Patent ID: 8623637

Claim:
A nucleic acid amplification apparatus comprising: at least three temperature zones that can be set at different temperatures, the temperature zones including a first temperature zone, an intermediate zone, and a second temperature zone; and a plurality of channels each including a plurality of forward subchannels and a plurality of backward subchannels, the channel being configured to continuously flow a fluid containing nucleic acid alternately through one of the forward subchannels and one of the backward subchannels, so that the fluid travels repeatedly between the first temperature zone and the second temperature zone via the intermediate zone, whereby the fluid is thermally cycled to achieve an amplification reaction of the nucleic acid while the fluid flows through the channel, the forward subchannels being different from the backward subchannels in terms of cross-sectional area in the intermediate zone such that a residence time of a portion of the fluid in the forward subchannels in the intermediate zone is different than a residence time of a portion of the fluid in the backward subchannels in the intermediate zone; a plurality of subchannels each connecting the forward subchannel and the backward subchannel, the plurality of subchannels being arranged such that a residence time of a portion of the fluid in each subchannel is the same in the first temperature zone, and such that a residence time of a portion of the fluid in each subchannel is the same in the second temperature zone; and a plurality of subchannels each connecting to one of the forward subchannels for conducting fluid to each of the channels, the plurality of subchannels being arranged parallel to each other.