Abstract: A chemical and/or biochemical apparatus (10) includes a thermal mount (14) having wells (26) for receiving reaction vessels (12), a thermal module (16) having a first side thermally coupled to the thermal mount (14), a first heat sink (18) thermally coupled to a second side of the thermal module, the heat sink (18) having a body and thermally conductive fins (32) extending outwards from the body of the first heat sink (18), and a printed circuit board (54) having electronic components for controlling at least the thermal module (16), an excitation light source (62), and a light sensor (52). A first set of light waveguides (60) delivers excitation light to a reaction vessel, and a second set of light waveguides (38) receives light from a reaction vessel and delivers the light to the light sensor (52). The printed circuit board (54), the excitation light source (62), the light sensor (52) and the light waveguides (38, 60) are arranged within an interior space (5) of the first heat sink (18).

Abstract: A chemical and/or biochemical apparatus (10) for receiving a plurality of reaction vessels in which chemical and/or biochemical reactions may take place includes a thermal mount (14) having a plurality of wells (26) for receiving the reaction vessels (12), a thermal module (16) having a first side thermally coupled to the thermal mount (14), a first heat sink (18) thermally coupled to a second side of the thermal module, the heat sink (18) having a body and a plurality of thermally conductive fins (32) extending outwards from the body of the first heat sink (18), and a printed circuit board (54) having electronic components for controlling at least the thermal module (16), an excitation light source (62), and a light sensor (52). A first set of light waveguides (60) is provided for delivering excitation light to a reaction vessel, and a second set of light waveguides (38) is provided for receiving light from a reaction vessel and for delivering the light to the light sensor (52).

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting spectra in light emanating from chemical or biochemical reactions occurring in at least one reaction vessel (3) of a plurality of reaction vessels is disclosed. Each reaction vessel (3) has a receptacle portion having an emitting area from which light can emanate. The apparatus may include a masking element (5) having an array of apertures (6) through which light from each reaction vessel (3) can escape. A plurality of light waveguides (7) are arranged to guide light from the apertures (6) in the masking element (5) to a light dispersing device (8) for dispersing the light from each waveguide (7) into a dispersed spectrum. A light detecting device (10) detects specific spectra in the dispersed spectra of light substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A chemical and/or biochemical apparatus (10) for receiving a plurality of reaction vessels in which chemical and/or biochemical reactions may take place includes a thermal mount (14) having a plurality of wells (26) for receiving the reaction vessels (12), a thermal module (16) having a first side thermally coupled to the thermal mount (14), a first heat sink (18) thermally coupled to a second side of the thermal module, the heat sink (18) having a body and a plurality of thermally conductive fins (32) extending outwards from the body of the first heat sink (18), and a printed circuit board (54) having electronic components for controlling at least the thermal module (16), an excitation light source (62), and a light sensor (52). A first set of light waveguides (60) is provided for delivering excitation light to a reaction vessel, and a second set of light waveguides (38) is provided for receiving light from a reaction vessel and for delivering the light to the light sensor (52).

Abstract: An apparatus (40) for a PCR reaction includes an array (41) of reaction vessels (42) is mounted on a thermal mount (43). The thermal mount (43) is positioned on a on a heater/cooler (45), such as a Peltier module. The array (41) is covered by a sealing film (44), which is sealed to the upper rims (49) of the vessels (42) to keep the reagents and reaction products within each vessel (42). A heated lid (50) is used to heat the underside of the sealing film to reduce condensation thereon of reagents vaporized during the reaction. The reaction vessels (42) are formed of an upper, thermally insulating part (25) and a lower, thermally conducting part (21) so as to facilitate accurate temperature control within the vessels but so as to reduce the amount of thermal energy conducted from the heated lid to the vessels, which would reduce the accuracy of the temperature control.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting a signal of a specific spectrum emitted in the course of a chemical or biochemical reaction. The method comprises conducting the reaction in a reaction vessel, which is arranged so that light emanating from the reaction vessel is received by a detector comprising a plurality of photosensors in an array, wherein each photosensor is activated by light falling within a particular waveband range only, and where photosensors activated by light in different waveband ranges are distributed throughout the array. Output from one or more subsets of those photosensors which receive wavebands which contribute to the said specific spectrum is monitored and the output from a subset, or the relationship between the outputs of each subset are used to determine the signal in the specific spectrum.

Abstract: A system (20) for a PCR reaction includes an array of reaction vessels mounted on a thermal mount (21). The thermal mount (21) is provided with a liquid path therein coupled to a cooling liquid input port (22), a heating liquid input port (23) and a liquid output port (24). A pump (38) is used to pump liquid from cooling liquid source (29) either along a cooling liquid path (28) to the cooling liquid input port (22), or via a heating liquid source (31), where the liquid is heated, and along a heating liquid path (30) to the heating liquid input port (23). A temperature sensor (34) measures the temperature of the thermal mount (21) and a processor (27) controls the pump, valves (26) at the input and output ports and valves (41-44) at either side of the pump (38), to control whether heating or cooling liquid is input to the thermal mount, and at what flow rate, in order to obtain the correct temperature of the thermal block (21).

