AUTOMATED TWO-DIMENSIONAL GEL ELECTROPHORESIS
First Claim
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1. An integrated apparatus, comprising:
- a first fixture capable of receiving a macrofluidic sample cartridge;
a second fixture capable of receiving a microfluidic isoelectric focusing cartridge and processing at least a portion of a sample deposited in the microfluidic isoelectric focusing cartridge from the macrofluidic sample cartridge to separate the sample into a plurality of first protein fractions having different isoelectric points;
a third fixture capable of receiving a microfluidic separation cartridge and processing a first protein fraction deposited in the microfluidic separation cartridge from the isoelectric focusing cartridge and processing the first protein fraction to separate the first protein fraction into a plurality of second protein fractions having different sizes; and
a robotic mechanism capable of robotically transferring the sample from the microfluidic sample cartridge to the microfluidic isoelectric focusing cartridge and the first protein fraction from the microfluidic isoelectric focusing cartridge to the microfluidic separation cartridge.
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Abstract
An automated, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis technique includes methods and apparatuses for performing a functionally equivalent, automated two-dimensional gel electrophoresis process in an integrated, robotic apparatus.
105 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An integrated apparatus, comprising:
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a first fixture capable of receiving a macrofluidic sample cartridge;
a second fixture capable of receiving a microfluidic isoelectric focusing cartridge and processing at least a portion of a sample deposited in the microfluidic isoelectric focusing cartridge from the macrofluidic sample cartridge to separate the sample into a plurality of first protein fractions having different isoelectric points;
a third fixture capable of receiving a microfluidic separation cartridge and processing a first protein fraction deposited in the microfluidic separation cartridge from the isoelectric focusing cartridge and processing the first protein fraction to separate the first protein fraction into a plurality of second protein fractions having different sizes; and
a robotic mechanism capable of robotically transferring the sample from the microfluidic sample cartridge to the microfluidic isoelectric focusing cartridge and the first protein fraction from the microfluidic isoelectric focusing cartridge to the microfluidic separation cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An integrated apparatus, comprising:
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means for receiving a protein-containing sample, microfluidically isoelectrically focusing the proteins of the sample into a plurality of first protein fractions, and microfluidically separating one of the plurality of first protein fractions into a plurality of second protein fractions by size; and
means for robotically handling the fluids used by the receiving, isoelectrcially focusing, and separating means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method, comprising:
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providing a sample comprising a plurality of proteins;
robotically transferring the sample to a first microfluidic device;
isoelectrically focusing the proteins of the provided sample to separate the proteins into a plurality of first protein fractions having different isoelectric points;
robotically transferring a first protein fraction to a second microfluidic device; and
separating the first protein fraction into a plurality of second protein fractions. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 25, 27, 28)
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24. The method of claim E20, wherein the first microfluidic device is a microfluidic free flow isoelectric focusing device.
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26. The method of 21, wherein robotically transferring the first protein fraction to the second microfluidic device includes:
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robotically extracting the first protein fraction from a well in the first microfluidic device; and
robotically depositing the first protein fraction in a respective well of a microfluidic device.
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Specification