between the pneumatic port and a pneumatic aspiration/dispensing pipette without requiring the apparatus to include a separate "O" ring or other type of discrete sealing device.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for containing a liquid biological sample and for performing a biological process thereon, comprising:
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a sample area for receiving a liquid biological sample, said sample area having an orifice for admitting said sample into said sample area; at least one reaction area in fluid communication with said sample area; a pneumatic area in pneumatic communication with said reaction area and said sample area; a pneumatic port in said pneumatic area for connection of said apparatus to a pneumatic aspiration/dispensing means, said aspiration/dispensing means causing the flow of said liquid biological sample between said sample area and said reaction area; and a sample tower located above said sample area and in fluid communication with said sample area through said orifice for reducing evaporative loss of said liquid biological sample from said sample area and said reaction area, said sample tower having a sample port at an upper end thereof for admitting said liquid biological sample into said sample area through said orifice, said sample tower having said orifice at a lower end thereof; wherein said orifice is of smaller size than the adjacent portion of said sample area to provide a capillary lock for inhibiting capillary flow of said liquid biological sample from said sample area to said reaction area; wherein said pneumatic area includes a pneumatic tower for reducing evaporative loss of said liquid biological sample through said pneumatic area, said pneumatic tower having said pneumatic port at an upper end thereof, and wherein said pneumatic port is encircled by a pair of rigid, concentric sealing rings adapted to make sealing contact with a resilient portion of said pneumatic aspiration/dispensing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for performing a biological process, comprising:
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an apparatus for containing a liquid biological sample, said apparatus including a sample area for receiving said liquid biological sample, at least one reaction area in fluid communication with said sample area, a pneumatic area in pneumatic communication with said reaction area and said sample area, and a pneumatic port in said pneumatic area; and pneumatic aspiration/dispensing means adapted to be brought into contact with said pneumatic port to cause said liquid biological sample to flow between said sample area and said reaction area; wherein said pneumatic port of said apparatus is encircled by at least one rigid sealing ring and said pneumatic aspiration/dispensing means has a resilient portion adapted to be deformed by contact with said sealing ring to create a pneumatic seal around said pneumatic port. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification