Capillary electrophoresis
First Claim
1. A capillary electrophoresis instruments having an external enclosure, comprising:
- a carrier within the enclosure configured for carrying a first end of an electrophoresis capillary and a first electrode positioned side-by-side relative to one another;
a carrier drive configured for translating the carrier vertically at a load position for inserting the first end of the capillary and the first electrode into a container for liquid, and for withdrawing therefrom;
an outlet station within the enclosure configured for holding a buffer reservoir and for positioning a second end of the capillary and a second electrode in the second buffer reservoir;
a rotary carousel having a circular array of support positions for liquid containers; and
a delivery apparatus configured for supporting and moving the rotary carousel from without the enclosure to within the enclosure and from within the enclosure to without the enclosure, and for rotating the carousel within the enclosure, presenting the support positions for liquid containers individually at the load position.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument for capillary electrophoresis has a vertically translatable carrier holding one end of the capillary and an electrode connected to a power supply, and a rotary carousel for presenting containers of sample and buffer solutions to a load position where the end of the capillary and the electrode may be inserted by operating the carrier. The other end of the capillary and a second electrode connected to the power supply are immersed in an outlet buffer reservoir. The instrument has a vacuum supply for providing a relative vacuum over the solution in the outlet buffer reservoir, so simple material may be injected into the capillary either by electromigration or by differential pressure. After injection, the first end of the capillary and the electrode may be immersed in buffer to accomplish electrophoresis. By manipulating the carousel and carrier, multiple samples may be electrophoresed in series. In a preferred embodiment the instrument includes a flexible duck-billed septum for closing containers while permitting easy access for the electrode and the capillary tube. Also in a preferred embodiment the instrument is controlled by a microprocessor-based controller.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A capillary electrophoresis instruments having an external enclosure, comprising:
-
a carrier within the enclosure configured for carrying a first end of an electrophoresis capillary and a first electrode positioned side-by-side relative to one another; a carrier drive configured for translating the carrier vertically at a load position for inserting the first end of the capillary and the first electrode into a container for liquid, and for withdrawing therefrom; an outlet station within the enclosure configured for holding a buffer reservoir and for positioning a second end of the capillary and a second electrode in the second buffer reservoir; a rotary carousel having a circular array of support positions for liquid containers; and a delivery apparatus configured for supporting and moving the rotary carousel from without the enclosure to within the enclosure and from within the enclosure to without the enclosure, and for rotating the carousel within the enclosure, presenting the support positions for liquid containers individually at the load position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A capillary electrophoresis instrument comprising:
-
a carrier configured for carrying a first end of an electrophoresis capillary and the first electrode positioned side-by-side relative to one and; a carrier drive configured for translating the carrier vertically at a load position for inserting a first end of the capillary and the first electrode into a container for liquid, and for withdrawing therefrom; an outlet station configured for holding a buffer reservoir and for positioning a second end of the capillary and a second electrode in the buffer reservoir; a delivery apparatus configured for supporting and moving liquid containers to and away from the load position; and a control system configured for powering the first and second electrodes with the first electrode and the first end of the capillary immersed sample in a liquid container in a to perform electrokinetic injection of sample material into the first end of the capillary. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification