Patent ID: 6953676

Claim:
A device for amplifying a preselected polynucleotide in a sample by conducting a polynucleotide polymerization reaction, the device comprising: a solid substrate microfabricated to define: a sample inlet port; and a mesoscale flow system comprising: a sample flow channel having a cross-section and extending from said inlet port; and a polynucleotide polymerization reaction chamber having a cross-section and being in fluid communication with said flow channel, said chamber containing reagents for the polymerization reaction, said flow channel and said reaction chamber having at least one cross-sectional dimension of width or depth which is between about 0.1 to 500 μm said reaction chamber cross-section and said flow channel cross-section being dissimilar; means for thermally regulating the contents of said chamber whereby the temperature is controlled to amplify said preselected polynucleotide; and means for detecting said amplified polynucleotide.