Polymerase chain reaction system
Inventors
Park, Han Oh • Kim, Jong Kab • Lee, Yang Won • PARK, SANG RYOUNG • JANG, Hye Jin
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Assignees
Member
BioneerBioneer is a biotechnology company specializing in molecular biology, offering solutions in nucleic acid synthesis, molecular diagnostics, protein production, and laboratory automation. The company's expertise covers oligonucleotide chemistry, gene synthesis, sample preparation, molecular diagnostics, and analytical services such as mass spectrometry and sequencing, serving clinical, research, and industrial sectors globally.
Bioneer is a biotechnology company specializing in molecular biology, offering solutions in nucleic acid synthesis, molecular diagnostics, protein production, and laboratory automation. The company's expertise covers oligonucleotide chemistry, gene synthesis, sample preparation, molecular diagnostics, and analytical services such as mass spectrometry and sequencing, serving clinical, research, and industrial sectors globally.
Publication Number
US-12226768-B2
Publication Date
2025-02-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a system structure capable of performing real-time detection of nucleic acid extraction and amplification reactions and amplified results in a device for implementing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A PCR system includes a nucleic acid extraction cartridge configured to extract a nucleic acid of a biological sample via a nucleic acid extraction reagent stored therein and form a PCR preliminary mixture by being additionally mixed with a polymerase reaction dried product, a PCR plate inserted into the nucleic acid extraction cartridge, having a channel coupled to the nucleic acid extraction cartridge, and receives a nucleic acid solution or the PCR preliminary mixture extracted from the nucleic acid extraction cartridge and diversely accommodates a PCR reaction dried product containing a dried primer/probe or a primer/probe in at least one reaction well, a temperature control module disposed above the PCR plate 200 and including a pair of heating blocks 310 and 320 adjacent to the reaction well (W) to apply different temperatures, and a scanning module scanning a concentration of a reactant amplified in the reaction well (W).
Core Innovation
The invention provides a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system that integrates a nucleic acid extraction cartridge, a PCR plate with a channel and reaction wells, and a temperature control module disposed above the PCR plate. The nucleic acid extraction cartridge extracts a nucleic acid of a biological sample using a nucleic acid extraction reagent stored therein, and the PCR plate accommodates a PCR dried mixture containing a primer, a primer/probe, or a primer probe and receives nucleic acid solution extracted from the nucleic acid extraction cartridge.
The temperature control module applies different temperatures to an adjacent reaction well by using a pair of heating blocks that are movable horizontally and vertically. A first heating block includes a first pressing surface corresponding to a surface of the reaction well and is maintained at a first temperature required for denaturation, and a second heating block includes a second pressing surface corresponding to the surface of the reaction well and is maintained at a second temperature required for annealing.
Drive module movement positions the heating blocks to enable thermal application over the reaction well, with the heating blocks operated as a pair maintained at different temperatures. In further embodiments, a constant temperature plate is disposed below the PCR plate to maintain the PCR plate at the first temperature or the second temperature using a first region heated to the first temperature and a second region spaced apart from the first region and heated to the second temperature.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim coverage is provided by two independent claims. Across these claims, the inventive features focus on combining a nucleic acid extraction cartridge with a PCR plate holding a PCR dried mixture that receives extracted nucleic acid solution, and applying denaturation and annealing temperatures to a reaction well using two movable heating blocks and optional constant-temperature regional control, with an optional fluorescence scanning module in dependent coverage.
Nucleic acid extraction cartridge integrated with PCR plate and PCR dried mixture
A PCR plate having a channel coupled to the nucleic acid extraction cartridge and at least one reaction well accommodating a PCR dried mixture containing a primer, a primer/probe, or a primer probe, and receiving a nucleic acid solution extracted from the nucleic acid extraction cartridge.
Movable first and second heating blocks for denaturation and annealing
A temperature control module disposed above the PCR plate, adjacent to the reaction well, including a first heat block maintained at a first temperature required for denaturation and a second heating block maintained at a second temperature required for annealing, the heating blocks having pressing surfaces corresponding to a surface of the reaction well, and being movable horizontally and vertically under a drive module.
Constant temperature plate with first and second heated regions
A constant temperature plate disposed below the PCR plate to maintain a temperature of the PCR plate at the first temperature or the second temperature, the constant temperature plate including a first region heated to the first temperature and a second region spaced apart from the first region and heated to the second temperature, with a first pressing surface disposed to correspond to an upper portion of the first region and a second pressing surface disposed to correspond to an upper portion of the second region.
Scanning module for fluorescence-based concentration scanning
A scanning module disposed below the PCR plate that scans concentration of a reactant amplified in a reaction well using excitation light in various wavelength bands and fluorescence corresponding to the excitation light.
The claims are directed to a PCR system that couples nucleic acid extraction with a PCR plate containing a PCR dried mixture, and that performs thermal denaturation and annealing using two movable heating blocks maintained at different temperatures and positioned over the reaction well or over upper portions of a constant-temperature plate’s first and second heated regions. Additional claim coverage extends the system with fluorescence scanning to measure amplified reactant concentration.
Stated Advantages
Faster and precise thermal cycling by minimizing temperature-change delay through block position switching.
Direct heat transfer without heat-transfer fluid.
Simultaneous top and bottom temperature control using a constant-temperature plate with first and second heated regions matched to corresponding pressing surfaces.
Mechanical drive components with guide members and elastic members for movement of the heating blocks.
Documented Applications
Point-of-care real-time detection using automated PCR integration of nucleic acid extraction, thermal cycling, and fluorescence-based scanning.
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