Electrophoresis apparatus having valve system
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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.
92 Citations
401 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;
the analyte concentrator being positionable upstream of an analyte detector zone wherein the at least one analyte of interest eluted from the immobilized affinity ligand and delivered thereto via the separation passage can be identified and characterized;
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 analyte concentrator; and
localizing means associated with the transport passage for localizing the analyte concentrator to thereby improve the concentration of the at least one analyte of interest from the sample at the analyte concentrator. - View Dependent Claims (323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341)
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342. An electrophoresis apparatus, comprising:
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a transport passage capable of directing flow of a sample solution;
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 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;
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, such that each of the analyte concentrators can be localized by the valves on the transport passage and the plurality of separation passages to improve the attracting and binding of the at least one analyte of interest to each of the analyte concentrators; and
the valves at least in part being capable of controlling fluid flow from the analyte concentrators via the separation passages to an electrophoresis detection system. - View Dependent Claims (343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 349)
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348. The electrophoresis apparatus of claim 348 further comprising valve means controling the sequential fluid flow in the separation passages to the exit output passage.
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350. 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 second analyte concentrator including second immobilized affinity ligands which are attracted to a 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; and
control means for controlling the flow of sample in the transport passage and for localizing the sample at the first and second analyte concentrators to enhance analyte binding. - View Dependent Claims (351, 352, 353, 354, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376)
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377. An electrophoresis apparatus, comprising:
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a transport passage having an inlet end and an outlet end;
a first separation passage having a first transport/separation passage overlapping portion which overlaps a portion of the transport passage;
the first separation passage being communicable upstream of the first transport/separation passage overlapping portion with at least one buffer supply;
a first analyte concentrator containing a first immobilized affinity ligand in the first transport/separation passage overlapping portion to concentrate at least a first analyte of interest from a sample introduced into the transport passage;
the first analyte concentrator being positionable upstream of an analyte detector system which can identify and characterize the at least a first analyte of interest eluted from the first immobilized affinity ligand and delivered thereto via the first separation passage;
a second separation passage having a second transport/separation passage overlapping portion which overlaps a portion of the transport passage;
the second separation passage being communicable upstream of the second transport/separation passage overlapping portion with at least one buffer supply;
a second analyte concentrator containing an immobilized affinity ligand in the second transport/separation passage overlapping portion to concentrate at least a second analyte of interest from the sample;
the second analyte concentrator being positionable upstream of the analyte detector system which can identify and characterize the at least a second analyte of interest eluted from the second immobilized affinity ligand and delivered thereto via the second separation passage;
a valve system including first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh valves;
the first valve being on the transport passage upstream of the first analyte concentrator;
the second valve being on the first separation passage at a first end of the first analyte concentrator;
the third valve being on the first separation passage at an outlet second end of the first analyte concentrator;
the fourth valve being on the transport passage between the first and second analyte concentrators;
the fifth valve being on the second separation passage at a first end of the second analyte concentrator;
the sixth valve being on the second separation passage at an outlet second end of the second analyte concentrator; and
the seventh valve being on the transport passage downstream of the second analyte concentrator. - View Dependent Claims (378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389)
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390. An electrophoresis apparatus, comprising:
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a transport passage having an inlet end and an outlet end;
a first separation passage having a first transport/separation passage overlapping portion which overlaps a portion of the transport passage;
the first separation passage being communicable upstream of the first transport/separation passage overlapping portion with a buffer supply;
a first analyte concentrator containing a first immobilized affinity ligand in the first transport/separation passage overlapping portion to concentrate at least one first analyte of interest from a sample introduced into the transport passage;
the first analyte concentrator controlling the temperature thereat at a first temperature associated with the at least one first analyte of interest;
the first analyte concentrator being positionable upstream of an analyte detector zone wherein the at least one first analyte of interest eluted from the first immobilized affinity ligand and delivered thereto via the first separation passage can be identified and characterized;
a second separation passage having a second transport/separation passage overlapping portion which overlaps a portion of the transport passage;
the second separation passage being communicable upstream of the second transport/separation passage overlapping portion with a buffer supply;
a second analyte concentrator containing a second immobilized affinity ligand in the second transport/separation passage overlapping portion to concentrate at least one second analyte of interest from the introduced sample; and
the second analyte concentrator controlling the temperature thereat at a different second temperature associated with the at least one second analyte of interest. - View Dependent Claims (391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401)
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Specification