Patent ID: 8153064

Claim:
A system to support biochemical reactions, comprising: a receiver having a plurality of receptacles formed therein, each of the receptacles sized to at least partially receive and support a respective one of a plurality of sample holders, the receiver including an elongated metal bar, having the plurality of receptacles formed in an upper face of the metal bar, each of the receptacles having a diameter that is sized to closely receive a diameter of a respective one of the plurality of sample holders, the receiver further having a pair of angled faces each forming an obtuse angle between the respective one of the angle faces and the upper face and each of the angled faces having a respective set of passages, each of the passages extending from an exterior of the metal bar to an interior in communication with a respective one of the receptacles; an excitation subsystem including at least a first plurality of excitation sources positioned at least partially in the receiver, the excitation sources positioned at least partially in respective ones of the passages with a portion of each of the excitation sources proximate respective ones of the receptacles to direct electromagnetic energy toward at least a portion of a respective one of the sample holders received in a respective one of the receptacles of the receiver, the excitation subsystem operable to excite with the electromagnetic energy each of a number of samples contained in respective ones of a plurality of the sample holders while the sample holders are received and supported by the receiver; a detection subsystem that includes a plurality of detectors, each of the detectors positioned to detect emission of electromagnetic energy from a respective sample contained in a respective one of the sample holders that are received and supported by the receiver; and a thermal control subsystem operable to at least approximately maintain a uniform temperature of the receiver at least approximately constant for a period of time sufficient to perform an isothermal reaction on the samples, wherein the receiver has a large thermal mass with respect to the samples.