Electrically conducting polymer reaction vessels

• US 6,436,355 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Secretary of State For Defence
• Original Assignee: Her Majesty The Queen In Right of Canada As Represented By The Secretary of State For Defence
• Inventors: Leslie, Dario, Lee, Martin A
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, HIEN THI
• Application Number:
  US09/319,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20020028165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 422/102, 422/109, 422/198, 422/199
• US Class Current: 422/199
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0822 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1844 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/22 the sensing element being a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/2401 using a heating element as a sensing element

Abstract

A reaction vessel for holding reagents, the vessel made of electrically conducting polymer capable of emitting heat when an electric current is passed through it. The reaction vessel includes a reagent container, such as a capillary tube, slide or chip, in close contact with the electrically conducting polymer. The polymer may be in the form of a film which is wrapped around the tube to form a sheath. This provides a readily controllable heating supply which may be heated and cooled to desired temperatures rapidly. An apparatus suitable for thermal cycling reactions, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) including one or more reaction vessels as well as methods for carrying out such reactions are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for effecting reactions, said apparatus comprising a reaction vessel suitable for holding reagents so as to allow controlled heating thereof comprising a container for the reagents and contiguous therewith a sheath of an electrically conducting polymer which emits heat when an electric current is passed through it and is arranged to heat contents of the reaction vessel, and control means for controlling supply of current to the polymer, said control means being programmed to supply electric current so as to produce different temperature stages in the reagents held within the reaction vessel, the polymer being connectable to an electrical supply via the control means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrically conducting polymer is in the form of a film.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sheath is integral with the container.

4. Apparatus a claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrically conducting polymer is perforated or reticulated.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reaction vessel comprises a capillary tube.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means is programmed to supply electric current so as to conduct reactions requiring multiple temperature stages within the reaction vessel.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and wherein the control means is programmed such that multiple cycles of the reaction can be effected automatically.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control means is programmed to supply current according to a predetermined time/temperature profile.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a means for detecting a signal from a sample in the reaction vessel.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a surface of the reaction vessel is coated with said heated polymer.