Patent ID: 6210882
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B01L,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for thermocycling a sample comprising:(a) placing a volume of sample in the nanoliter range in a reaction vessel having a large surface to volume ratio;(b) heating the sample to a first desired temperature using the optical energy of a non-contact heat source that directly heats the sample itself at a rate of between about 10.degree. C./second and 100.degree. C./second;(c) positively cooling the sample to a second desired temperature by a non-contact cooling source below ambient temperature directed at the reaction vessel at a rate of between about 5.degree. C./second and 50.degree. C./second; and(d) sequentially repeating steps (b) and (c) to perform a desired number of thermocycles wherein each thermocycle is completed in between about 0.3 seconds and about 20 seconds.