A random access, high-throughput system and method for preparing a biological sample for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing are disclosed. The system includes a nucleic acid isolation/purification apparatus and a PCR apparatus. The nucleic acid isolation/purification apparatus magnetically captures nucleic acid (NA) solids from the biological sample and then suspends the NA in elution buffer solution. The PCR testing apparatus provides multiple cycles of the denaturing, annealing, and elongating thermal cycles. More particularly, the PCR testing apparatus includes a multi-vessel thermal cycler array that has a plurality of single-vessel thermal cyclers that is each individually-thermally-controllable so that adjacent single-vessel thermal cyclers can be heated or cooled to different temperatures corresponding to the different thermal cycles of the respective PCR testing process.

This disclosure describes an improved heat transfer system for use in reaction vessels used in chemical and biological processes. In one embodiment, a heat transfer baffle comprising two sub-assemblies adjoined to one another is provided.

A cooling module for receiving a plurality of containers has a housing that includes at least one opening, a cooling block arranged into the housing, at least one compartment for receiving the containers via the opening, and at least one cover for covering the opening against the exterior.

A random access, high-throughput system and method for preparing a biological sample for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing are disclosed. The system includes a nucleic acid isolation/purification apparatus and a PCR apparatus. The nucleic acid isolation/purification apparatus magnetically captures nucleic acid (NA) solids from the biological sample and then suspends the NA in elution buffer solution. The PCR testing apparatus provides multiple cycles of the denaturing, annealing, and elongating thermal cycles. More particularly, the PCR testing apparatus includes a multi-vessel thermal cycler array that has a plurality of single-vessel thermal cyclers that is each individually-thermally-controllable so that adjacent single-vessel thermal cyclers can be heated or cooled to different temperatures corresponding to the different thermal cycles of the respective PCR testing process.

A system for amplifying nucleic acids is disclosed which, in one embodiment, includes a fluidic device having a sample channel and a heat exchange channel disposed sufficiently close to the sample channel such that a heat exchange fluid in the heat exchange channel can cause a sample in the sample channel to gain or lose heat at desired levels. In one illustrative embodiment, the system further includes three reservoirs coupled to the heat exchange channel and a temperature control system configured to heat fluids stored in the respective reservoirs at different temperatures. One or more pumps and a controller are configured to cause fluid stored in the reservoirs to enter and flow through the heat exchange channel at different times.

Individual temperature control in multiple reactions performed simultaneously in a spatial array such as a multi-well plate is achieved by thermoelectric modules with individual control, with each module supplying heat to or drawing heat from a single region within the array, the region containing either a single reaction vessel or a group of reaction vessels.

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of biomolecule detection systems and to a carrier apparatus and a biomolecule detection system. The carrier apparatus includes: a carrier structure that includes a carrier stage provided with a carrier surface configured to carry a chip, the carrier stage including a space to be vacuumized therein; and a vacuum system that communicates with the space to be vacuumized and causes a negative pressure of greater than or equal to 60 kPa to be generated in the space to be vacuumized, thereby causing the chip to be adsorbed and fixed to the carrier surface. In the carrier apparatus of the embodiments, arranging the carrier structure provided with the carrier stage including the space to be vacuumized therein in fit with the vacuum system enables the negative pressure to be generated in the space to be vacuumized to adsorption-fix the chip.

The present invention relates to a homogeneous multiplex detection device, its operation and detection processes thereof. The device comprises, a reaction vessel, providing a reaction space with two ends opposite to each other, wherein the first end of the reaction vessel is an open end and the second end of the reaction vessel is a closed end, and being used for nucleic acid amplification reactions; a reaction chip, positioning inside the reaction space and on the first end of the reaction vessel, and having a reaction surface where a plurality of types of nucleic acid probes corresponding to a plurality of types of target molecules are immobilized, wherein a plurality of types of nucleic acid probes of the reaction chip are corresponding to the plurality of types of target molecules, and are used for detecting nucleic acid molecules produced by amplification of the target molecules inside the reaction vessel; and a lid, detachably arranged on the first end of the reaction vessel to close the reaction space. The present invention simplifies multiplex detection process, reduces the possibility of product contamination, increases detection efficiency, reduces costs of use, and increases the reliability of reactions and detections.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for the detection of analytes. In particular, the invention relates to methods for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of analytes, comprising a microarray on a substrate, onto which probe molecules are immobilized on array elements, said microarray being disposed on a first surface of the device; and a detection chamber formed between the first surface including the microarray disposed thereon and a second surface, wherein the distance between the microarray and the second surface is variable, and wherein the second surface has a displacement structure.

Disclosed is a multi-stage thermal convection apparatus such as a two-stage thermal convection apparatus and uses thereof. In one embodiment, the two-stage thermal convection apparatus includes a temperature shaping element that assists a thermal convection mediated Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The invention has a wide variety of applications including amplifying nucleic acid without cumbersome and expensive hardware associated with many prior devices. In a typical embodiment, the apparatus can fit in the palm of a user's hand for use as a portable, simple to operate, and low cost PCR amplification device.