Abstract: The invention relates to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process and a thermal cycler. In the process, biological samples are held in a sample carrier having a plurality of sample spaces each having upper and lower ends and the samples are sequentially heated and cooled. The thermal cycler according to the invention comprises heat transfer means for automatic heating and cooling of the samples in the sample carrier, heatable closure means above the upper ends of the samples spaces for preventing condensation of sample vapor during the process, and adjusting means for controlling one process parameter, preferably the temperature of the heatable closure means, depending on at least one other of said process parameters. The invention helps to decrease the number of failed PCR experiments, in particular due to changes in sample volume.

Abstract: The invention concerns a thermal cycler and a microtiter plate. The cycler comprises a sample holder having a first surface and a surface and means for automated, controlled heating and cooling of the sample holder. The first surface of the sample holder is designed to hold a plurality of samples arrayed in a grid having a predefined pitch. The number of samples in one dimension is an exact match of the SBS plate standards for that sample pitch and in another dimension corresponds to a fraction of the number of samples in a second dimension of an SBS microtiter standard plate. According to the invention, the sample holder is shaped such that the area of the second surface is larger than the area of the first surface. By means of the invention, the thermal ramping speeds of the cycler can be significantly increased.

Abstract: The invention concerns a v-bottomed sample plate, a frame for sample plates and a kit and method for processing biological samples. The kit comprises a tray assembly and a plurality of sample plates designed to fit into the tray assembly. The tray assembly comprises a frame having a central plate receiving portion having a width and length, whereby said tray assembly is capable of accommodating the sample plates side by side in the plate receiving portion. Each of the sample plates contains a plurality of individual sample wells arranged in a grid, the dimension of the plate in a first direction being at maximum the width of the frame and the dimension of the plate in a second direction being at maximum half of the length of the plate receiving portion of the of the frame, and means for enabling automated handling of the plates. The invention enables more efficient biomedical processing of samples.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for thermal cycling of biological samples, a heat sink used in such a device and a method. The heat sink comprises a base plate designed to fit in a good thermal contact against a generally planar thermoelectric element included in the device, and a plurality of heat transfer elements projecting away from the base plate. According to the invention the heat transfer elements of the heat sink and arranged in a non-parallel configuration with respect to each other for keeping the temperature of the base plate of the heat sink spatially uniform during thermal cycling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vessel and kit for thermal cycling applications, a method for manufacturing such a vessel. The vessel comprises, in the form of a planar grid having a predefined pitch, a plurality of sample wells each having a well wall, which defines an open well end and a closed well end. According to the invention there are provided a plurality of ribs between pairs of adjacent wells, the ribs being connected to the walls of the wells and extending essentially in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the well grid. The invention enables manufacturing of dense microtiter plates, which are stable enough to be used in high temperature applications and allow for more efficient manufacturing of the plate.