초록 ▼

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 as the DNA polymerase chain reaction. Biological samples are pla

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 as the DNA polymerase chain reaction. Biological samples are placed in containers each comprising a reservoir and a reaction portion, wherein the reaction portion has a small volume. The small volume reaction portion permits the rapid and accurate temperature modulation. With an optically transmissible reaction portion, DNA amplification may be monitored by fluorescence during PCR.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A container for holding a fluidic biological sample while undergoing nucleic acid amplification, the container consisting of: a receiving portion having a first volume, the receiving portion being adapted to receive the biological sample therein; and a reaction portion consis

What is claimed is: 1. A container for holding a fluidic biological sample while undergoing nucleic acid amplification, the container consisting of: a receiving portion having a first volume, the receiving portion being adapted to receive the biological sample therein; and a reaction portion consisting of a capillary tube that is closed at one end, has an inner diameter selected from the range of about 0.25 mm to about 1.0 mm, and a capillary tube wall about 0.1 mm thick, said reaction portion being in fluidic communication with the receiving portion such that the biological sample placed in the receiving portion can travel to the reaction portion, the reaction portion having an internal volume not greater than a second volume, the second volume being less than the first volume and not greater than 1 milliliter, said reaction portion comprised of material having a thermal conductivity in the range from about 20 to about 35 in accordance with the formula: 2. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the receiving portion is formed from a plastic material. 3. A container as defined in claim 2 wherein the receiving portion is in the shape of a funnel structure. 4. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the capillary tube is a glass-capillary tube having an inner diameter of about 0.8 mm and an outer diameter of about 1.0 mm and the second volume is not greater than about 10 μl. 5. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the reaction portion is transparent. 6. The container of claim 1 wherein the second volume is between about 0.01 μl to about 100 μl. 7. The container of claim 1 wherein the reaction portion comprises a glass capillary tube having a 0.8 mm inner diameter and a 1.0 mm outer diameter. 8. The container of claim 7 wherein the receiving portion is in the shape of a funnel and the capillary tube comprises a closed first end and a flared second end, the flared second end for receiving the funnel shaped portion of the receiving portion. 9. The container of claim 8 wherein the closed first end comprises a flat tip. 10. A container as defined in claim 9 wherein the capillary tube has a length of about 80 mm. 11. The container of claim 1 wherein the reaction portion has a volume to surface ratio of less than 0.25 mm. 12. The container of claim 1 wherein the closed end is formed to optimize optical transmissibility for light having a wavelength of about 400 nm to about 800 nm. 13. A container for holding a fluidic biological sample while undergoing nucleic acid amplification, the container consisting of: a receiving portion having a first volume, the receiving portion being adapted to receive the biological sample therein; and a reaction portion consisting of a capillary tube that is closed at one end, has an inner diameter in the range from about 0.02 mm to about 0.1 mm, and a capillary tube wall about 0.1 mm thick, said reaction portion being in fluidic communication with the receiving portion such that the biological sample placed in the receiving portion can travel to the reaction portion, the reaction portion having an internal volume not greater than a second volume, the second volume being less than the first volume and not greater than 1 milliliter, said reaction portion comprised of material having a thermal conductivity in the range from about 20 to about 35 in accordance with the formula: 14. A container for rapidly heating and cooling a fluidic biological sample contained therein, the container consisting of: a receiving portion defining a first internal volume, the receiving portion being adapted to receive the biological sample therein; a reaction portion, consisting of a thin walled capillary tube that is closed at one end, and has an inner diameter selected from the range of about 0.25 mm to about 1.0 mm, wherein the closed end is formed for optical transmissibility through the closed end, and the capillary tube wall is about 0.1 mm thick or less, said reaction portion being in fluidic communication with the receiving portion such that the biological sample placed in the receiving portion can travel to the reaction portion, the reaction portion having an internal volume not greater than a second volume, the second volume being less than the first volume and not greater than 100 μl. 15. The container of claim 14 wherein the receiving portion is in the shape of a funnel structure. 16. The container of claim 14 wherein the reaction portion comprises a glass capillary tube having a 0.8 mm inner diameter and a 1.0 mm outer diameter. 17. The container of claim 14 wherein the closed end comprises a flat tip.