System and method for rapid thermal cycling
AssigneeCanon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
InventorsShulin Zeng, Kenton C. Hasson, Gregory A. Dale, John Keady
Life of this patent
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Abstract
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an apparatus that includes a microfluidic channel and at least one energy absorbing element, where the energy absorbing element is configured to absorb at least a portion of an incident electromagnetic radiation. The absorption of the radiation by the energy absorbing element varies the temperature of a sample in the microfluidic channel.
Claims39
An apparatus for use in carrying out a reaction by thermal cycling, comprising:
- a microfluidic chip;
- a microfluidic channel formed in the microfluidic chip, the microfluidic channel having at least one wall;
- an electromagnetic energy source configured and arranged to output radiation such that the radiation illuminates at least a portion of the microfluidic channel;
- and
- an energy absorption element configured to absorb at least a portion of the radiation, and, thus, heat when illuminated by the radiation, wherein the absorption element is positioned such that when absorption element is heated by the radiation the absorption element transfers heat to a sample that is in the microfluidic channel.
An apparatus for use in carrying out a reaction by thermal cycling, comprising:
- a microfluidic chip comprising a microfluidic channel for containing a reaction sample;
- an energy absorbing element that is applied to and/or forms part of the microfluidic channel;
- heating means to heat the reaction sample;
- cooling means to cool the reaction sample;
- sensor means to sense the temperature of the reaction sample;
- and
- control means coupled to the sensor means for controlling the heating means.
A method for rapid thermal cycling, comprising:
- (a) obtaining a chip having a microfluidic channel for receiving a solution comprising real-time PCR reagents;
- (b) introducing a solution comprising real-time PCR reagents into the microfluidic channel;
- (c) heating the solution while the solution moves through the microfluidic channel, wherein the act of heating the solution comprises exposing the microfluidic channel to electromagnetic radiation;
- (d) after heating the solution, cooling the solution while the solution moves through the channel;
- and
- (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) a number of times, wherein
- an energy absorbing element configured to absorb the electromagnetic radiation is suspended within the solution and/or forms part of the chip.
An apparatus for performing DNA amplification, comprising:
- microfluidic chip having at least one microfluidic channel that is generally in the shape of a sine wave;
- and
- a temperature controller configured and arranged so as to create three distinct and generally constant temperature zones:
- a first temperature zone, a second temperature zone that does not overlap with the first zone, and a third temperature zone that does not overlap with either the first or second temperature zone, wherein
- a top section of the channel is located within the first temperature zone,
- a middle section of the channel is located within the second temperature zone, and
- a bottom section of the channel is located within the third temperature zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.