Nucleic acid amplification reaction apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction in a reaction mixture, comprising:
- a capillary tube for containing the reaction mixture;
a chamber surrounding the capillary tube including at least one input port for receiving fluid of different temperatures and at least one output port through which the fluid can be removed from the chamber;
a first thermostatted bath coupled to the chamber through the input and output ports, the bath containing a temperature-stabilized body of fluid at a temperature suitable for causing nucleic acid denaturation to occur in the reaction mixture;
a second thermostatted bath coupled to the input and output ports of the chamber containing a temperature-stabilized body of fluid at a temperature suitable for causing nucleic acid annealing and extension to occur in the reaction mixture; and
pumping means for alternately moving fluid from the first and second baths into and out of the chamber so as to alternatingly subject the reaction mixture to the denaturation and annealing temperatures.
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction and preferably a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a reaction mixture in at least one capillary tube. Several different embodiments are disclosed. One embodiment cycles a sample through a capillary tube loop passing through two thermostatted fluid baths. Another embodiment has the capillary tube routed alternatingly between two heat exchangers to that the sample makes only one pass through the tube. Other embodiments maintain the heat exchangers stationary and translate the samples between them. Still further embodiments maintain the samples stationary and either automatically translate or rotate the heat exchangers past the samples contained within the capillary tubes to perform the thermal cycles necessary for the amplification reaction.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. An apparatus for performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction in a reaction mixture, comprising:
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a capillary tube for containing the reaction mixture; a chamber surrounding the capillary tube including at least one input port for receiving fluid of different temperatures and at least one output port through which the fluid can be removed from the chamber; a first thermostatted bath coupled to the chamber through the input and output ports, the bath containing a temperature-stabilized body of fluid at a temperature suitable for causing nucleic acid denaturation to occur in the reaction mixture; a second thermostatted bath coupled to the input and output ports of the chamber containing a temperature-stabilized body of fluid at a temperature suitable for causing nucleic acid annealing and extension to occur in the reaction mixture; and pumping means for alternately moving fluid from the first and second baths into and out of the chamber so as to alternatingly subject the reaction mixture to the denaturation and annealing temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for performing a chemical chain reaction in a capillary tube, comprising:
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an elongated chamber having an input port and an output port and having a wire mesh across at least a cross sectional portion of the chamber; at least first and second fluid bypass pipes providing fluid flow paths around the chamber; a first thermostatted bath for maintaining the temperature of a body of fluid therein at a temperature suitable for causing denaturation to occur in a reaction mixture; a second thermostatted bath for maintaining the temperature of a body of fluid therein at a temperature suitable for causing annealing and extension reactions to occur in the reaction mixture; pumping means connected between the chamber and each of the baths for pumping fluid from each of the first and second baths to the chamber; valve means for selectively coupling a stream of fluid from one of the baths through the chamber while coupling another stream of fluid from the second bath through one of the bypass pipes, and then for coupling the stream pumped by the pumping means from the second bath through the chamber and coupling the stream pumped by the pumping means from the first bath through another one of the bypass pipes.
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Specification