Induction pcr

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016289736-A1
Application number	US-201415034817-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 5, 2014
Priority date	Nov 5, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, devices, and kits are provided for performing PCR and other thermal cycling reactions in <20 seconds per cycle, using induction heating.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device for thermal cycling a plurality of samples comprising:
an inductive heating unit, the inductive heating unit configured to receive therein an array of sample wells formed in an electrically conductive material, wherein when received, the array is suspended within the inductive heating unit, a power supply for providing the current to the inductive heating unit, and an air source configured to provide air to cool the array of sample wells.

2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a switching mechanism for controlling the power supply and the air source.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the switching mechanism is controlled by a heat sensor.

4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the switching mechanism is controlled by a fluorescent value from a fluorescent dye in one or more of the sample wells.

5 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the samples are PCR samples and the array is thermal cycled between an annealing temperature and a denaturation temperature for a plurality of cycles.

6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein each cycle is completed in a cycle time less than 15 seconds per cycle.

7 . The device of claim 5 , wherein each cycle is completed in less than 2 seconds per cycle.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of a plurality of the sample wells comprise a target nucleic acid, a thermostable polymerase, and primers configured for amplification of the target nucleic acid sequence, wherein the polymerase is provided at a concentration of at least 0.5 μM and the primers are each provided at a concentration of at least 2 μM.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of a plurality of the sample wells comprise a target nucleic acid, a thermostable polymerase, and primers configured for amplification of the target nucleic acid sequence, wherein the polymerase and primers are provided at a ratio of (about 0.03 to about 0.4 polymerase):(total primer concentration), and the polymerase concentration is at least 0.5 μM.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material is a copper layer having a thickness of about 25 to about 100 μm, and the wells are formed therein.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the array further comprises a PCR compatible coating on the copper layer.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the air source is selected from the group consisting of a fan and compressed air.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the array of sample wells is generally circular.

14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the array of sample wells is elongated, and each sample well is equidistant from an edge of the array.

15 . A device for thermal cycling a sample comprising:
an inductive heating unit, the inductive heating unit configured to receive therein a sample well formed in an electrically conductive material, wherein when received, the sample well is suspended within the inductive heating unit, a power supply for providing the current to the inductive heating unit, an air source configured to provide air to cool the array of sample wells, a switching mechanism for controlling the power supply and the fan, and a heat sensor for controlling the switching mechanism.

16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the heat sensor does not touch the electrically conductive material or the sample well.

17 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the heat sensor is an infrared heat sensor.

18 . The device of claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of additional sample wells formed in the electrically conductive material.

19 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the sample is a PCR sample and the device cycles the array between an annealing temperature and a denaturation temperature for a plurality of cycles.

20 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the electrically conductive material is a copper layer having a thickness of about 25 to about 100 μm, and the well is formed therein.

21 . The device of claim 20 , wherein each cycle is completed in less than 5 seconds per cycle.

22 . A device for thermally cycling a plurality of samples, the device comprising:
an inductive heating unit, a conductive sample heating unit configured to be inductively heated by the inductive heating unit and to thermally drive a sample array comprising a plurality of sample receptacles, the conductive sample heating unit having at least one feature configured to reduce or eliminate a thermal gradient between the plurality of sample receptacles.

23 . The device of claim 22 , wherein the conductive sample heating unit comprises a conductive frame member having a body portion and an outer perimeter, wherein the frame member is configured to hold the plurality of sample receptacles, and the at least one feature configured to reduce or eliminate a thermal gradient between the plurality of sample receptacles comprises a substantially uniform distance between each of the plurality of sample receptacles and the outer perimeter of the frame member.

24 . The device of claim 22 , wherein the conductive sample heating unit comprises a plurality of conductive regions having electrically insulating regions therebetween, the sample heating unit being configured to be positioned adjacent the sample array, and the at least one feature configured to reduce or eliminate a thermal gradient between the plurality of sample receptacles comprises a pattern of conductive regions and electrically insulating regions that is configured to provide substantially uniform inductive heating.

25 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the pattern of conductive regions and electrically insulating regions defines outer edges of the conductive regions, and a central portion of the conductive sample heating unit comprises a greater concentration of outer edges of the conductive regions than an outer portion of the conductive sample heating unit.

26 . The device of claim 25 , wherein the pattern of conductive regions and electrically insulating regions includes a plurality of generally wedge-shaped conductive regions that are arranged to form a circular plate, the plurality of generally wedge-shaped conductive regions being separated by the electrically insulating regions.

27 . The device of claim 22 , wherein the samples are PCR samples and the device cycles the samples between an annealing temperature and a denaturation temperature for a plurality of cycles.

28 . The device of claim 22 , wherein the conductive sample heating unit comprises an electrically conductive material.

29 . The device of claim 28 , wherein the electrically conductive material includes silver.

30 . A device for thermally cycling a plurality of samples, the device comprising:
an inductive heating unit, a conductive sample heating unit configured to be inductively heated by the inductive heating unit and to thermally drive a sample array comprising at least one sample receptacle, the conductive sample heating unit comprising a plurality of radially symmetric sections.

31 . The device of claim 30 , wherein the plurality of radially symmetric sections are insulated from each other.

32 . The device of claim 30 , further comprising a cooling unit.

33 . The device of claim 32 , wherein the cooling unit is an air source.

34 . The device

Assignees

• Biofire Diagnostics Llc
• Univ Utah Res Found

Inventors

• Jones David
• Wittwer Carl T

Classifications

• B01L7/52

  with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples · CPC title

• C12Q3/00

  Condition responsive control processes (apparatus therefor C12M1/36; controlling or regulating in general G05) · CPC title

• G01N35/00623

  of instruments · CPC title

• B01L7/525 Primary

  with physical movement of samples between temperature zones · CPC title

• B01L2200/147

  Employing temperature sensors · CPC title