Thermally Conductive Substrate With Liquid Coolant Passage For Rapid PCR Cycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current PCR methods are limited by the speed of thermal cycling, which results in prolonged reaction times, failing to meet the demands of rapid genetic amplification applications.
Innovation Solution
A thermally conductive substrate with a liquid coolant passage is used to rapidly cool biologic samples, enabling a PCR cycle in under one second and reducing total reaction time to less than 30 seconds by employing a heater thermally coupled to the amplification chamber and a thermally conductive substrate with a liquid coolant passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional thermal cycling methods are used for PCR, then the amplification process is reliable and maintains good temperature control, but the reaction time is prolonged and cannot meet rapid genetic amplification demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a liquid cooling system with channels flowing through the substrate to rapidly remove heat from the amplification chamber. This hydraulic approach enables fast cooling rates essential for reducing PCR cycle times from minutes to seconds, directly addressing the time loss issue while maintaining temperature control reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thermal parameters by using a thermally conductive substrate with integrated cooling channels, transforming the thermal management approach from conventional slow thermal cycling to rapid thermal cycling. This parameter change enables PCR cycles to be completed in under one second, dramatically improving amplification speed
2Loss of time
If rapid cooling is implemented to reduce PCR cycle time, then the reaction time is reduced to under one second per cycle, but the thermal management system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the substrate structure with the cooling system by integrating liquid cooling channels directly into the thermally conductive substrate. This consolidation reduces device complexity compared to separate cooling mechanisms, as the substrate simultaneously provides structural support, thermal conduction, and fluid flow pathways for rapid heat removal
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid coolant acts as an intermediary medium that facilitates rapid heat transfer from the amplification chamber through the thermally conductive substrate. This intermediary enables efficient thermal management by carrying heat away from the reaction zone, achieving fast cooling without requiring direct contact cooling mechanisms that would increase system complexity
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
This approach significantly reduces PCR cycle times, allowing for rapid nucleic acid amplification, meeting the demands of current genetic amplification applications by efficiently managing heating and cooling protocols.
Implementation Method 1
a heater thermally coupled to the amplification chamber
Implementation Method 2
a thermally conductive substrate in contact with the heater and including a liquid coolant passage to pass a liquid coolant through the thermally conductive substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses may be used for nucleic acid amplification. An example apparatus may include an amplification chamber to contain a biochemical reaction associated with amplification of a biologic sample. The biologic sample may include a nucleic acid. The apparatus may also include a heater thermally coupled to the amplification chamber. The apparatus may also include a thermally conductive substrate in contact with the heater and including a liquid coolant passage to pass a liquid coolant through the thermally conductive substrate.