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US 8,409,848 B2Granted
System and method for rapid thermal cycling
OwnerShulin Zeng, Kenton C. Hasson +2inventors
InventorsShulin Zeng, Kenton C. Hasson, Gregory A. Dale, John Keady
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an apparatus that includes a microfluidic channel and at least one energy absorbing element, where the energy absorbing element is configured to absorb at least a portion of an incident electromagnetic radiation. The absorption of the radiation by the energy absorbing element varies the temperature of a sample in the microfluidic channel.
Claims36
An apparatus for use in carrying out a reaction by thermal cycling, comprising:
- a microfluidic chip;
- a microfluidic channel formed in the microfluidic chip, the microfluidic channel having at least one wall;
- an electromagnetic energy source configured and arranged to output radiation such that the radiation illuminates at least a portion of the microfluidic channel;
- an energy absorption element which is present in or on one or more walls of the microfluidic channel or which is present in a sample within the microfluidic channel;
- wherein,
- the energy absorption element is configured to absorb at least a portion of the radiation, and, thus, heat when illuminated by the radiation, wherein the absorption element is positioned such that when the absorption element is heated by the radiation the absorption element transfers heat to a sample that is in the microfluidic channel;
- and
- a heat-exchange channel having a generally U-shaped cross section and containing a heat exchange fluid, wherein the heat-exchange channel is located below the microfluidic channel and wherein the heat-exchange channel is configured to allow both introduction and removal of a heat exchange fluid to facilitate thermal cycling in the microfluidic channel.
5 more elements
An apparatus for use in carrying out a reaction by thermal cycling, comprising:
- a microfluidic chip comprising a microfluidic channel for containing a reaction sample;
- an energy absorbing element that is applied to and/or forms part of the microfluidic channel and which is configured to absorb radiation;
- heating means to heat the reaction sample;
- cooling means to cool the reaction sample;
- wherein the cooling means comprises a heat-exchange channel having a generally U-shaped cross section and containing a heat exchange fluid, wherein the heat-exchange channel is located below the microfluidic channel and wherein the heat-exchange channel is configured to allow both introduction and removal of a heat exchange fluid to facilitate thermal cycling in the microfluidic channel;
- sensor means to sense the temperature of the reaction sample;
- and
- control means coupled to the sensor means for controlling the heating means.
5 more elements
An apparatus for performing DNA amplification, comprising:
- a microfluidic chip having at least one microfluidic channel that is generally in the shape of a sine wave;
- and
- a temperature controller comprising a heat source and a heat-exchange channel having a generally U-shaped cross section and containing a heat exchange fluid, wherein the heat-exchange channel is located below the microfluidic channel, wherein the heat-exchange channel is configured to allow both introduction and removal of a heat exchange fluid to facilitate thermal cycling in the microfluidic channel wherein
- the temperature controller is configured and arranged so as to create three distinct and generally constant temperature zones:
- a first temperature zone, a second temperature zone that does not overlap with the first zone, and a third temperature zone that does not overlap with either the first or second temperature zone,
- wherein
- a top section of the channel is located within the first temperature zone,
- a middle section of the channel is located within the second temperature zone, and
- a bottom section of the channel is located within the third temperature zone.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.