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US 2008/0176230 A1Published application
Systems and methods for real-time pcr
AssigneeCanon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
InventorsGregory H. Owen, Gregory A. Dale, Kenton C. Hasson, Shulin Zeng, Dwayne W. Warfield, Sarah Warfield
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Abstract
In one aspect, the present invention provides a systems and methods for the real-time amplification and analysis of a sample of DNA.
Claims32
A system for performing real-time PCR and melting of DNA, comprising:
- a microfluidic device comprising:
- a microfluidic channel having a PCR zone and a DNA melting zone, a first reagent well in fluid communication with the channel and a second reagent well in fluid communication with the channel;
- a sipper connected to the microfluidic device, the sipper being in fluid communication with the channel;
- a pump for forcing a sample to flow through the channel;
- a well plate comprising a buffer well for storing a buffer solution and a sample well for storing a sample solution containing a DNA sample;
- a buffer solution storage container for storing a buffer solution, the buffer solution storage container being in fluid communication with the buffer well of the well plate;
- a positioning system operable to position the well plate;
- a temperature control system for cycling the temperature of a sample while the sample is in the PCR zone of the channel and for providing heat for melting the DNA contained in the sample while the sample is in the DNA melting zone;
- an imaging system for detecting emissions from the PCR zone and from the DNA melting zone, the imaging system comprising:
- an excitation source and a detector configured and arranged to detect emissions from the PCR zone and/or the DNA melting zone;
- and
- a main controller in communication with (a) the temperature control system, (b) the positioner, (c) the imaging system, and (d) a display device.
9 more elements
A DNA amplification and analysis method, comprising:
- creating a script, wherein the script contains configuration information;
- preparing a microfluidic device having a microfluidic channel having a PCR zone and a DNA melting zone;
- reading the script to obtain the configuration information;
- positioning a well plate relative to the device, the well pate having a buffer well containing a buffer solution and sample well containing a sample solution containing a DNA sample;
- activating a pump, wherein the pump is configured to create a pressure differential that causes the sample solution to flow through the channel, wherein the sample flows through the PCR zone prior to flowing through the DNA melting zone;
- while the sample is flowing through the channel:
- cycling the temperature of the sample according to configuration information included in the script as the sample flows through the PCR zone to amplify the DNA sample;
- obtaining images of the sample as the sample flows through the PCR zone;
- processing the images;
- and
- melting the amplified DNA.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.