UNITARY CHEMICAL PROCESSING DEVICE

摘要

A sample-processing device (150) comprises a unitary body (152), preferably a molded polymeric part, having formed therein a reaction chamber (154) for chemically reacting a sample, a separation region (158) for separating components of the sample, and a transition region (156) connecting the reaction chamber (154) to the separation region (158). The reaction chamber (154), transition region (156), and separation region (158) are formed in and enclosed by the unitary body (152). Additionally, the transition region (156) includes at least one flow restrictor (180) for controlling the flow of fluid between the reaction chamber (154) and the separation region (158). Further, the portion of the unitary body (152) defining the transition region (156) has lower thermal conduction than the portion of the body defining the reaction chamber (154) so that the transition region (156) thermally isolates the reaction chamber (154) from the separation region (156). In a preferred embodiment, the reaction chamber (154) is an amplification chamber for amplifying nucleic acid in the sample, and the separation region (158) comprises an electrophoresis column or capillary containing a suitable matrix material, such as electrophoresis gel or buffer, for separating nucleic acid fragments in the sample. Electrodes (167, 168, 169) are embedded in the body (152) for forcing the sample to flow from the reaction chamber (154) to the separation region (158). The unitary body (152) may also be surrounded by external, functional components such as an optical detector (186) for detecting separated components of the sample.