Heat flow polymerase chain reaction systems and methods

• US 9,849,458 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heatflow Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Heatflow Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Dinges, Warren L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prakash, Gautam
• Application Number:
  US13/530,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20120264203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,013 Days
• Field of Search: 4352872, 435 612, 435 71
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• 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

Methods and systems for polymerase chain reactions (PCR) that are capable of detecting amplified DNA during or after the PCR process. The methods and systems may utilize DSC or DTA analysis techniques.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a sample block including a plurality of sample wells;

at least one heater coupled to the sample block and configured to add heat to at least one PCR reaction solution when the at least one PCR reaction solution is disposed within a sample well from the plurality of sample wells and to add heat to at least one reference solution when the at least one reference solution is disposed within a sample well from the plurality of sample wells;

a first temperature sensor configured and disposed to measure a temperature of a PCR reaction solution during each of a plurality of cycles when the PCR reaction solution is disposed within a first sample well from the plurality of sample wells;

a second temperature sensor configured and disposed to measure a temperature of a reference solution during each of the plurality of cycles when the reference solution is disposed within a second sample well from the plurality of sample wells; and

a computer controller in communication with the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, the computer controller programmed to compare a temperature of the PCR reaction solution to a temperature of the thermal reference solution measured during each cycle from the plurality of cycles and to detect a formation of amplified DNA within the PCR reaction solution when a difference between a temperature of the PCR reaction solution and a temperature of the thermal reference solution is greater than a threshold temperature difference.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer controller is programmed to generate and analyze a reaction differential thermogram associated with the PCR reaction solution and the reference solution.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer controller is programmed to detect a formation of amplified DNA within the PCR reaction when a difference between a temperature of the PCR reaction solution and a temperature of the thermal reference solution is greater than a threshold temperature difference without the use of optics, gel electrophoresis, oligonucleotide sequencing or fluorescence.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the heater is configured to add heat to the PCR reaction solution and to add heat to the thermal reference solution during each of the plurality of cycles.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature of the PCR reaction solution and the second temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature of the thermal reference solution as the heater adds heat to the PCR reaction solution and the thermal reference solution.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third temperature sensor coupled to the sample block and configured to measure a temperature of the sample block during each of the plurality of cycles.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a lid configured to cover the plurality of sample wells of the sample block.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a lid configured to cover the plurality of sample wells of the sample block;

a lid heater configured to heat the lid; and

a lid temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the lid.

9. A system, comprising:

a sample block including a plurality of sample wells

a first heating system coupled to the sample block and configured to add heat to a PCR reaction solution when the PCR reaction solution is disposed within a first sample well from the plurality of sample wells;

a second heating system coupled to the sample block and configured to add heat to a reference solution when the reference solution is disposed within a second sample well from the plurality of sample wells;

a first temperature sensor configured and disposed to measure a temperature of the PCR reaction solution during each of a plurality of cycles when the PCR reaction solution is disposed within the first sample well from the plurality of sample wells;

a second temperature sensor configured and disposed to measure a temperature of the reference solution during each of the plurality of cycles when the reference solution is disposed within the second sample well from the plurality of sample wells; and

a computer controller in communication with the first heating system and the second heating system, the computer controller programmed to detect a formation of amplified DNA within the PCR reaction solution based on a difference in a power input to the first heating system and a power input to the second heating system.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer controller is programmed to measure the power input to the first heating system and the power input to the second heating system as heat is added to the PCR reaction solution by the first heating system and heat is added to the reference solution by the second heating system.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer controller is programmed to detect a formation of amplified DNA within the PCR reaction solution when there is a difference in a power input to the first heating system and a power input to the second heating system without the use of optics, gel electrophoresis, oligonucleotide sequencing or fluorescence.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a lid configured to cover the plurality of sample wells of the sample block.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a lid configured to cover the plurality of sample wells of the sample block;

a lid heater configured to heat the lid; and

a lid temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the lid.

14. A system, comprising:

a sample block including a plurality of sample wells

a heater coupled to the sample block and configured to add heat to at least one PCR reaction solution when the at least one PCR reaction solution is disposed within a sample well from the plurality of sample wells and to add heat to at least one reference solution when the at least one reference solution is disposed within a sample well from the plurality of sample wells;

a first temperature sensor configured and disposed to measure a temperature of a PCR reaction solution during each of a plurality of cycles when the PCR reaction solution is disposed within a first sample well from the plurality of sample wells;

a second temperature sensor configured and disposed to measure a temperature of the reference solution during each of the plurality of cycles when the reference solution is disposed within a second sample well from the plurality of sample wells; and

a computer controller in communication with the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, the computer controller programmed to compare a temperature of a PCR reaction solution to a temperature of a thermal reference solution during at least one cycle from the plurality of cycles and to determine an enthalpy change in the PCR reaction solution, the computer controller programmed to relate a difference in temperature between the PCR reaction solution and the thermal reference solution to the enthalpy change in the PCR reaction solution to detect a formation of amplified DNA within the PCR reaction solution.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer controller is configured generate and analyze a reaction differential thermogram associated with the PCR reaction solution and the reference solution.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer controller is programmed to relate a difference in temperature between the PCR reaction solution and the thermal reference solution to the enthalpy change in the PCR reaction solution to detect a formation of amplified DNA within the PCR reaction solution without the use of optics, gel electrophoresis, oligonucleotide sequencing or fluorescence.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the heater is configured to add heat to the PCR reaction solution and add heat to the thermal reference solution during each of the plurality of cycles.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the first temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature of the PCR reaction solution and the second temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature of the thermal reference solution as the heater adds heat to the PCR reaction solution and the thermal reference solution.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a third temperature sensor coupled to the sample block and configured to measure a temperature of the sample block during each of the plurality of cycles.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a lid configured to cover the plurality of sample wells of the sample block.

21. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a lid configured to cover the plurality of sample wells of the sample block;

a lid heater configured to heat the lid; and

a lid temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the lid.