Apparatus for the handling of electrophoretic transfer membranes and for the chemiluminescent detection of blots contained thereon
First Claim
1. In an improved apparatus for the handling of an electrophoretic transfer membrane and the detecting of a signal generated by separated biological materials on said electrophoretic transfer membrane that are suitably treated to generate said signal, wherein the electrophoretic transfer membrane comprises a rigid frame (i) that supports a flexible membrane (ii) along portions of the periphery thereof, the membrane (ii) containing thereon a detectable, signal generating electrophoretic blot, and a signal detector therefor, the improvement comprising:
- (a) guide apparatus designed to accommodate the rigid frame (i) and the flexible membrane (ii) so that the flexible membrane (ii) is positioned for reading in a location for detection while engaged by pressure head (b);
(b) pressure head positioned with respect to said guide apparatus and said location to releasably engage the flexible membrane (ii);
(c) light shielding apparatus positioned with respect to said guide apparatus to selectively enclose about the rigid frame (i) and the flexible membrane (ii); and
(d) means for sequentially operating said guide apparatus (a), said pressure head (b), and said light shielding apparatus (c) so that the rigid frame (i) and the flexible membrane (ii) are enclosed and said pressure head engages the flexible membrane (ii) while the transfer membrane is in said location appropriate for detection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved apparatus for the handling and detecting of an electrophoretic transfer membrane is disclosed herein, the improvement comprising guide apparatus designed to accommodate the transfer membrane, a pressure head positioned relative to the guide apparatus to releasably engage the membrane, and light shielding apparatus positioned relative to the guide apparatus to selectively enclose about the transfer membrane. The apparatus is operated so that the pressure head engages a flexible portion of the transfer membrane containing an electrophoretic blot while it is in a position appropriate for detection. There is also disclosed herein a process for utilizing the apparatus of the invention. In the process drying and optionally heating of the membrane where the blot has been contacted with enzyme-triggered 1,2-dioxetanes, to enhance the resulting chemiluminescent signal, is disclosed.
26 Citations
9 Claims
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1. In an improved apparatus for the handling of an electrophoretic transfer membrane and the detecting of a signal generated by separated biological materials on said electrophoretic transfer membrane that are suitably treated to generate said signal, wherein the electrophoretic transfer membrane comprises a rigid frame (i) that supports a flexible membrane (ii) along portions of the periphery thereof, the membrane (ii) containing thereon a detectable, signal generating electrophoretic blot, and a signal detector therefor, the improvement comprising:
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(a) guide apparatus designed to accommodate the rigid frame (i) and the flexible membrane (ii) so that the flexible membrane (ii) is positioned for reading in a location for detection while engaged by pressure head (b); (b) pressure head positioned with respect to said guide apparatus and said location to releasably engage the flexible membrane (ii); (c) light shielding apparatus positioned with respect to said guide apparatus to selectively enclose about the rigid frame (i) and the flexible membrane (ii); and (d) means for sequentially operating said guide apparatus (a), said pressure head (b), and said light shielding apparatus (c) so that the rigid frame (i) and the flexible membrane (ii) are enclosed and said pressure head engages the flexible membrane (ii) while the transfer membrane is in said location appropriate for detection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In an improved apparatus for the handling and detecting of an electrophoretic transfer membrane that comprises a rigid frame (i) that supports a flexible membrane (ii) along portions of the periphery thereof, and the membrane (ii) containing thereon a detectable electrophoretic blot, the improvement comprising in combination:
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(a) guide apparatus designed to accommodate the rigid frame (i) and the flexible membrane (ii) so that the flexible membrane (ii) is positioned for reading in a location for detection while engaged by pressure head (b); (b) pressure head positioned with respect to said guide apparatus and said location to releasably engage the flexible membrane (ii); (c) light shielding apparatus positioned with respect to said guide apparatus to selectively enclose about the rigid frame (i) and the flexible membrane (ii); (d) means for sequentially operating said guide apparatus (a), said pressure head (b), and said light shielding apparatus (c) so that the rigid frame (i) and the flexible membrane (ii) are enclosed and said pressure head engages the flexible membrane (ii) while the transfer membrane is in said location appropriate for detection; and (e) means for detecting the signal generated by the electrophoretic blot comprising a CCD camera focused upon the flexible membrane (ii) in said location while the flexible membrane (ii) is engaged by said pressure head, and with respect to said guide apparatus so that a suitable image of the signal generated by the blot is obtained during engagement of the flexible membrane (ii) by the pressure means. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification