Capillary electrophoresis method and apparatus for electric field uniformity and minimal dispersion of sample fractions
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a capillary tube for use in capillary electrophoresis comprising:
- selecting an entrance end portion of said capillary tube, said entrance end portion having an inside diameter, interior and exterior surface, and an end surface that is generally perpendicular to said interior and exterior surfaces;
removing material from said interior surface of said entrance end portion such that said entrance end portion has a smooth contour with an increasing inside diameter with approach to said end surface; and
removing material at an exit end portion of said capillary tube such that a smooth contour is defined from said interior surface to a second end surface opposite to said end surface of said entrance end portion.
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Abstract
A capillary electrophoresis method and apparatus for reducing dispersion of sample fractions are disclosed. The capillary tube in which the electrophoresis is performed has been flared, at least at its sample entrance end, to remove sharp corners which contribute to aberrations in the electric field distribution in a radial direction and result in differential migration of molecules depending on their proximity to the sharp corners. The flared tube, in contrast to a conventional tube, provides a more uniform electric field for electrophoresis and reduces undesired dispersion of the samples.
30 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of forming a capillary tube for use in capillary electrophoresis comprising:
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selecting an entrance end portion of said capillary tube, said entrance end portion having an inside diameter, interior and exterior surface, and an end surface that is generally perpendicular to said interior and exterior surfaces; removing material from said interior surface of said entrance end portion such that said entrance end portion has a smooth contour with an increasing inside diameter with approach to said end surface; and removing material at an exit end portion of said capillary tube such that a smooth contour is defined from said interior surface to a second end surface opposite to said end surface of said entrance end portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for reducing dispersion of sample fractions during capillary electrophoresis, the method comprising:
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providing a capillary tube with an entrance end, an exit end, and an internal diameter; flaring the interior of the tube at the entrance end of the tube to remove sharp edges; inserting a separation matrix into the tube; inserting a sample for separation into the tube at the entrance end, the sample having electrically charged fractions; placing each end of the tube in a buffer reservoir; introducing an electrode into each buffer reservoir; and applying an electric potential to the tube through the electrodes to create an electric field, the direction of the field being adjusted such that the sample will travel from the entrance end through the tube; whereby the electric field is relatively uniform proximate to the entrance end. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electrophoretic system for reducing dispersion of sample fractions, the system comprising:
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a tube having an internal diameter, an entrance end and an exit end, the tube being flared at an interior at the entrance end, the interior having a smooth contour at a terminus of said entrance end; at least two buffer reservoirs, each reservoir holding one of the entrance and exit ends of the tube; and at least two electrodes, each electrode positioned substantially external to said tube in one of the reservoirs and connected to a source of electrical power to cause an electric field to pass a sample introduced at the entrance end of the tube toward the exit end of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electrophoretic system for reducing dispersion of sample fractions, the system comprising:
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a tube having an internal diameter, an entrance end and an exit end, the tube being flared at an interior at the entrance end and at the exit end, the interior having a smooth contour at a terminus of said entrance end; at least two buffer reservoirs, each reservoir holding one of the entrance and exit ends of the tube; and at least two electrodes, each electrode positioned in one of the reservoirs and connected to a source of electrical power to cause an electric field to pass a sample introduced at the entrance end of the tube toward the exit end of the tube.
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Specification