THERMAL CYCLING APPARATUS AND METHOD

1 .- 88 . (canceled)

89 . A thermal cycling device comprising:

a fluid delivery system for developing a flow of controlled-temperature fluid;

a case having a fluid-tight cavity for holding a microfluidic array, the array including a sheet of material having a pair of opposed surfaces, a thickness, and a plurality of through-holes running through the thickness between the surfaces; and

a cycling head for holding the case and delivering the flow of fluid over the case.

90 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 89 , wherein the flow of controlled temperature fluid is selectable between a first controlled temperature and a second controlled temperature.

91 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 89 , further comprising:

a thermal sensor for sensing temperature of the flow of fluid.

92 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 89 , wherein the case includes transparent covers over the microfluidic array, and the cycling head includes transparent windows arranged for imaging of samples in the a microfluidic array.

93 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 92 , wherein the transparent windows are arranged for one of transmission imaging and epi-flourescence imaging.

94 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 89 , further including a Peltier device associated with the cycling head for controlling temperature of the fluid.

95 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 89 , wherein the cycling head is adapted for vertical orientation of the microfluidic array.

96 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 89 , wherein the case includes a guide rail arrangement for holding the a microfluidic array.

97 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 89 , wherein the cycling head includes a guide rail arrangement for holding the case.

98 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 89 , wherein cycling head delivers a laminar flow of fluid delivered over the case.

99 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 89 , wherein the cycling head includes a flow regulator for promoting uniform flow of fluid over the case.

100 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 99 , wherein the flow regulator includes a flow restrictor in the cycling head upstream of the case.

101 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 99 , wherein the flow regulator includes a flow inlet cavity in the cycling head upstream of the case.

102 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 89 , further comprising:

a volume of an encapsulation fluid in the case for covering an inserted microfluidic array.

103 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 102 , wherein the encapsulation fluid is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, silicon oil, and a fluorinated hydrocarbon.

104 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 89 , wherein the opposed surfaces include a top surface and a bottom surface, and the case has an associated top cover and bottom cover.

105 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 104 , wherein the case and the cycling head are adapted so that the flow of fluid is delivered over both the top cover and the bottom cover.

106 . The thermal cycling device according to claim 89 , wherein the case is adapted to hold a plurality of microfluidic arrays.

107 . A method of thermal cycling comprising:

developing a flow of controlled-temperature fluid;

holding a microfluidic array in a fluid-tight cavity in a case, the array including a sheet of material having a pair of opposed surfaces, a thickness, and a plurality of through-holes running through the thickness between the surfaces; and

delivering the flow of controlled-temperature fluid over the case.

108 . The method according to claim 107 , wherein the flow of controlled-temperature fluid is selectable between a first controlled temperature and a second controlled temperature.

109 . The method according to claim 107 , further comprising:

sensing the temperature of the flow of fluid over the case.

110 . The method according to claim 107 , further comprising:

performing transmission imaging of samples in the microfluidic array.

111 . The method according to claim 107 , further comprising:

performing epi-flourescence imaging of sample in the microfluidic array.

112 . The method according to claim 107 , wherein developing the flow of temperature-controlled fluid uses a Peltier device.

113 . The method according to claim 107 , wherein the case is adapted for vertical orientation in the flow of fluid.

114 . The method according to claim 107 , wherein a guide rail arrangement is used for holding the microfluidic array.

115 . The method according to claim 114 , wherein a guide rail arrangement is used for holding the case.

116 . The method according to claim 107 , wherein the flow of fluid delivered over-the case is a laminar flow.

117 . The method according to claim 107 , wherein delivering the flow of controlled-temperature fluid includes promoting uniform flow of fluid over the case with a flow regulator.

118 . The method according to claim 117 , wherein the flow regulator includes a flow restrictor in the cycling head upstream of the case.

119 . The method according to claim 117 , wherein the flow regulator includes a flow inlet cavity in the cycling head upstream of the case.

120 . The method according to claim 107 , further comprising covering the microfluidic array in the cavity with a volume of an encapsulation fluid to avoid sample evaporation.

121 . The method according to claim 120 , wherein the encapsulation fluid is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, silicon oil, and a fluorinated hydrocarbon.

122 . The method according to claim 107 , wherein the opposed surfaces include a top surface and a bottom surface, and the case has an associated top cover and bottom cover.

123 . The method according to claim 122 , wherein the flow of temperature-controlled fluid is delivered over both the top cover and the bottom cover.

124 .- 309 . (canceled)