Instrument for monitoring polymerase chain reaction of DNA

An instrument comprising:

• a plurality of spaced-apart reaction ingredient containers;
• a light source adapted to direct an excitation beam toward the plurality of containers;
• a Fresnel lens disposed along an excitation beam path, between the light source and the plurality of containers;
• and
• a beam splitter disposed along an excitation beam path, between the light source and the Fresnel lens;
• wherein the Fresnel lens is disposed along an emission beam path between the plurality of containers and the beam splitter.

An instrument comprising:

• a block with a plurality of spaced-apart sample wells;
• a light source adapted to direct an excitation beam toward the plurality of sample wells;
• a Fresnel lens disposed along an excitation beam path, between the light source and the plurality of sample wells;
• and
• a beam splitter disposed along an excitation beam path, between the light source and the Fresnel lens;
• wherein the Fresnel lens is disposed along an emission beam path between the plurality of sample wells and the beam splitter.

A method of directing an excitation beam toward a plurality of wells in a block, the method comprising:

• providing an instrument that includes in series a light source, a beam splitter, a Fresnel lens, and a block with a plurality of wells;
• generating an excitation beam with the light source;
• and
• focusing the excitation beam with the Fresnel lens into the plurality of wells.

A method of illuminating a plurality of spaced-apart reaction ingredient containers, the method comprising:

• providing an instrument that includes in series a light source, a beam splitter, a Fresnel lens, and a plurality of spaced-apart reaction ingredient containers containing respective samples;
• generating an excitation beam with the light source;
• and
• focusing the excitation beam with the Fresnel lens into the samples in the respective plurality of spaced-apart reaction ingredient containers.