Electrophoresis gels with incorporated indicia
First Claim
1. A method for forming an electrophoresis gel marked with detectable indicia, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming said indicia in ink on a dry film of a water-permeable polymer that is capable of receiving said ink;
(b) placing an aqueous gel-forming liquid in a gel mold having an internal surface with said indicia-bearing film layered over said surface but not bonded thereto, and allowing said gel-forming liquid to permeate said film; and
(c) converting said gel-forming liquid, thus placed in said mold, into a gel that incorporates both said water-permeable polymer and said indicia and is not bonded to said solid surface, with neither said water-permeable polymer nor said indicia imposing dimensional restriction to said gel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrophoresis gel is prepared with indicia incorporated into the gel itself rather than on a label or backing that is adhered to the gel. According to one method, the indicia are applied by first coating a solid surface that will be used as one internal surface of a gel mold with a solution of a water-permeable polymer, allowing the coating to dry, imprinting indicia in ink on the dry coating, and then forming the gel over the coating. In a variation on this method, the indicia are applied to a sheet which is then placed against the mold surface, the sheet being either a liner that is separable from the gel yet coated with the polymer or a sheet of the polymer itself. Alternatively, the indicia are printed directly on the mold surface without first coating the surface. This is achieved by using as a printing composition a mixture of an ink and a solution of a water-permeable polymer, then forming the gel over the imprinted indicia.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. A method for forming an electrophoresis gel marked with detectable indicia, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming said indicia in ink on a dry film of a water-permeable polymer that is capable of receiving said ink;
(b) placing an aqueous gel-forming liquid in a gel mold having an internal surface with said indicia-bearing film layered over said surface but not bonded thereto, and allowing said gel-forming liquid to permeate said film; and
(c) converting said gel-forming liquid, thus placed in said mold, into a gel that incorporates both said water-permeable polymer and said indicia and is not bonded to said solid surface, with neither said water-permeable polymer nor said indicia imposing dimensional restriction to said gel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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11. A method for forming an electrophoresis gel marked with detectable indicia, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) forming indicia on a solid surface by applying to said surface, in a pattern corresponding to said indicia, a composition comprising an ink dispersed in a solution of a water-soluble polymer in a solvent, and evaporating said solvent to leave said indicia formed by said ink and said polymer on said surface, (ii) placing an aqueous gel-forming liquid in a gel mold having an internal surface consisting of said solid surface with said indicia thereon, and (iii) converting said gel-forming liquid, thus placed in said mold, into a gel that incorporates said indicia. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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- 28. An electrophoresis gel having indicia incorporated in said gel and immobilized therein in a manner that does not permit migration of said indicia within said gel when an electric field is imposed across said gel and does not restrict the ability of said gel to expand or contract.
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49. A kit for applying indicia to an electrophoresis gel, said kit comprising:
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a solid flexible sheet having a coating of a water-permeable polymer on one side, said polymer being one that is capable of receiving ink but is not bonded to said sheet; and
an ink that is capable of being retained by said polymer. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A kit for applying indicia to an electrophoresis gel, said kit comprising:
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a solid water-soluble polymeric sheet that is capable of receiving ink; and
an ink that is capable of being retained by said sheet. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A gel marking combination comprising:
an ink composition comprising a pigment dispersed in a solution of a water-soluble polymer in a solvent, and a writing implement capable of retaining said ink composition and of depositing said ink composition on a solid surface upon contact. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
Specification