A Miniaturized Cyclic PCR Device

DNA amplification with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is often performed in a batch process using a bench-top thermal cycler or in a micromachined PCR chamber. Recent effort has shown a continuous flow through PCR system can be realized by a time-space conversion in the PCR system [1]. Devices of this kind open up new areas of application in medical diagnostics, such as the online amplification and monitoring of a specific gene. Here we take advantage of the vertical integration capability of multi-layer ceramic technology and demonstrate a miniaturized cyclic PCR device. A cyclic device promises much smaller footprint and ease of integration into a micro total analysis system.