IMPROVEMENTS IN THERMAL CYCLER FOR PCR

摘要

An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing an assembly, a heated cover and an internal computer. The assembly is made up of a sample block (36), a number of Peltier thermal electric devices (39) and heat sink (34), clamped together. The sample block (36) temperature is changed exclusively by the thermoelectric devices (39) controlled by the computer. The sample block (36) is of low thermal mass and is constructed of silver. The Peltier devices are designed to provide fast temperature excursions over a wide range. The heat sink (34) has a perimeter trench (44) to minimize edge losses and i s adjacent to a continuously variable fan. A perimeter heater is used to improve the thermal uniformity across the sample block (36) to approximately +/- 0.2 .degree.C.