Patent ID: 7939312

Claim:
A thermocycler for use in connection with the amplification of DNA, said thermocycler comprising: a sample module configured for holding at least one sample, said sample module having a first thermal mass; a heating element positioned to supply heat to said sample module; a cooling assembly configured to receive heat from said sample module and transmit heat to exterior said cooling assembly, said cooling assembly being movable between a first position wherein it is in thermal contact with said sample module to receive heat therefrom and a second position wherein it is spaced from said sample module, said cooling assembly having a second thermal mass larger than said first thermal mass and said cooling assembly having removing means operable to remove heat from said second thermal mass; a mechanism for moving said cooling assembly between said first position and said second position; and a controller connected to said heating element, said cooling assembly and said mechanism, said controller being configured to operate said heating element between an on position in which said heating element supplies heat to said sample module and an off position in which it does not supply heat, said controller being configured to operate said mechanism to position said cooling assembly in said second position when said heating element is in said on position and to position said cooling assembly in said first position when said heating element is in said off position, and said controller being configured to operate said removing means to remove heat from said second thermal mass when said cooling assembly is in said second position.