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting light emanating from chemical or biochemical reactions occurring in at least one reaction vessel of a plurality of reaction vessels is disclosed. Each reaction vessel has a receptacle portion having an emitting area from which light can emanate. A plurality of light waveguides are arranged to guide light from apertures in a masking element to a light dispersing device for dispersing the light from each waveguide into a dispersed spectrum. A light detecting device detects specific spectra in the dispersed spectra of light substantially simultaneously In one embodiment, the light waveguides have a diameter that tapers from a first end substantially similar in diameter to the area of the top of the reaction vessel to a second end that is substantially smaller in diameter.

Abstract: A chemical and/or biochemical system (1) having at least one reaction vessel (3) in which chemical and/or biochemical reactions may take place, the temperature of the reaction vessels being cycled between at least a highest predetermined temperature and a lowest predetermined temperature, the system comprising a thermal mount (4) for receiving the reaction vessel (s), the thermal mount being thermally coupled to a first, thermally conductive side of a thermoelectric module (5), a second thermally conductive side of the thermoelectric module being thermally coupled to a heat sink (6) and being provided with a pair of electrical contacts (33) to which a pair of electrically conductive wires (34) is connected for coupling to a power source, characterized in that a flexible adhesive (31, 32) is provided between the first thermally conductive side of the thermoelectric module and the thermal mount and between the second thermally conductive side of the thermoelectric module and the heat sink, whereby the adhesive

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting light emanating from chemical or biochemical reactions occurring in at least one reaction vessel of a plurality of reaction vessels is disclosed. Each reaction vessel has a receptacle portion having an emitting area from which light can emanate. A plurality of light waveguides are arranged to guide light from apertures in a masking element to a light dispersing device for dispersing the light from each waveguide into a dispersed spectrum. A light detecting device detects specific spectra in the dispersed spectra of light substantially simultaneously In one embodiment, the light waveguides have a diameter that tapers from a first end substantially similar in diameter to the area of the top of the reaction vessel to a second end that is substantially smaller in diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting spectra in light emanating from chemical or biochemical reactions occurring in at least one reaction vessel (3) of a plurality of reaction vessels is disclosed. Each reaction vessel (3) has a receptacle portion having an emitting area from which light can emanate. The apparatus may include a masking element (5) having an array of apertures (6) through which light from each reaction vessel (3) can escape. A plurality of light waveguides (7) are arranged to guide light from the apertures (6) in the masking element (5) to a light dispersing device (8) for dispersing the light from each waveguide (7) into a dispersed spectrum. A light detecting device (10) detects specific spectra in the dispersed spectra of light substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A system (20) for a PCR reaction includes an array of reaction vessels mounted on a thermal mount (21). The thermal mount (21) is provided with a liquid path therein coupled to a cooling liquid input port (22), a heating liquid input port (23) and a liquid output port (24). A pump (38) is used to pump liquid from cooling liquid source (29) either along a cooling liquid path (28) to the cooling liquid input port (22), or via a heating liquid source (31), where the liquid is heated, and along a heating liquid path (30) to the heating liquid input port (23). A temperature sensor (34) measures the temperature of the thermal mount (21) and a processor (27) controls the pump, valves (26) at the input and output ports and valves (41-44) at either side of the pump (38), to control whether heating or cooling liquid is input to the thermal mount, and at what flow rate, in order to obtain the correct temperature of the thermal block (21).

Abstract: An apparatus (40) for a PCR reaction includes an array (41) of reaction vessels (42) is mounted on a thermal mount (43). The thermal mount (43) is positioned on a on a heater/cooler (45), such as a Peltier module. The array (41) is covered by a sealing film (44), which is sealed to the upper rims (49) of the vessels (42) to keep the reagents and reaction products within each vessel (42). A heated lid (50) is used to heat the underside of the sealing film to reduce condensation thereon of reagents vaporised during the reaction. The reaction vessels (42) are formed of an upper, thermally insulating part (25) and a lower, thermally conducting part (21) so as to facilitate accurate temperature control within the vessels but so as to reduce the amount of thermal energy conducted from the heated lid to the vessels, which would reduce the accuracy of the temperature control.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting a signal of a specific spectrum emitted in the course of a chemical or biochemical reaction. The method comprises conducting the reaction in a reaction vessel, which is arranged so that light emanating from the reaction vessel is received by a detector comprising a plurality of photosensors in an array, wherein each photosensor is activated by light falling within a particular waveband range only, and where photosensors activated by light in different waveband ranges are distributed throughout the array. Output from one or more subsets of those photosensors which receive wavebands which contribute to the said specific spectrum is monitored and the output from a subset, or the relationship between the outputs of each subset are used to determine the signal in the specific spectrum.