Convectively driven PCR thermal-cycling

• US 6,586,233 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Richards, James B., Benett, William J., Milanovich, Fred P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding, David A.
• Application Number:
  US09/802,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20020127152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 435/286.5, 435/287.2, 435/288.7, 422/102, 422/109, 422/110, 422/129, 237/2.A
• US Class Current: 435/286.5
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0445 Natural or forced convection
• 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 polymerase chain reaction system provides an upper temperature zone and a lower temperature zone in a fluid sample. Channels set up convection cells in the fluid sample and move the fluid sample repeatedly through the upper and lower temperature zone creating thermal cycling.

Claims

1. A PCR apparatus that moves a sample through thermal cycling, comprising:

an upper temperature zone,

a lower temperature zone,

a chamber unit, wherein said upper temperature zone and said lower temperature zone are contained within said chamber unit and wherein said chamber unit has

a multiplicity of sections that fit together to form said chamber unit and wherein said sample is contained in

a container located within said multiplicity of sections that fit together to form said chamber unit, and

channels in said PCR apparatus operatively connected to said upper temperature zone and said lower temperature zone adapted to set up convection cells in said sample that will move said sample repeatedly through said upper temperature zone and said lower temperature zone creating thermal cycling.

2. The PCR apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container includes a pouch for containing said sample.

3. The PCR apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber unit is printed circuit board material.

4. The PCR apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber unit is printed circuit board fiberglass.

5. The PCR apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber unit is silicon.

6. The PCR apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber unit is fabricated of silicon, circuit board fiberglass, ceramic, metal, or glass.

7. The PCR apparatus of claim 1 including an optical detection window in said chamber unit.

8. The PCR apparatus of claim 1 including a heater within said chamber unit for heating said upper temperature zone.

9. The PCR apparatus of claim 1 including an optical detection window in said chamber unit.

10. A polymerase chain reaction method, comprising:

providing an upper temperature zone,

providing a lower temperature zone, and

allowing a sample to move through said upper temperature zone and said lower temperature zone

creating a convective siphon that sets up convection cells in said sample and moves the sample repeatedly through said upper and lower temperature zones creating thermal cycling, wherein said upper temperature zone is heated by a heater, and including using an optical detection system for optical detection.

11. A method of constructing a PCR apparatus, comprising:

constructing a multiplicity of sections that fit together to form

a chamber unit having

an upper temperature zone,

a lower temperature zone, and

channels in said chamber unit operatively connected to said upper temperature zone and said lower temperature zone adapted to set up

convection cells in said sample that will move said sample repeatedly through said upper temperature zone and said lower temperature zone creating thermal cycling, wherein said chamber unit is constructed of

two sections and said two sections are fitted together to form said chamber unit.

12. The method of constructing a PCR apparatus of claim 11 including providing a sample container in said chamber unit.

13. The method of constructing a PCR apparatus of claim 12 wherein said sample is contained in a container located within said multiplicity of sections that fit together to form said chamber unit.

14. The method of constructing a PCR apparatus of claim 12 wherein said container is formed as a pouch for containing said sample.

15. The method of constructing a PCR apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least some of said multiplicity of sections that fit together to form a chamber unit are constructed of printed circuit board material.

16. The method of constructing a PCR apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least some of said multiplicity of sections that fit together to form a chamber unit are constructed of printed circuit board fiberglass.

17. The method of constructing a PCR apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least some of said multiplicity of sections that fit together to form a chamber unit are constructed of silicon.

18. The method of constructing a PCR apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least some of said multiplicity of sections that fit together to form a chamber unit are constructed of silicon, circuit board fiberglass, ceramic, metal, or glass.