Method and apparatus for amplifying nucleic acids

An apparatus for amplifying nucleic acids, which comprises:

• a substrate;
• a reaction vessel formed inside of the substrate;
• at least one first inlet channel formed inside the substrate, connected to an end of the reaction vessel;
• a plurality of droplets disposed in the reaction vessel, wherein the droplets have a shape which is determined by the first inlet channel and comprise a reactant aqueous solution containing reactants for nucleic acid amplification;
• a second inlet channel formed inside the substrate, connected to the end of the reaction vessel;
• a fluid disposed in the reaction vessel, wherein the fluid has a flow rate determined by the second inlet channel and is phase-separated from the reactant aqueous solution and does not participate in amplification reaction;
• and
• a heating unit to heat the substrate,
• wherein the fluid surrounds the plurality of reactant aqueous solution droplets and the nucleic acids are amplified in the reactant aqueous solution droplets;
• wherein the reaction vessel comprises two serpentine primary reaction channels and a single serpentine secondary reaction channel connected to a terminal end of each of the two serpentine primary reaction channels, and the first inlet channel and the second inlet channel are connected to staffing ends of the two serpentine primary reaction channels.

An apparatus for amplifying nucleic acids, which comprises:

• a substrate;
• a reaction vessel formed inside of the substrate, a body portion of the reaction vessel having a first serpentine shape and a staffing end portion of the reaction vessel, which is disposed upstream of the body portion of the reaction vessel, having a second serpentine shape different from the first serpentine shape;
• at least one first inlet channel formed inside the substrate, and in fluid communication with the reaction vessel;
• a reactant aqueous solution containing reactants for nucleic acid amplification disposed in the reaction vessel and also disposed in the first inlet channel;
• a second inlet channel formed inside the substrate, and in fluid communication with the reaction vessel;
• at least one selected from a negative control aqueous solution and a positive control aqueous solution disposed separated from the reactant aqueous solution in the reaction vessel and also disposed in the second inlet channel;
• a third inlet channel formed inside the substrate, and in fluid communication with the reaction vessel;
• a fluid which is phase-separated from the reactant aqueous solution and the at least one selected from a negative control aqueous solution and a positive control aqueous solution and disposed surrounding the reactant aqueous solution and the at least one selected from a negative control aqueous solution and a positive control aqueous solution in the reaction vessel and also being disposed in the third inlet channel;
• and
• a heating unit coupled to the substrate.