Channels with cross-sectional thermal gradients
AssigneeAbbott Molecular Inc.
InventorsHerbert A. Marble, Thomas Laffler
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Abstract
Provided herein are systems, devices, and methods for generating thermal gradients in channels and uses thereof. In particular, provided herein are system, methods, and devices employing first and second thermal layers positioned around a channel in order to create a thermal gradient across a cross-section of the channel having, for example, a nucleic acid denaturation zone, a nucleic acid annealing zone, and a nucleic acid polymerization zone. Such devices find use in, for example, nucleic acid amplification procedures, including digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) to temperature cycle droplets for amplification of nucleic acid templates within the droplets.
Claims11
A device comprising:
- a) a microchannel comprising a surface configured for transmission of a carrier medium comprising droplets;
- b) a first thermal layer positioned along said microchannel configured to heat a portion of said microchannel surface to a nucleic acid denaturation temperature;
- and
- c) a second thermal layer positioned along said microchannel configured to heat or cool a portion of said microchannel surface to a nucleic acid annealing temperature;
- wherein said first and said second thermal layers are positioned along opposing surface walls of said microchannel to create a thermal gradient across a cross-section of said microchannel;
- and
- wherein said thermal gradient comprises a nucleic acid denaturation zone, a nucleic acid annealing zone, and a nucleic acid polymerization zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.