Patent ID: 8455401

Claim:
A method of amplifying nucleic acid template, comprising: a) providing: i) a first element comprising a first surface; ii) a second element comprising a second surface; iii) a plurality of indentations, wherein said indentations are formed on said first surface without extending through the entire thickness of said first surface; iv) a first solution comprising a plurality of first PCR primers; and v) a second solution comprising templates, polymerase, dNTPs and primers, wherein said primers are second PCR primers; b) contacting said first surface with said first solution under conditions such that at least a portion of said first PCR primers attach to at least a portion of said first surface so as to create a modified surface comprising attached molecules; c) contacting said modified surface with said second solution; d) positioning said second surface on top of said modified surface, so as to create a plurality of first regions defined by said indentations and second regions defined by contact of said surfaces, said first regions comprising unmasked attached molecules, and said second regions comprising masked attached molecules, t hereby making a device; e) thermocycling said device under conditions such that at least a portion of said template is amplified by said unmasked attached molecules.