Thermal cycler for PCR
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an assembly comprising a sample block configured to receive a microtiter tray comprising a plurality of vials, each vial comprising a cap having a surface and a perimeter; and
a cover for applying a predetermined temperature to upper portions of a plurality of vials received in the sample block, the cover comprisinga platen, vertically and horizontally displaceable in relationship to the sample block, the platen having a plurality of recesses, each recess corresponding to a respective vial, wherein each recess is shaped and arranged to clear the surface of its respective cap when the cover is displaced onto the sample block,a skirt in contact with and surrounding a perimeter of the platen, the skirt being configured for mating with a perimeter of a microtiter tray to contact a microtiter tray when a microtiter tray is received in the sample block, the skirt being configured such that the cover contacts a microtiter tray when a microtiter tray is received in the sample block, anda heater capable of maintaining the platen at the predetermined temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus comprising an assembly and a cover. The assembly comprises a sample block configured to receive a microtiter tray having a plurality of vials, each vial comprising a cap having a surface and a perimeter. The cover comprises a platen, vertically and horizontally displaceable in relationship to the sample block, the platen having a plurality of recesses. Each recess corresponds to a respective vial and is shaped and arranged to clear the surface of its respective cap when the cover is displaced onto the sample block. The cover includes a skirt in contact with and surrounding a perimeter of the platen. The skirt is configured for mating with a perimeter of a microtiter tray when a microtiter tray is received in the sample block, and also configured such that the cover contacts a microtiter tray when a microtiter tray is received in the sample block.
111 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an assembly comprising a sample block configured to receive a microtiter tray comprising a plurality of vials, each vial comprising a cap having a surface and a perimeter; and a cover for applying a predetermined temperature to upper portions of a plurality of vials received in the sample block, the cover comprising a platen, vertically and horizontally displaceable in relationship to the sample block, the platen having a plurality of recesses, each recess corresponding to a respective vial, wherein each recess is shaped and arranged to clear the surface of its respective cap when the cover is displaced onto the sample block, a skirt in contact with and surrounding a perimeter of the platen, the skirt being configured for mating with a perimeter of a microtiter tray to contact a microtiter tray when a microtiter tray is received in the sample block, the skirt being configured such that the cover contacts a microtiter tray when a microtiter tray is received in the sample block, and a heater capable of maintaining the platen at the predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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an assembly comprising a sample block configured to receive a plurality of vials arranged in a sample tube tray, each vial comprising a cap having a dome surface and a perimeter; and a cover for applying a predetermined temperature to upper portions of a plurality of vials received in the sample block, the cover comprising a platen, vertically and horizontally displaceable in relationship to the sample block, the platen having a plurality of recesses, each recess corresponding to a respective vial, wherein each recess is shaped and arranged to clear the dome surface of its respective cap when the cover is displaced onto the sample block, a skirt surrounding the platen, the skirt being configured for mating with and thereby contacting a perimeter of the sample tube tray, and a heater capable of maintaining the platen at the predetermined temperature, wherein the cover is configured to apply pressure to the vial caps without distorting the caps when the sample tube tray is disposed in the sample block and the skirt contacts the sample tube tray, and the skirt is configured such that the cover is self-aligning to a sample tube tray when a sample tube tray is received in the sample block. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus comprising:
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an assembly comprising a sample block configured to receive a microtiter tray comprising a plurality of vials, each vial comprising a cap having a surface and a perimeter; and a cover for applying a predetermined temperature to upper portions of a plurality of vials received in the sample block, the cover comprising a platen, vertically and horizontally displaceable in relationship to the sample block, the platen having a plurality of recesses corresponding to a respective vial, wherein each recess is shaped and arranged to clear the surface of its respective cap when the cover is displaced onto the sample block, a skirt in contact with and surrounding a perimeter of the platen, the skirt being configured for mating with and thereby contacting a perimeter of the microtiter tray before contacting the plurality of vials, and a heater capable of maintaining the platen at the predetermined temperature, wherein the cover is configured to apply pressure to the vial caps without distorting the caps when the microtiter tray is disposed in the sample block and the skirt contacts the microtiter tray. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An apparatus comprising:
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an assembly comprising a sample block configured to receive a microtiter tray comprising a plurality of vials, each vial comprising a cap having a surface and a perimeter; and a cover for applying a predetermined temperature to upper portions of a plurality of vials received in the sample block, the cover comprising a platen, vertically and horizontally displaceable in relationship to the sample block, the platen having a plurality of recesses corresponding to a respective vial, wherein each recess is shaped and arranged to clear the entire surface of its respective cap when the cover is displaced onto the sample block, a skirt surrounding the platen, the skirt being configured for mating with a perimeter of a microtiter tray to contact a microtiter tray when a microtiter tray is received in the sample block, the skirt being configured such that the cover self-aligns to a microtiter tray before contacting the plurality of vials when a microtiter tray is received in the sample block, and a heater capable of maintaining the platen at the predetermined temperature.
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Specification