Patent ID: 9573133
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: B01L

Claim:
1. An apparatus adapted to perform thermal convection PCR comprising: (a) a first heat source for heating or cooling a channel and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the channel being adapted to receive a reaction vessel for performing PCR, (b) a second heat source for heating or cooling the channel and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface facing the top surface of the first heat source, wherein the channel is defined by a bottom end contacting the first heat source and a through hole contiguous with the top surface of the second heat source, and further wherein center points between the bottom end and the through hole form a channel axis about which the channel is disposed, (c) at least one chamber positioned exclusively within the second heat source and disposed around at least part of the channel, the chamber comprising a permanent chamber gap between the second heat source and the channel sufficient to reduce heat transfer between the second heat source and the channel; and (d) a receptor hole adapted to receive the channel within the first heat source, wherein the receptor hole, the through hole and the chamber contact the channel during the thermal convection PCR, the contacting being sufficient to support PCR amplification by thermal convection within the reaction vessel.