Apparatus of electrophoresis

• US 20050082168A1
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jing X. Kang
• Original Assignee: Jing X. Kang
• Inventors: Kang, Jing X.
• Application Number:
  US10/967,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20050082168A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/456
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44721 by optical means

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel electrophoresis apparatus, with a built-in illuminator system, that has a functional feature of viewing or monitoring or photographing the separation status of DNA or RNA anytime during and after electrophoresis on site.

Claims

1. An electrophoresis chamber comprising:

a buffer chamber for containing the electrophoresis buffer solution;

a gel platform located in the center of said electrophoresis chamber for containing the electrophoresis agarose gel;

two electrodes set at each end of said electrophoresis chamber and connect to the electrical power;

a UV lighthouse wherein said UV lighthouse is located underneath said gel platform and wherein the bottom of said UV lighthouse is a light reflector;

a cover that allows for the safe viewing and photographing by the user.

2. The electrophoresis chamber of claim 1 wherein said UV lighthouse comprises:

sidewalls;

at least one UV lamp; and

a power switch located on one of said sidewalls.

3. The electrophoresis chamber of claim 2 wherein said sidewalls are constructed of light-proof materials.

4. The electrophoresis chamber of claim 1 wherein said cover comprises:

two electrode connectors;

a viewing window located in the center of said cover and positioned above said gel platform; and

a transparent material covering the opening of said viewing window.

5. The electrophoresis chamber of claim 4 wherein said transparent material is a UV-blocker material that prevents the user from harm.

6. The electrophoresis chamber of claim 4 wherein said transparent material is a polycarbonate lens.

7. The electrophoresis chamber of claim 4 wherein said cover further comprises an adapter to allow for the taking of pictures.

8. The electrophoresis chamber of claim 4 wherein said cover further comprises a cover power switch and two cover UV lamps wherein said two cover UV lamps attached to the inside of said cover on the two opposite of said viewing window below said transparent material.

9. The electrophoresis chamber of claim 1 further comprising a clamp for casting an electrophoresis agarose gel directly on said gel platform.

10. The electrophoresis chamber of claim 1 wherein the body of said electrophoresis chamber is constructed of light-proof plastic.

11. The electrophoresis chamber of claim 1 wherein the body of said electrophoresis chamber is constructed of dark-colored plastic.

12. The electrophoresis chamber of claim 1 wherein the body of said electrophoresis chamber is constructed of metal.

13. The electrophoresis chamber of claim 1 wherein said gel platform is constructed of a UV-transmittable material.

14. A method of DNA electrophoresis comprising:

placing an electrophoresis agarose gel containing DNA on a gel platform located at the center of an electrophoresis chamber;

placing a cover on said electrophoresis chamber; and

illuminating said electrophoresis agarose gel containing DNA.

15. The method of DNA electrophoresis of claim 14 wherein illumination is provided by one or more UV lamps.

16. The method of DNA electrophoresis of claim 14 further comprising:

monitoring electrophoresis agarose gel containing DNA through a viewing window locating at the center of said cover.

17. The method of DNA electrophoresis of claim 14 further comprising:

photographing electrophoresis agarose gel containing DNA.

18. A method of RNA electrophoresis comprising:

placing electrophoresis agarose gel containing RNA on a gel platform located at the center of an electrophoresis chamber;

placing a cover on said electrophoresis chamber; and

illuminating said electrophoresis agarose gel containing RNA.

19. The method of RNA electrophoresis of claim 18 wherein illumination is provided by one or more UV lamps.

20. The method of RNA electrophoresis of claim 18 further comprising:

monitoring electrophoresis agarose gel containing RNA through a viewing window locating at the center of said cover.

21. The method of RNA electrophoresis of claim 18 further comprising:

photographing electrophoresis agarose gel containing RNA.