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US 5,686,271 AGranted
Apparatus for performing magnetic cycle reaction
AssigneeGamera Bioscience Corporation
InventorsAlec Mian, Stephen G. Kieffer-Higgins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides an apparatus for performing a process for amplification of specific nucleic acid sequences based upon the separation of nucleic acid strands by an electromagnetic field. This means of separation allows the use of mesophilic polymerases in the amplification process, thereby increasing the speed and fidelity of the amplification process, as well as the size of target nucleic acid that can be amplified.
Claims4
An apparatus for performing a magnetic cycle reaction, the apparatus comprising in combination:
- (a) a temperature-controlled sample block comprising a plate containing an array of a multiplicity of sample tube wells, wherein a portion of a sample tube fits within the sample tube well, and heating and cooling means in thermal contact with the sample block for controlling the temperature thereof;
- (b) a first magnetic element, wherein the first magnetic element is located above the sample block and in magnetic proximity thereof, wherein the first magnetic element comprises a multiplicity of coils, wherein the coils comprise a multiplicity of rams of an electricity-conducting wire around a soft iron core, and wherein the flow of electric current through the wire comprising the coil creates a magnetic field surrounding the first magnetic element which extends to the sample block;
- (c) a second magnetic dement, wherein the second magnetic element is located beneath the sample block and in proximity thereof, wherein the second magnetic element comprises a multiplicity of coils, wherein the coils comprise a multiplicity of turns of an electricity-conducting wire around a soft iron core, and wherein the flow of electric current through the wire comprising the coil creates a magnetic field surrounding the second magnetic element which extends to the sample block;
- (d) a controller comprising a microprocessor, wherein the controller is operatively linked to the temperature-controlled sample block and each of the first and second magnetic elements, wherein the controller is also operatively linked to a user interface and the controller controls electric current flow through each of the magnetic elements and the temperature of the temperature-controlled sample block;
- and
- (e) a power supply that is operatively linked to the controller and supplies electrical power to the apparatus.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.