Gel electrophoresis system

• US 5,410,412 A
• Filed: 01/06/1994
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Destec Energy, Inc. (Vistra Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Labintelligence Incorporated
• Inventors: Gombocz, Erich A., Clappier, Robert R., Kerth, Wilhelm, Roth, Alex T., Rammler, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGraw, Vincent P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANTIS, KAREN
• Application Number:
  US08/178,035
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 356/326, 356/328, 356/402-411, 356/432-440, 356/416-419, 356/72, 356/344, 250/226, 250/458.1, 250/459.1, 250/461.1, 250/461.2, 204/182.8, 204/299 R
• US Class Current: 356/417
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44704 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44721 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44782 of a plurality of samples

Abstract

An electrophoretic system is provided which allows for carrying out electrophoresis while monitoring and regulating the temperature and the electrical field gradient in the gel. In addition, photometric monitoring is provided so as to monitor the progress of the electrophoretic separation and vary conditions to change the progress as desired. A computer is employed which receives the signals from the electrophoretic and photometric apparatuses and regulates temperature and voltage to either maintain conditions, or change the conditions to vary the progress of the electrophoresis. Gel molds are provided for forming the lanes in a gel plate, as well as a light module, for reading the bands present in the gel lanes with the photometer.

Claims

1. A photometer module comprising:

a cover housing;

a carriage in said housing;

means for moving said carriage across said housing over a gel electrophoresis plate;

a photometer supported by said carriage, said photometer comprising;

a light source of broad wavelength spectrum to excite fluorescence;

two photodetectors;

a pair of filters having a first wavelength range of about 400-600 nm and a second wavelength range of about 500-700 nm, respectively, each photodetector having one of the filters in the light path to said photodetector; and

a pair of optical fibers for receiving light and transmitting light to each of said photo detectors thorough said filters, said optical fibers transmitting and receiving fluorescent light in the range of about 400-700 nm from a gel electrophoretic narrow band, said receiving light passing through an aperture; and

means for analyzing signals from said photodetectors to determine the wavelength range of light received by said photodetectors, whereby the wavelength range within 400-700 nm of the light received by said optical fibers is determined.

2. A photometer module according to claim 1, further comprising location sensing means for sensing the location of said carriage.

3. A photometer module according to Column 1, wherein said means for analyzing said signals comprises means for performing a Fourier analysis of said signals.

4. A photometer comprising:

two photodetectors;

a pair of filters, a first filter having a wavelength range of about 400-600 nm and a second filter having a wavelength range of about 500-700 nm, respectively;

each photodetector having one of the filters in the light path to said photodetector;

a pair of optical fibers for transmitting to said photo detectors and receiving fluorescent light from a gel electrophoretic narrow band, said receiving light passing through an aperture, said received light being in the range of about 400-700 nm; and

means for analyzing signals from said photo detectors for determining the wavelength range of light received by said photo detectors, wherein said signals determine the wavelength range within the combined wavelength range of said filters of the light received by said pair of optical fibers.

5. A photometer module according to Column 4, wherein said means for analyzing said signals comprises means for performing a Fourier analysis of said signals.