Illuminator for visualization of fluorophores
First Claim
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1. An apparatus useful for the visualization of fluorophores in biological systems comprising:
- a vessel configured to contain an electrophoresis gel wherein the electrophoresis gel comprises a top planar surface, a bottom planer surface parallel to the top planar surface and at least first and second planar edges perpendicular to the plane of the top and bottom planar surfaces, the planar edges being adjacent each other in that the first planar edge is contiguous to the second planar edge;
at least a first light source configured to provide orthogonal illumination to the first planar edge of the electrophoresis gel disposed within the gel vessel such that light emitted from one or more fluorophores within the gel is emitted through the top surface or bottom surface of the gel such that the fluorophores can be visualized by a viewer or an optical instrument placed adjacent to the top or bottom surface of the gel; and
at least a second light source configured to provide orthogonal illumination to the second planar edge.
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Abstract
The present invention discloses apparatuses and methods for the visualization of fluorophores in biological systems such as electrophoresis gels and cell cultures. Preferred embodiments of the apparatuses consists of a tray or tank having one or more light sources disposed to direct light through an electrophoresis gel disposed within the vessel such that the luminescence from fluorophores in the gel are easily visualized.
161 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus useful for the visualization of fluorophores in biological systems comprising:
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a vessel configured to contain an electrophoresis gel wherein the electrophoresis gel comprises a top planar surface, a bottom planer surface parallel to the top planar surface and at least first and second planar edges perpendicular to the plane of the top and bottom planar surfaces, the planar edges being adjacent each other in that the first planar edge is contiguous to the second planar edge; at least a first light source configured to provide orthogonal illumination to the first planar edge of the electrophoresis gel disposed within the gel vessel such that light emitted from one or more fluorophores within the gel is emitted through the top surface or bottom surface of the gel such that the fluorophores can be visualized by a viewer or an optical instrument placed adjacent to the top or bottom surface of the gel; and at least a second light source configured to provide orthogonal illumination to the second planar edge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus useful for the visualization of fluorophores during a gel electrophoresis procedure comprising:
a vessel to perform electrophoreses procedures, the vessel including a rectangular tray or tank comprising a bottom and four walls having an inner and an outer surface and wherein the tray is dimensioned to contain an electrophoresis gel, at least first and second light sources positioned to illuminate respective first and second edges of an electrophoresis gel disposed within the vessel allowing the fluorescence emitted by the gel to be visualized by a viewer or an optical instrument suitable for such visualization from a surface of the gel that is orthogonal to the first and second edges of the gel, the first and second edges of the gel being contiguous and orthogonal to each other. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An apparatus useful for the visualization of fluorophores comprising:
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a vessel comprising a rectangular base having a flat inner surface and one to four vertical walls each disposed along an edge of the rectangular base, wherein each vertical wall has an inner surface and wherein the vessel is dimensioned to contain an electrophoresis gel, said gel comprising parallel planer top and bottom gel surfaces and gel edges disposed orthogonally to the plane of said top and bottom gel surfaces;
whereinat least one vertical wall is provided with one or more light sources positioned to illuminate at least one gel edge of an electrophoresis gel disposed therein; and wherein said one or more light sources provide one or more of the excitation wavelengths required to effect the emission of fluorescence by fluorophores contained within a gel disposed within the vessel such that the fluorophores can be visualized by a viewer or an optical instrument suitable for such visualization by directed to the top or bottom surface of the gel; and
wherein at least one vertical wall is movable with respect to an edge of a gel disposed therein such that the distance between said one or more light sources and the gel edge can be varied to provide a desired illumination intensity. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification