Patent ID: 6413766
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: B01L,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for thermocycling a sample comprising:(a) a suitable reaction vessel for containing the sample; (b) non-contact optical energy means for directly heating the sample to a first desired temperature; (c) non-contact means for positively cooling the sample to a second desired temperature; (d) means for monitoring the temperature of said sample; (e) a microprocessor means operatively associated with said heating means, said cooling means, and said temperature monitoring means and for controlling the heating and cooling means, wherein the microprocessor means has means for effecting heating at a rate of between 10 C/second and 100 C/second and cooling at a rate of between about 5 C/second and 50 C/second and a means for completing one thermocycle in bewteen less than 0.5 second and about 20 seconds.