US 7,238,321 B2Granted

Method for rapid thermal cycling of biological samples

AssigneeUniversity of Utah Research Foundation

InventorsCarl T. Wittwer, David R. Hillyard

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A thermal cycling method and device is disclosed. The device comprises a sample chamber whose temperature can be rapidly and accurately modulated over a range of temperatures needed to carry out a number of biological procedures, such a DNA polymerase chain reaction. Biological samples are placed in glass micro capillary tubes and then located inside the sample chamber. A programmable controller regulates the temperature of the sample inside the sample chamber. Once a heating cycle is completed, the controller opens a door to the chamber for venting hot air out and cool ambient air is moved in. Temperature versus time profiles corresponding to optimum denaturation, annealing and elongation temperatures for amplification of DNA are achieved by the present invention.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A thermal cycler for amplifying a nucleic acid comprising:

a housing comprising a chamber;
a port in said housing for receiving at least one polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sample holder in said chamber;
a heating assembly for heating a sample comprising a nucleic acid contained in said sample holder, wherein said heating assembly is in thermal communication with said PCR sample holder when said sample holder is present in said chamber;
a cooling assembly for cooling said sample, wherein said cooling assembly is in thermal communication with said PCR sample holder when said PCR sample holder is present in said chamber;
and
a controller programmed to control said heating and said cooling assemblies to cycle said sample holder and said sample through a predetermined temperature cycle corresponding to the denaturation, annealing and elongation steps of a polymerase chain reaction within a time range of 30-60 seconds;
wherein said PCR sample holder has a thermal mass which provides for completing said cycle of said polymerase chain reaction within said time range.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/891,161Filed 13 Jul 2004 · continuation
Priority: 4 Jun 1990
Published: US 2004/0265892 A130 Dec 2004
Granted: 3 Jul 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B01L 9/065
Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders: specially adapted for capillary tubes
B01L 7/52
Heating or cooling apparatus ; Heat insulating devices: with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different…
B01L 2200/147
Quality control, feedback systems: employing temperature sensors
B01L 2300/0838
Cylindrical, tube shaped: capillaries

Family

Application07/534,029Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 Jun 1990
Application07/815,966Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 Jan 1993
Application08/179,969Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 10 Jan 1994
Application08/537,612Parent of this continuation · filed 2 Oct 1995
US 5,455,175 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 3 Oct 1995
Application09/132,156Parent of this continuation · filed 11 Aug 1998
US 2004/0265892 A1Pre-grant publication · published 30 Dec 2004
US 6,787,338 B2Parent of this continuation
Application08/537,612Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2001/0007759 A1Published application
US 7,238,321 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.