W0 02/060584
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`PCT/IB02/01048
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`WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
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`72
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`1.
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`A method for carrying out a chemical or biochemical protocol comprising:
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`depositing liquid sample volumes into a plurality of sample receiving regions on at
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`least one mobile sample transport member; and
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`moving the sample transport member along a pathway such that said sample
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`receiving regions move through at least one temperature regulated zone upon which a
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`thermal transfer member acts, wherein said thermal transfer member is capable of cycling
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`between at least two temperatures while said sample receiving regions are moving through
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`said at least one temperature regulated zone.
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`2.
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`The method of Claim 1 further comprising adding at least one reagent to the sample
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`receiving regions While the sample receiving regions are moving along said pathway.
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`3.
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`The method of Claim 1 wherein the sample receiving regions comprise areas on a
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`substrate.
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`4.
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`5.
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`The method of Claim 3 wherein the areas on the substrate comprise wells.
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`The method of Claim 4 wherein the sample receiving regions comprise a plate,
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`having a plurality of wells therein, said wells having a thin film on their bottom surfaces.
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`6.
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`7.
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`The method of Claim 3 wherein the substrate is a film.
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`The method of Claim 6 wherein a surface of the film is sufficiently hydrophillic to
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`allow adherence of individual liquid sample volumes in the form of droplets on the surface.
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`8.
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`The method of Claim 6 wherein said film comprises a matrix of hydrophobic areas
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`and hydrophillic areas, said hydrophillic areas being sufficiently hydrophillic to allow adherence of
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`individual liquid samples in the form of droplets on said hydrophillic areas.
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`9.
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`10.
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`The method of Claim 3 wherein the substrate comprises a filament.
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`The method of Claim 9 wherein the filament is sufficiently hydrophillic to allow
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`adherence of individual liquid sample volumes in the form of droplets on the filament.
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`11.
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`The method of Claim 9 wherein the filament is conducting, and the droplets are _
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`heated by passing electric current through the filament.
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`12.
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`The method of Claim 1 wherein said sample transport member moves along said
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`pathway continuously.
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`13.
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`The method of Claim 1 wherein said sample transport member moves along said
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`pathway in small steps.
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`14.
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`The method of Claim 1 wherein said sample transport member is moved along said
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`pathway by reels Which frictionally engage the sample transport member.
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`35
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`15.
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`The method of Claim 1 wherein the sample receiving regions are covered by a non-
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`miscible liquid in order to prevent evaporation of the liquid sample volumes.
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