Thermal cycle for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction with close temperature control
A thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction is provided. The thermal cycler comprises a heater control that provides close temperature control of the reaction.
1 . A thermocycler apparatus comprising:
at least one sample well capable of receiving a sealed vessel containing a liquid sample mixture;
a heated platen with a heater being provided to heat said platen for contacting the top of a sealed vessel; and
a heater control adapted to control the heater so that the platen keeps an upper part of a sealed vessel disposed in the sample well at a temperature from 94° C. to 110° C. during an entire PCR cycle such that condensation and refluxing of such liquid sample in the sealed vessel is avoided.
2 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sealed vessel disposed in the at least one sample well.
3 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a liquid sample disposed in the sealed vessel.
4 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising ingredients for polymerase chain reaction disposed in the sealed vessel.
5 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample well is formed in a sample block.
6 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means for forcing the heated platen against the top of a sealed vessel disposed in the at least one sample well.
7 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one sample well comprises a plurality of sample wells, the apparatus further comprises a plurality of sealed vessels respectively disposed in the plurality of sample wells, and the means for forcing the heated platen against the top of a sealed vessel is adapted to press each sealed vessel of the plurality of sealed vessels firmly into its respective sample well.
8 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of sealed vessels comprise a microtiter plate format.
9 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of sealed vessels comprises a plurality of sample tubes, each sample tube comprises a cap, and the means for forcing the heated platen against the top of a sealed vessel is adapted to deform the cap of each sample tube and press each sample tube into its respective sample well.
10 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heater control is adapted to control the heater so that the platen is kept at a temperature of from 100° C. to 110° C.
11 . A thermocycler apparatus comprising:
at least one sample well capable of receiving a sealed vessel containing a liquid sample mixture;
a heated platen with a heater being provided to heat said heated platen, the heated platen configured to contact the top of a sealed vessel; and
a heater control adapted to control the heater so that the platen is heated to a temperature above the boiling point of water during an entire PCR cycle such that condensation and refluxing of such liquid sample in the sealed vessel is avoided.
12 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a sealed vessel disposed in the at least one sample well.
13 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a liquid sample disposed in the sealed vessel.
14 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising ingredients for polymerase chain reaction disposed in the sealed vessel.
15 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one sample well is formed in a sample block.
16 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a screw for forcing the heated platen against the top of a sealed vessel disposed in the at least one sample well.
17 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the at least one sample well comprises a plurality of sample wells, the apparatus further comprises a plurality of sealed vessels respectively disposed in the plurality of sample wells, and the screw for forcing the heated platen against the top of a sealed vessel is adapted to press each sealed vessel of the plurality of sealed vessels firmly into its respective sample well.
18 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of sealed vessels comprise a microtiter plate format.
19 . The thermocycler apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of sealed vessels comprises a plurality of sample tubes, each sample tube comprises a cap, and the screw for forcing the heated platen against the top of a sealed vessel is adapted to deform the cap of each sample tube and press each sample tube into its respective sample well.