PCR thermocycler

• US 6,503,750 B1
• Filed: 11/25/1998
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Benett, William J., Richards, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding, David A.
• Application Number:
  US09/200,309
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 422/102, 422/129, 422/240, 422/241, 422/131, 422/82.01, 435/285.1, 435/287.2, 435/303.1, 935/88
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00788 Three-dimensional assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a form other than a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0081 Plurality of modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00828 Silicon wafers or plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00873 Heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00961 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1838 using fluid heat transfer medium
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• 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

Abstract

A sleeve-type silicon polymerase chain reaction (PCR) chamber or thermocycler having improved thermal performance. The silicon sleeve reaction chamber is improved in thermal performance by etched features therein that reduce thermal mass and increase the surface area of the sleeve for cooling. This improved thermal performance of the thermocycler enables an increase in speed and efficiency of the reaction chamber. The improvement is accomplished by providing grooves in the faces of the sleeve and a series of grooves on the interior surfaces that connect with grooves on the faces of the sleeve. The grooves can be anisotropically etched in the silicon sleeve simultaneously with formation of the chamber.

Claims

1. In a microfabricated chemical reactor having a pair of body members defining a sleeve reaction chamber adapted to retain an insert therein, the improvement comprising:

said pair of body members being configured to enable insertion of an insert into said sleeve reaction chamber, and

means for clamping said pair of body members together such that surface areas of said insert are in a direct contact with wall surfaces of said sleeve reaction chamber,

said means for clamping functioning as electrical contacts for said chemical reactor.

2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein at least one of said pair of body members being provided with a resistive heater and temperature sensor means.

3. The improvement of claim 2, wherein said resistive heater and temperature sensor means includes a platinum film.

4. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said means for clamping comprises spring loaded clamps.

5. In a microfabricated chemical reactor having a sleeve forming a reaction chamber, the improvement comprising:

said sleeve being composed of a plurality of sections,

means for clamping said plurality of sections together,

said means for clamping forming electrical contacts for said chemical reaction chamber,

said sleeve being provided with at least one longitudinally extending groove and at least one radially extending groove for reducing thermal mass and increasing surface.

6. The improvement of claim 5, wherein said means for clamping comprises spring loaded clamps.

7. The improvement of claim 5, wherein said at least one longitudinally extending groove, and said at least one radially extending groove are connected to form a passageway therethrough.

8. The improvement of claim 5, wherein said plurality of grooves includes at least one longitudinally extending groove on opposite said of said sleeve, and at least one radially extending groove connected to each of said longitudinally extending grooves to form passageways there-through.

9. The improvement of claim 8, wherein two longitudinally extending grooves are located on opposite sides of said sleeve, and wherein said plurality of connecting radially extending grooves are located along opposite end sections of said sleeve.

10. The improvement of claim 9, wherein each of said grooves is of a V-shaped configuration.

11. The improvement of claim 10, wherein said sleeve is constructed of silicon.