Thermocycler with a temperature control block driven in cycles

Abstract

A thermocycler comprising a temperature control block ( 1,2,3 ) which is designed to receive several specimens and which is fitted with a control unit ( 6 ) that in consecutive cycles applies the different temperature levels (40° C., 70° C., 95° C.) of a PCR procedure to said block, said thermocycler being characterized in that said temperature controlling block is sub-divided into thermally separate segments ( 1, 2, 3 ) each of which is controlled separately and receives several specimens, the control unit ( 6 ) being designed to drive the said segments at different cycling rates (nine, seven, four).

1 . A thermocycler comprising a temperature controlling block ( 1 ,  2 ,  3 ) which is fitted to receive several specimens and which is driven by a control unit ( 6 ) in consecutive cycles to assume in a consecutive manner the different temperature levels (40° C., 70° C., 95° C.) of a PCR procedure, 
 characterized in that the temperature controlling block is sub-divided into segments ( 1 ,  2 ,  3 ) each receiving several specimens and that are thermally separated and are controlled separately, the control unit ( 6 ) being designed to control the segments at different numbers of cycles (nine, seven, four).  
 
     
     
         2 . Thermocycler as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the individual cycles in all segments are identical.  
     
     
         3 . Thermocycler as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that upon termination of their last cycle the segments ( 1 ,  2 ,  3 ) are controlled at a constant temperature (10° C.).