Automated capillary electrophoresis apparatus

• US 5,202,010 A
• Filed: 08/28/1991
• Issued: 04/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Princeton Biochemicals, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Princeton Biochemicals, Inc.
• Inventors: Guzman, Norberto A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Niebling, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): STARSIAK, JOHN S
• Application Number:
  US07/751,307
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 204/299 R, 204/180.1
• US Class Current: 204/601
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44743 Introducing samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44756 Apparatus specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44782 of a plurality of samples

Abstract

Apparatus comprises an analyte concentrator (one or more) for insertion into a capillary tube and containing various structures for carrying chemical substances in the flow path for attraction or repulsion of samples passed through the capillary.

Claims

1. Capillary electrophoresis apparatus comprising

a capillary tube structure of the type which can be electrically charged, said tube structure having first and second ends,

first means at said first end of said capillary tube structure providing a source of sample substance to be transmitted through said capillary tube structure,

second means coupled to said apparatus for applying electrical potential across said capillary tube structure whereby a sample flows through said capillary tube structure and past a detector associated therewith, said first means includes a rotatable table carrying a plurality of sample cups and a holder for holding an end of said capillary tube structure in operative relation with one of said cups, and

an analyte concentrator disposed in operative relation with said capillary tube structure and containing a support means carrying at least one chemical substance of a a type having a specific action with respect to constituent molecules contained within a sample flowing along said capillary tube structure and either attracting a molecule for later elution or permitting a molecule to pass along said capillary tube structure,

said analyte concentrator comprising a tubular structure containing fluid-pervious end plates and a plurality of small bodies carrying antibody material (or other chemical substance) which is adapted to attract antigens (or other chemical substances) in sample fluid which passes through said analyte concentrator.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said capillary tube structure is in the form of a coil supported on a support plate, and

means coupled to said support plate for passing temperature control fluid therethrough.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said analyte concentrator(s) comprises a tubular structure containing fluid-pervious end plates and a plurality of small bodies carrying a chemical substance(s) which is adapted to repel other chemical substance(s) in a sample fluid which passes through said analyte concentrator(s).

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said small bodies comprise spheres of insulating material carrying said antibody material (or other chemical substances).

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said analyte concentrator includes a plurality of thin plates secured together and to the wall of said capillary tube by filaments of insulating material, said thin plates being coated with an antibody material or other chemical substance(s).

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said analyte concentrator comprises a plurality of filaments of glass secured together and disposed within said capillary tube, said filaments being coated with an antibody material or other chemical substance(s).

11. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said capillary tube structure includes within its length a portion comprising a plurality of sections of capillary tubes coupled together end to end, and

a coupling sleeve coupling together adjacent ends of said sections of capillary tubes.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said capillary tube structure includes within its length a portion comprising a plurality of sections of capillary tubes secured together adjacent to each other in a multi-capillary bundle having an inlet and an outlet end, and

said capillary tube structure is coupled to each of said inlet and outlet ends of said bundle of capillary tubes.

7. An analyte concentrator for use with capillary electrophoresis apparatus comprising

a tubular structure for insertion in a capillary tube and containing fluid-pervious end plates, and

a plurality of small bodies carrying antibody material which is adapted to attract antigens in a sample fluid which passes through said analyte concentrator(s), or

a plurality of small bodies carrying a chemical substance(s) which is adapted to repel other chemical substance(s) in a sample fluid which passes through said analyte concentrator(s).

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said small bodies comprise spheres of insulating material carrying said antibody material or other chemical substance(s).

9. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said analyte concentrator includes a plurality of thin plates secured together and to the wall of said capillary tube by filaments of insulating material, said thin plates being coated with an antibody chemical substance.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said analyte concentrator comprises a plurality of filaments of glass secured together and disposed within said capillary tube, said filaments being coated with an antibody material or other chemical substance(s).