A THERMAL/FLUIDIC CYCLING DEVICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF NUCLEIC ACID HYBRIDIZATION

摘要

An apparatus (100) for automatically hybridizing nucleic acid samples is disclosed. The apparatus includes a fluid control module (108) and a temperature control (104) for precisely controlling fluid contacting and temperature of a plurality of DNA samples. The DNA samples are typically arrayed on solid substrates (glass microscope slides) (106), and the disclos ed apparatus can process up to twelve slides at one time on a master unit; satellite units can be added to increase the number of slides. All slides ca n be processed in parallel, or may be addressed individually to undergo different hybridization protocols. Thermal control is typically by slide pairs, such that slide pair undergoes the same temperature profile. Processe s are carried out under software control by an embedded PC (personal computer) (122). User input is by touchscreen (124) or floppy disk drive (126).