PCR thermal management in an integrated Lab on chip

Abstract

Thermal management modelling and simulations of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) device to be integrated on a lab on chip (LOC) have been carried out and presented. A typical MEMS PCR in symmetrical configuration is the base model for this study. When the PCR device is integrated on a fluidic chip with many other bio-analysis components such as DNA extraction, RNA extraction, electro-chemical sensor, flow through components and channels etc., thermal symmetry required for uniform temperature across the PCR chamber is normally lost. In this paper, ANSYS 8.0 simulations in varying conditions and corresponding physical basis have been investigated and presented. Model optimizations are carried out when PCR chamber is placed, one, in the centre (symmetry) and two, in the corner (asymmetry) of the integrated chip. In both cases, temperature uniformity within 0.5 °C variation is obtained. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd.