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US 8,557,196 B2Granted
Low-mass sample block with rapid response to temperature change
AssigneeBio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
InventorSunand Banerji
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sample block for use in the polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, and other procedures that involve the performance of simultaneous reactions in multiple samples with temperature control by heating or cooling elements contacting the bottom surface of the block is improved by the inclusion of hollows in the block that are positioned to decrease the mass of the block in the immediate vicinity of the wells.
Claims9
A multiple sample support for use in performing a plurality of chemical reactions simultaneously at controlled temperatures, said multiple sample support comprising:
- a rigid block of unitary construction bound by two parallel planar surfaces defined as a top surface and a bottom surface and having a length and width;
- a series of sample wells in said block that are arranged in a planar array and that are open at said top surface;
- and
- a series of mass reduction holes having a centerline perpendicular to said top and bottom surfaces, open at said top surface, residing between said sample wells in said block, and periodically spaced within said block but not intersecting with said sample wells, wherein each mass reduction hole is centered along the intersection of diagonal lines joining the centers of four sample wells.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.