Apparatus for a fluid impingement thermal cycler
First Claim
1. An apparatus for thermally cycling a plurality of samples between at least two temperatures where each of said samples is held in one of a plurality of sample regions in an array, where each of said sample regions defines an outer heat-exchange wall expanse, said apparatus comprising:
- a source for providing a pressurized fluid at a selected first and second temperatures; and
a chamber containing;
(a) a structure adapted for supporting said array;
(b) a manifold for receiving said pressurized fluid and distributing same in the form of a plurality of fluid jets directed against said wall expanses, and substantially normal thereto, when said array is held by said structure, to produce substantially uniform heat exchange between said fluid jets and said samples; and
(c) an outlet for venting said fluid from said fluid jets out of said chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus are disclosed that thermally cycles samples between at least two temperatures. These apparatus operate by impinging fluid jets onto the outer walls of a sample containing region. Because the impinging fluid jets provide a high heat transfer coefficient between the jet and the sample containing region, the sample containing regions are uniformly cycled between the two temperatures. The heat exchange rate between the jets and the sample regions are substantially uniform.
94 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for thermally cycling a plurality of samples between at least two temperatures where each of said samples is held in one of a plurality of sample regions in an array, where each of said sample regions defines an outer heat-exchange wall expanse, said apparatus comprising:
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a source for providing a pressurized fluid at a selected first and second temperatures; and a chamber containing; (a) a structure adapted for supporting said array; (b) a manifold for receiving said pressurized fluid and distributing same in the form of a plurality of fluid jets directed against said wall expanses, and substantially normal thereto, when said array is held by said structure, to produce substantially uniform heat exchange between said fluid jets and said samples; and (c) an outlet for venting said fluid from said fluid jets out of said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for thermally cycling a plurality of samples between at least two temperatures comprising:
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a source for providing a pressurized fluid at a selected first and second temperatures; and a chamber containing; (a) an array of a plurality of sample regions where each of said samples is adapted to be held in one of said sample regions and each of said sample regions defines an outer heat-exchange wall expanse; (b) a structure supporting said array; (c) a manifold for receiving said pressurized fluid and distributing same in the form of a plurality of fluid jets directed against said wall expanses and substantially normal thereto, to produce substantially uniform heat exchange between said fluid jets and said samples; and (d) an outlet for venting said fluid from said fluid jets out of said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification