Method for rapid thermal cycling of biological samples
DCFirst Claim
1. A thermal cycler for amplifying a nucleic acid comprising:
- a housing comprising a chamber;
a port in said housing for receiving at least one polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sample holder in said chamber;
a heating assembly for heating a sample comprising a nucleic acid contained in said sample holder, wherein said heating assembly is in thermal communication with said PCR sample holder when said sample holder is present in said chamber;
a cooling assembly for cooling said sample, wherein said cooling assembly is in thermal communication with said PCR sample holder when said PCR sample holder is present in said chamber; and
a controller programmed to control said heating and said cooling assemblies to cycle said sample holder and said sample through a predetermined temperature cycle corresponding to the denaturation, annealing and elongation steps of a polymerase chain reaction within a time range of 30-60 seconds;
wherein said PCR sample holder has a thermal mass which provides for completing said cycle of said polymerase chain reaction within said time range.
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Abstract
A thermal cycling method and device is disclosed. The device comprises a sample chamber whose temperature can be rapidly and accurately modulated over a range of temperatures needed to carry out a number of biological procedures, such a DNA polymerase chain reaction. Biological samples are placed in glass micro capillary tubes and then located inside the sample chamber. A programmable controller regulates the temperature of the sample inside the sample chamber. Once a heating cycle is completed, the controller opens a door to the chamber for venting hot air out and cool ambient air is moved in. Temperature versus time profiles corresponding to optimum denaturation, annealing and elongation temperatures for amplification of DNA are achieved by the present invention.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A thermal cycler for amplifying a nucleic acid comprising:
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a housing comprising a chamber; a port in said housing for receiving at least one polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sample holder in said chamber; a heating assembly for heating a sample comprising a nucleic acid contained in said sample holder, wherein said heating assembly is in thermal communication with said PCR sample holder when said sample holder is present in said chamber; a cooling assembly for cooling said sample, wherein said cooling assembly is in thermal communication with said PCR sample holder when said PCR sample holder is present in said chamber; and a controller programmed to control said heating and said cooling assemblies to cycle said sample holder and said sample through a predetermined temperature cycle corresponding to the denaturation, annealing and elongation steps of a polymerase chain reaction within a time range of 30-60 seconds; wherein said PCR sample holder has a thermal mass which provides for completing said cycle of said polymerase chain reaction within said time range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification