Thermal cycling system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A thermal cycler apparatus for performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) comprising:
- a heat block having a top surface and a bottom surface, the heat block comprising;
one or more receptacles located on the top surface and configured to receive one or more sample vessels;
a container containing a liquid composition having a heat transfer coefficient of less than or equal to 5.0 W/m °
K, and wherein the container comprises a closed system with respect to the liquid composition; and
a stir bar in contact with the liquid composition and configured to actively mix the liquid composition;
a heating element in thermal contact with the liquid composition; and
a temperature control assembly in communication with the heating element.
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Abstract
This invention provides a system for performing PCR, and real time PCR in particular with great speed and specificity. The system employs a heat block containing a liquid composition to rapidly transfer heat to and from reaction vessels. The system makes use of the reflective properties of the liquid metal to reflect signal from the PCR into the vessel and out the top. In this way, the signal can be measured by an optical assembly in real time without removing the vessels from the heat block.
145 Citations
40 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 having a top surface and a bottom surface, the heat block comprising; one or more receptacles located on the top surface and configured to receive one or more sample vessels; a container containing a liquid composition having a heat transfer coefficient of less than or equal to 5.0 W/m °
K, and wherein the container comprises a closed system with respect to the liquid composition; anda stir bar in contact with the liquid composition and configured to actively mix the liquid composition; a heating element in thermal contact with the liquid composition; and a temperature control assembly in communication with the heating element. - 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, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A thermal cycler apparatus for performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) comprising:
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a heat block having a top surface and a bottom surface, the heat block comprising; one or more receptacles located on the top surface and configured to receive one or more sample vessels; and a container containing a liquid composition having a heat transfer coefficient of 0.1 to 5 W/m °
K, and wherein the container comprises a closed system with respect to the liquid composition;a heating element in thermal contact with the liquid composition, wherein the heating element is in contact with the bottom surface of the heat block; and a temperature control assembly in communication with the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A thermal cycler apparatus for performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) comprising:
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a heat block having a top surface and a bottom surface, the heat block comprising; one or more receptacles located on the top surface and configured to receive one or more sample vessels; a container containing a liquid composition having a heat transfer coefficient of 0.1 to 5 W/m °
K, and wherein the container comprises a closed system with respect to the liquid composition; andat least one stir bar configured to actively mix the liquid composition; a heating element in thermal contact with the liquid composition; and a temperature control assembly in communication with the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification