Induction PCR Thermal Cycling with Rapid Air Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current PCR instruments perform poorly in rapid cycling due to limitations in temperature control, leading to reduced reproducibility and variability in results, with most instruments struggling to achieve cycle times under 60 seconds and often requiring extended denaturation and annealing times to ensure accurate temperature reach.

Innovation Solution

A device utilizing inductive heating with an array of sample wells in an electrically conductive material, suspended within an inductive heating unit, and an air source for cooling, allowing for rapid thermal cycling between annealing/elongation and denaturation temperatures, with cycle times as low as 2 seconds per cycle, using high concentrations of polymerase and primers to maintain efficiency and yield.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If conventional PCR instruments are used with standard temperature control, then temperature accuracy is maintained, but cycle time increases to over 60 seconds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecycle timeVSAvoidtemperature control accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical heating elements and thermal conduction-based temperature control with induction heating technology. The induction heating unit generates electromagnetic fields that directly induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive sample well array, producing heat rapidly and efficiently. This substitution enables cycle times under 60 seconds while maintaining temperature control accuracy through precise electromagnetic field regulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements rapid periodic thermal cycling by alternating induction heating phases with forced air cooling phases. The induction heating unit rapidly heats the sample wells to denaturation temperatures, then an air source blows cooled air across the wells to rapidly cool them to annealing temperatures. This periodic action achieves cycle times of 15 seconds or less while maintaining reliable temperature transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If rapid cycling is attempted with conventional instruments, then cycle time decreases, but reproducibility and variability of results worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecycling speedVSAvoidresult reproducibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces slow thermal conduction-based heating with induction heating, which directly couples electromagnetic energy to the conductive sample wells. This enables rapid, uniform heating across all wells simultaneously, achieving high cycling speeds while maintaining excellent reproducibility through consistent energy distribution and precise temporal control of heating and cooling phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an array of electrically conductive sample wells, each independently subjected to induction heating. The induction heating unit can be configured to provide uniform local heating across all wells or differential heating patterns. This local quality approach ensures each well experiences identical or controlled thermal conditions, improving result reproducibility even at high cycling speeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If extended denaturation and annealing times are used to ensure accurate temperature reach, then temperature accuracy improves, but total PCR time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature reach accuracyVSAvoidtotal PCR time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces slow thermal conduction heating with induction heating, which directly heats the conductive sample wells through electromagnetic coupling. This achieves rapid temperature reaches with high accuracy within each cycle, eliminating the need for extended hold times. The induction system can reach denaturation temperatures and cool to annealing temperatures quickly and precisely, reducing total PCR time while maintaining temperature accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a periodic cycle of induction heating followed by forced air cooling. The induction phase rapidly heats wells to the required denaturation temperature with precise control, and the air cooling phase rapidly reduces temperature to annealing conditions. This periodic action achieves accurate temperature reaches in short intervals, minimizing total PCR time while ensuring accurate temperature attainment at each phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables rapid and efficient PCR with cycle times under 15 seconds per cycle, maintaining high yield and specificity even with complex eukaryotic DNA targets, by optimizing temperature control and reagent concentrations, thus overcoming the limitations of traditional PCR instruments.

Implementation Method 1

an inductive heating unit through which a current is passed, the inductive heating unit configured to receive therein an array of sample wells formed in an electrically conductive material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInduction heating: Induction Heating