Dxna LLC

Other

Advanced Molecular Systems, LLC

Danvern Ray Roberts

William D Bickmore

Jared Hummel

Daniel Esplin

Paul Day

Jared S Hummel

Method and apparatus for sonication in connection with preparing a cellular sample containing DNA or RNA for performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or for other reasons where it is important to break down the cell walls and other cellular structures to release cellular contents including DNA. The same methods and apparatus may be used to release DNA or RNA from virus for PCR or other uses. A novel apparatus which is capable of releasing cellular contents or releasing the DNA or RNA of virus without the aid of beads or chemicals is described herein. The apparatus is designed to deliver high levels of sonic energy through optimizing the geometry the apparatus and optimizing the force created by a piezoelectric transducer. The apparatus is capable of processing samples which are contained within fluid in a short amount of time between 30 seconds and two and one half minutes. The apparatus is small and can be field deployable or used in a standard molecular biology laboratory.

Ultra sonic release of DNA or RNA

Apparatus and methods for amplification of DNA are provided that use sonic energy in place of conventional thermocyclers. In one embodiment, sonic energy is applied to a PCR cocktail to effect dissociation of double stranded DNA into single strands of DNA. A quiescence stage, where no sonic energy is applied, results in amplification of DNA. Repetition of the cycles of application of sonic energy and cessation of application of sonic energy results in DNA amplification.

Methods and apparatus for amplification of DNA using sonic energy

Methods and apparatus for effecting rapid thermocycling in connection with the polymerase chain reaction are disclosed. A sample assembly having a relatively small thermal mass is heated to desired PCR operating temperatures, and a separate cooling assembly is used to rapidly lower the temperature as required. In one embodiment, a sample assembly with an integrated heating element is isolated from a relatively large thermal mass cold sink when the temperature of a sample is to be raised or maintained, and brought in contact with the cold sink when the temperature is desired to be lowered.

Rapid thermocycler with movable cooling assembly

Apparatus and methods for exciting and detecting fluorescence in samples are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sample holder for holding a plurality of samples is provided together with an optical manifold having an excitation source, a photo receiver, or both, for each of the plurality of samples. In another embodiment, the optical manifold contains only the excitation source or a photo receiver, and the other is associated with the sample holder. This system permits for rapid excitation and measurement of fluorescence without the use of moving parts and without any opto-mechanical or electronic disturbance. It exhibits an exceptional signal to noise ratio, which permits it to differentiate between very low level differences in fluorescence.

Fluorescence detection system

A corona discharge detection system is disclosed. The detection system is composed of two basic sub-systems, a detection record system and a detection playback. The detection record system detects a corona discharge, visually displays the discharge on a cathode ray tube and records the corona discharge video data along with voice and geographic data. The playback system processes the recorded information to provide a playback of the recorded data. The playback system includes an audio system that reproduces the stored audio information and a strip chart recorder that reproduces the corona video data and the geographic data to provide a visual record of this data.

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Las Vegas, NV, United States of America

Danvern Ray Roberts