Electrophoresis apparatus having at least one auxiliary buffer passage
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Abstract
An electrophoresis apparatus is generally disclosed for sequentially analyzing a single sample or multiple samples having one or more analytes in high or low concentrations. The apparatus comprises a relatively large-bore transport capillary which intersects with a plurality of small-bore separation capillaries and includes a valve system. Analyte concentrators, having antibody-specific (or related affinity) chemistries, are stationed at the respective intersections of the transport capillary and separation capillaries to bind one or more analytes of interest. The apparatus allows the performance of two or more dimensions for the optimal separation of analytes. The apparatus may also include a plurality of valves surrounding each of the analyte concentrators to localize each of the concentrators to improve the binding of one or more analytes of interest.
98 Citations
391 Claims
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1-321. -321. (canceled)
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322. An electrophoresis apparatus, comprising:
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a transport passage having an inlet end and an outlet end;
a separation passage having a transport/separation passage overlapping portion which overlaps a portion of the transport passage;
the separation passage being communicable upstream of the transport/separation passage overlapping portion with a separation buffer supply or with an eluting buffer supply;
an analyte concentrator containing an immobilized affinity ligand in the transport/separation passage overlapping portion to concentrate at least one analyte of interest from a sample introduced into the transport passage from a sample supply;
an auxiliary passage through which a separation buffer can be provided to the separation passage, and positioned downstream of the transport/separation passage overlapping portion and positionable upstream of an analyte detector system which can identify and characterize the at least one analyte of interest eluted from the immobilized affinity ligand and delivered thereto via the separation passage;
one of the anode or cathode sides of the electrophoresis apparatus being generally at the eluting buffer supply or the separation buffer supply and the other side being downstream of the auxiliary passage; and
a valve system to control fluid flow in the transport, separation and auxiliary passages. - View Dependent Claims (323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345)
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346. An electrophoresis apparatus, comprising:
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a transport passage capable of directing flow of a sample solution to be analyzed;
a plurality of separation passages coupled to the transport passage and forming a plurality of analyte concentrators having immobilized affinity ligands capable of attracting at least one analyte of interest from the sample solution that passes through each of the analyte concentrators;
each of the separation passages having an inlet for a first fluid and an outlet, the analyte concentrator for the respective separation passage being between the inlet and the outlet;
the inlets being in fluid communication alternatively with an eluting buffer supply and with a separation buffer supply;
auxiliary passage means coupled to the respective separation passages between the analyte concentrator and the outlet for providing a separation buffer to the respective separation passages away from the analyte concentrators;
a plurality of valves located on the transport passage and on the plurality of separation passages, wherein the valves on the transport passage control the flow of the sample solution through the transport passage and the valves on the plurality of separation passages control the flow of fluid through each of the plurality of separation passages, whereby each of the analyte concentrators can be localized by the valves on the transport passage and the plurality of separation passages; and
valves on the auxiliary passage means to control the flow of the separation buffer to the respective separation passages and then by electrophoresis migration or by a combination of electrophoresis migration and pressure to a detection system. - View Dependent Claims (347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357)
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358. An electrophoresis apparatus, comprising:
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a transport passage;
a first analyte concentrator including first immobilized affinity ligands which are attracted to a first analyte of interest;
a first separation passage to convey the first analyte of interest from a sample introduced into the transport passage and concentrated by the first analyte concentrator at a first location of the transport passage to an analyte identification and characterization detection zone where the first analyte of interest and a second analyte of interest can be identified and characterized;
the first separation passage being communicable upstream of the first location with a buffer supply;
a first auxiliary passage through which a separation buffer can be provided to the first separation passage, and positioned downstream of the first analyte concentrator and positionable upstream of the detection zone;
a second analyte concentrator including second immobilized affinity ligands which are attracted to the second analyte of interest;
a second separation passage to convey the second analyte of interest from the sample introduced into the transport passage and concentrated by the second analyte concentrator at a second location of the transport passage to the detection zone;
the second separation passage being communicable upstream of the second location with a buffer supply;
a second auxiliary passage through which a separation buffer can be provided to the second separation passage, and positioned downstream of the second analyte concentrator and positionable upstream of the detection zone; and
control means for controlling the flow of separation buffer from the first auxiliary passage to the first separation passage and from the second auxiliary passage to the second separation passage. - View Dependent Claims (359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391)
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Specification