Thermal cycling apparatus
First Claim
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1. A thermal cycler apparatus for performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) comprising:
- a heat block comprising;
i. an upper surface comprising a plurality of wells in the upper surface adapted to mate with a plurality of sample vessels;
ii. a sealed container comprising an oil in thermal contact with the plurality of wells;
iii. a stirring element in contact with the oil for circulating the oil within the container; and
iv. a bottom surface; and
a heating element in contact with the bottom surface of the heat block.
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Abstract
This invention provides an apparatus for providing heating and cooling of samples in sample vessels having uniform temperature profiles. The apparatus can be used for performing PCR, and real time PCR in particular, with control and uniformity. The system employs a heat block containing a liquid composition to efficiently transfer heat to and from reaction vessels.
132 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A thermal cycler apparatus for performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) comprising:
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a heat block comprising; i. an upper surface comprising a plurality of wells in the upper surface adapted to mate with a plurality of sample vessels; ii. a sealed container comprising an oil in thermal contact with the plurality of wells; iii. a stirring element in contact with the oil for circulating the oil within the container; and iv. a bottom surface; and a heating element in contact with the bottom surface of the heat block. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A heat block for uniformly heating and cooling multiple sample vessels within a sample plate comprising:
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a. a receptacle barrier having a receptacle barrier top surface wherein the receptacle barrier top surface comprises wells which correspond to the sample vessels within the sample plate such that when the plate mates with the receptacle barrier, the sample vessels are in thermal contact with the wells; and b. a base plate, wherein the heat block comprises a liquid container having a top and a bottom and containing a liquid oil;
wherein the receptacle barrier comprises the top of the liquid container, and the base plate comprises the bottom of the liquid container, such that when the sample plate is mated with the receptacle barrier, the liquid oil is in thermal contact with the sample vessels; and
wherein the liquid container comprises a stirring element for circulating the liquid oil within the liquid container; andc. a heating element in thermal contact with the liquid oil in the liquid container, wherein the heating element is positioned below the base plate outside of the liquid container. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification