System for simple nucleic acid analysis

• US 7,449,326 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Corporation (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Fritz, Michael, Harttig, Herbert, Schwab, Juergen, Gerstle, Volker, Rauscher, Andreas, Steinbiss, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Chunduru; Suryaprabha
• Application Number:
  US09/780,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20020018998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,832 Days
• Field of Search: 536/22.1, 536/23.1, 435/286.5, 435/288.5, 435/6, 435/291, 435/283.1, 435/91.2
• US Class Current: 435/283.1
• 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: B01L 7/525 with physical movement of samples between temperature zones
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/101 by chromatography, e.g. electrophoresis, ion-exchange, reverse phase

Abstract

A system for simple nucleic acid analysis is described in which the amplification space contains at least a part of the binding space. An additional improvement is achieved by the design of the binding or/and amplification space which is optionally surrounded by a heatable metal layer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting nucleic acids in a sample, comprising:

(a) a binding space for purifying the nucleic acids by immobilizing the nucleic acids and separating impurities,

(b) an amplification space for amplifying the nucleic acids wherein at least a part of the amplification space is identical to a part of the binding space, and

(c) a detection space for detecting the nucleic acids.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising reagents for purifying, amplifying and detecting the nucleic acid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection space comprises a part of at least one of the amplification space and the binding space.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the binding space and the amplification space comprises a capillary space.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the capillary space is a capillary reaction vessel surrounded by a heatable metal layer.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the capillary space is glass or polystyrene.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sample transport mechanism which transports the sample and reagents through the binding space, the amplification space and the detection space.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the binding space provides a surface for binding the nucleic acids.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the binding space is defined by an inner surface of a reaction vessel, wherein the inner surface binds nucleic acids.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the binding space is identical to the amplification space.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the detection space is identical to the binding space.

16. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the metal layer is coated on the exterior of the vessel.

7. An apparatus for amplifying nucleic acids comprising a capillary reaction vessel surrounded by a single heatable metal layer wherein the layer is coated on the capillary reaction vessel.

11. An apparatus for detecting nucleic acids in a liquid sample, comprising:

(a) a space comprising a capillary reaction vessel surrounded by a heatable metal layer, wherein the interior surface of the vessel binds nucleic acids;

(b) reagents for amplifying and detecting the nucleic acids that become bound to the surface;

(c) a sample transport mechanism which transports the sample and reagents through the space.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising reagents for purifying the nucleic acids.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the capillary space is glass or polystyrene.