초록 ▼

A device for controlling temperature in a reaction chamber is disclosed. The device comprises: a bladder assembly comprising a housing dimensioned to hold a reaction chamber disposed within an interior volume of the housing; and a first temperature-control bladder disposed within the housing, the fi

A device for controlling temperature in a reaction chamber is disclosed. The device comprises: a bladder assembly comprising a housing dimensioned to hold a reaction chamber disposed within an interior volume of the housing; and a first temperature-control bladder disposed within the housing, the first temperature-control bladder is configured to receive a temperature-control fluid and comprises a flexible, heat conductive surface that comes in contact with at least a portion of an exterior surface of the reaction chamber after receiving the temperature-control fluid. Also disclosed are a bladder thermal cycler, a temperature-control bladder assembly and methods for producing a thermal cycle in a reaction chamber.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a reaction chamber, comprising: (a) placing said reaction chamber in the vicinity of a temperature-control bladder having a flexible thermal conductive surface, said thermal conductive surface forms a contact with an exterior surface of

1. A method for performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a reaction chamber, comprising: (a) placing said reaction chamber in the vicinity of a temperature-control bladder having a flexible thermal conductive surface, said thermal conductive surface forms a contact with an exterior surface of said reaction chamber when said temperature-control bladder is filled with a temperature control fluid, wherein said flexible thermal conductive surface facilitates heat transfer from said temperature control fluid to said reaction chamber;(b) filling said temperature-control bladder with said temperature-control fluid at a first temperature;(c) holding said temperature-control fluid at the first temperature in said temperature-control bladder for a first period of time;(d) filling said temperature-control bladder with said temperature-control fluid at a second temperature; and(e) holding said temperature-control fluid at the second temperature in said temperature-control bladder for a second period of time. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: filling said temperature-control bladder with said temperature-control fluid at a third temperature; andholding said temperature-control fluid at the third temperature in said temperature-control bladder for a third period of time. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said temperature-control fluid at the first temperature is produced at a first heat exchanger and is re-circulated back to said first heat exchanger after step (c), and wherein said temperature-control fluid at the second temperature is produced at a second heat exchanger and is re-circulated back to said second heat exchanger after step (e). 4. A method for producing thermal cycling in a reaction chamber having thermal contact with a temperature-control bladder, comprising: (a) filling said temperature-control bladder with a temperature-control fluid at a first temperature and holding said temperature-control fluid in said temperature-control bladder for a first period of time;(b) filling said temperature-control bladder with said temperature-control fluid at a second temperature and holding said temperature-control fluid in said temperature-control bladder for a second period of time; and(c) repeating steps (a) and (b),wherein said reaction chamber is a PCR tube or a microarray slide and wherein said temperature-control bladder comprises a flexible thermal conductive surface that facilitates heat transfer from said temperature control fluid to said reaction chamber. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said reaction chamber is a PCR tube or a microarray slide. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first temperature is in the range of 80-105° C. and wherein said second temperature is in the range of 50-70° C. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first temperature is about 95° C. and wherein said second temperature is about 65° C. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (b)-(e) are repeated for 30-50 times. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said temperature-control bladder is capable of heating a reaction mixture in said reaction chamber at a rate of about 15° C./sec. 10. The method of claim 4, wherein said temperature-control fluid at the first temperature is produced at a first heat exchanger and is re-circulated back to said first heat exchanger after step (a), and wherein said temperature-control fluid at the second temperature is produced at a second heat exchanger and is re-circulated back to said second heat exchanger after step (b). 11. The method of claim 4, wherein said first temperature is in the range of 80-105° C. and wherein said second temperature is in the range of 50-70° C. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said first temperature is about 95° C. and wherein said second temperature is about 65° C. 13. The method of claim 4, wherein steps (a) and (b) are repeated for 30-50 times. 14. The method of claim 4, wherein said temperature-control bladder is capable of heating a reaction mixture in said reaction chamber at a rate of about 15° C./sec.