Multicapillary bundle for electrophoresis and detection for DNA

• US 6,464,852 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1999
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (State University of New York)
• Original Assignee: State University of New York at Stony Brook (State University of New York)
• Inventors: Serge, Luryi, Gorfinkel, Vera, Gouzman, Mikhail
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sines, Brian
• Application Number:
  US09/454,429
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 204/600, 204/603, 204/601, 204/452, 204/604, 436/63, 356/344, 250/458.1
• US Class Current: 204/600
• 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

A multichannel electrophoretic cassette structure is disclosed comprising distinct regions for loading and detection with different spacing between channels. A method and an apparatus are further disclosed enabling multicolor fluorescent detection from a non-coplanar bundle of multiple channels. A method for fabricating monolithic multichannel cassettes for electrophoresis and fluorescent detection is also described.

Claims

1. A multichannel electropheretic cassette structure comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of capillaries arranged in a non-planar bundle;

a loading region for loading biological molecules into the capillaries;

an observation region for observing biological molecules in said plurality of. capillaries;

said plurality of capillaries extending in an arc between said loading region and said observation region;

a photodetector arranged in a first plane inclined at an angle relative to an axis of the plurality of capillaries at said observation region;

said photodetector simultaneously imaging each capillary in the non-planar bundle, enabling multicolor fluorescent detection of biological molecules in said plurality of capillaries.

2. The multichannel electrophoretic cassette structure of claim 1, further comprising known capillary patterns for give cross-sections of the arc.

3. The multichannel electrophoretic cassette structure of claim 1, wherein the loading region comprises a first cross-sectional dimensionality and the observation region comprises a second cross-sectional dimensionality.

4. The multichannel electrophoretic cassette structure of claim 3, wherein the capillaries have a known variable cross-section organization between the loading region and the observation region.

5. The multichannel electrophoretic cassette structure of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a heat conducting fluid.

6. The multichannel electrophoretic cassette structure of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a means for thermal control of the capillaries.

7. The multichannel electrophoretic cassette structure of claim 1, further comprising an alignment marker detectable in a cross-section of the capillary bundle.

8. The multichannel electrophoretic cassette structure of claim 7, wherein the alignment marker is a fluid in a predetermined capillary of the capillary bundle.

9. The multichannel electrophoretic cassette structure of claim 1, further comprising an illuminator proximate to the observation region at an angle to the photodetector.