Flow cell using peltier module as prime mover for polymerase chain reaction

A system for DNA amplification, comprising:

• a flow cell comprising
• a rectangular substrate having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a first side intermediate the proximal end and the distal end, a second side opposite the first side and in the proximal end and the distal end, and opposite upper and lower faces each bound by the proximal end, the distal end, the first side, and the second side,
• a continuous fluid flow channel disposed on the upper face, the fluid flow channel comprising
• a loading port,
• a first heat portion in fluidic communication with the loading port, proximate the distal end and the first side, and configured for being heated to a first temperature,
• a second heat portion in fluidic communication with the first heat portion, proximate the distal end and the second side, and configured for being heated to a second temperature,
• a third heat portion in fluidic communication with the second heat portion, intermediate the first side and the second side, and configured for being heated to one of a plurality of temperatures, and
• a fourth unheated portion in communication with the first heat portion and proximate the proximal end of the substrate;
• a flow cell process heater for selectively receiving the distal end of the flow cell, for heating the first heat portion to the first temperature, and for heating the second heat portion to the second temperature;
• and
• a flow control heater proximate the flow cell process heater and configured to selectively heat the third heat portion of the fluid flow channel via the lower face of the flow cell when the distal end of the flow cell is installed within the flow cell process heater,
• whereby the selective heating of the third portion of the fluid flow channel causes the pressure in the third portion to increase or decrease relative to the pressure in the fourth unheated portion, based upon the degree of selective heating by the flow control heater, thereby selectively moving fluid within the fluid flow channel between the first heat portion and the second heat portion.

A method for implementing oscillating flow PCR, comprising:

• inserting a flow cell into a flow cell process heater and over a flow control heater,
• the flow cell comprising
• a rectangular substrate having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a first side intermediate the proximal end and the distal end, a second side opposite the first side and intermediate the proximal end and the distal end, and opposite upper and lower faces each bound by the proximal end, the distal end, the first side, and the second side,
• a continuous fluid flow channel disposed on the upper surface, the fluid flow channel comprising
• a loading port in communication with the fluid flow channel,
• a first heat portion in fluidic communication with the loading port, proximate the distal end and the first side, and configured for being heated to a first temperature,
• a second heat portion in fluidic communication with the first heat portion, proximate the distal end and the second side, and configured for being heated to a second temperature,
• a third heat portion in fluidic communication with the second heat portion, intermediate the first side and the second side, and configured for being heated to one of a plurality of temperatures, and
• a fourth unheated portion in communication with the first heat portion and proximate the proximal end of the substrate,
• the flow cell process heater selectively receiving the distal end of the flow cell;
• selectively heating the first heat portion of the fluid flow channel to the first temperature via a first heater in the flow cell process heater;
• selectively heating the second heat portion of the fluid flow channel to the second temperature via a second heater in the flow cell process heater, the second temperature being greater than the first temperature;
• disposing a DNA template and associated reagents into the loading port;
• and
• selectively heating the lower face of the flow cell and the third portion of the fluid flow channel via the flow control heater, thereby changing the pressure within the third portion relative to the pressure within the remainder of the fluid flow channel and moving the DNA template and associated reagents relative to the first heat portion and the second heat portion.