US 6,428,987 B2 · Devices for fast DNA replication by polymerase chain reactions (PCR)

Abstract

The invention concerns instruments for fast, selective replication of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from biomaterial through polymerase chain reaction (PCR), working in individual duplication thermocycles. The invention consists of extremely brief cycle times of only a few seconds for the PCR reactions, generated, on the one hand, by reaction chambers for the reception of the reaction solution constructed of a pattern of fine capillaries in close proximity to heating and cooling elements in order to optimally accelerate the temperature setting in the reaction solution for the three temperature phases of the PCR duplication cycles and, on the other hand, by keeping the flow rates in the capillaries to a minimum during the amplification phase so that the polymerase reaction is not disturbed. The capillary pattern can be simply produced by means of microsystem technology.

Claims22

Dependent claims

Apparatus for use in replicating DNA located in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fluid, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having a flow path through which the reaction fluid may flow, the flow path including a set of reaction chambers comprising a plurality of capillaries into which fluid flowing through the flow path is divided to flow simultaneously before being recombined, such that a flow rate of the reaction solution through the parallel capillaries is lower than elsewhere in the flow path;
and
heating apparatus that provides heat to the flow path such that at least three different temperatures affect the reaction solution, the solution being subjected to at least one of the three temperatures while simultaneously present in the capillaries.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Devices for fast DNA replication by polymerase chain reactions (PCR)

Life of this patent

Devices for fast DNA replication by polymerase chain reactions (PCR)

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22