EP0339779A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated capillary electrophoresis apparatus
Assignee: Beckman Coulter Inc
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Filing: 1989-03-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-14
Abstract
Abstract An automated apparatus and system for effecting capillary electrophoresis is disclosed. The system includes two conveyors (R₁,R₂) for conveying septum sealed vials into registry underneath a cartridge (C) containing a capillary for capillary electrophoresis. The capillary interior of the cartridge is wound in a serpentine path. The capillary depends at its two distal ends downwardly from the cartridge at two spaced apart locations from the bottom surface of the cartridge. The vials, each held in a vial holder, are conveyed until one vial on one conveyor underlies one depending distal capillary end and the other vial on the other conveyor underlies the other depending distal capillary end. Once registry of the vials to the distal capillary ends has occurred, the vials are moved upwardly -- typically by piston assisted movement of vial holders with respect to the conveyors. Such upward piston assisted movement continues until the vials are pierced at a sealing septum by hypodermics. After piercing of the hypodermics, the piston assisted upward movement continues to thread the hypodermic with either a capillary or an electrode for access to the content to the interior of the vial. The apparatus and process actuates a sequence of vials to produce automated capillary electrophoresis. The sequence includes charging the capillary at a first vial with electrolyte and thereafter injecting from a second and different vial a predetermined amount of sample into the electrolyte filled capillary. After sample injection the sequence includes causing paired third and fourth vials of electrolyte to be communicated to the depending ends of the capillary, communicating electrodes to each of the third and fourth vials to produce the required electric force for capillary electrophoresis and permitting the capillaries to be exposed at its distal ends to the electric forces for a sufficient period of time to cause sample classification due to the electrophoresis. Provision is made in the cartridge immediately adjacent one of the ends thereof for detection of the electrophoretically classified components. The detection schemes including fluorescence, light absorption or reflection, light deflection responsive to electrical changing optical index. Upon completion of the electrophoresis, the capillary is recharged with electrolyte and the process endlessly repeated using differing sequences of vial. The continued electrophoresis either uses the same capillary in the same cartridge or a differing capillary mounted to a different cartridge.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor Paul Burolla
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N27/44756; G01N27/44782
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
Apparatus for automated electrophoresis, said apparatus comprising: a cartridge body having a bottom, said cartridge defining a serpentine path for receiving a capillary; first and second spaced apart exits through the bottom of said cartridge, said exits communicated to the distal ends of said serpentine path; a capillary wound to said serpentine path within said cartridge and having its two distal ends depending from the bottom of said cartridge at said spaced apart exits; first and second vials for registration to said spaced apart distal ends of said depending capillary at said spaced apart exits; said vials having a body for the containment of fluid with an upwardly disposed opening; first and second conveyors for conveying vials, said first conveyor for conveying said first vial and having a first path under said first exit of said cartridge whereby a vial may be registered under a depending distal end of said capillary; said second conveyor for conveying said second vial having a second path under said second exit of said cartridge whereby a second vial in said second conveyor can be registered under the other depending distal end of said capillary; means for moving said first and second vial from registry under said exits of said cartridge to and from a position of penetration of said distal ends of said capillary at the opening of said vials whereby the depending distal ends of said capillary depending from said cartridge may be in fluid communication with the contents of said vial; means for communicating electropotential to said vials whereby said cartridge when filled with electrolyte and sample undergoes electrophoresis between the distal ends of said two capillaries.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
275 words
Apparatus for automated electrophoresis, said apparatus comprising: a cartridge body having a bottom, said cartridge defining a serpentine path for receiving a capillary; first and second spaced apart exits through the bottom of said cartridge, said exits communicated to the distal ends of said serpentine path; a capillary wound to said serpentine path within said cartridge and having its two distal ends depending from the bottom of said cartridge at said spaced apart exits; first and second vials for registration to said spaced apart distal ends of said depending capillary at said spaced apart exits; said vials having a body for the containment of fluid with an upwardly disposed opening; first and second conveyors for conveying vials, said first conveyor for conveying said first vial and having a first path under said first exit of said cartridge whereby a vial may be registered under a depending distal end of said capillary; said second conveyor for conveying said second vial having a second path under said second exit of said cartridge whereby a second vial in said second conveyor can be registered under the other depending distal end of said capillary; means for moving said first and second vial from registry under said exits of said cartridge to and from a position of penetration of said distal ends of said capillary at the opening of said vials whereby the depending distal ends of said capillary depending from said cartridge may be in fluid communication with the contents of said vial; means for communicating electropotential to said vials whereby said cartridge when filled with electrolyte and sample undergoes electrophoresis between the distal ends of said two capillaries.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 1 and wherein said cartridge is detachably removable from said apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 1 and wherein said first conveyor contains a plurality of vials and said second conveyor contains a plurality of vials.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 1 and including detector apparatus registered to said cartridge: said cartridge including an aperture for observing said capillary; and means for passing light through said aperture for measurement of electrophoresis classified components within said capillary.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
216 words
A process of electrophoresis comprising the steps of providing a capillary; providing a cartridge body having a bottom; mounting said capillary to said cartridge body so that the capillary protrudes from the bottom of said body at two spaced apart first and second exits; providing a first conveyor for conveying a series of vials under said first exit; providing at least three vials in said first conveyor, said first vial having electrolyte for filling said capillary, said second vial having sample for injection to said capillary and said third vial having electrolyte for providing electropotential for electrophoresis to one end of said capillary; providing a fourth vial having electrolyte positioned under said second exit; registering said first vial to said depending capillary at said first exit to immerse said depending end in electrolyte to fill said capillary with electrolyte; registering said second vial to said depending capillary at said first exit to immerse said depending capillary in sample to inject a quantity of sample to said capillary: simultaneously registering said third and fourth vials to the distal ends of said capillary to immerse the depending ends of said capillary in electrolyte; and applying an electropotential across the third and fourth vials whereby the distal ends of said capillary produce electrophoresis along the length of said capillary.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
216 words
A process of electrophoresis comprising the steps of providing a capillary; providing a cartridge body having a bottom; mounting said capillary to said cartridge body so that the capillary protrudes from the bottom of said body at two spaced apart first and second exits; providing a first conveyor for conveying a series of vials under said first exit; providing at least three vials in said first conveyor, said first vial having electrolyte for filling said capillary, said second vial having sample for injection to said capillary and said third vial having electrolyte for providing electropotential for electrophoresis to one end of said capillary; providing a fourth vial having electrolyte positioned under said second exit; registering said first vial to said depending capillary at said first exit to immerse said depending end in electrolyte to fill said capillary with electrolyte; registering said second vial to said depending capillary at said first exit to immerse said depending capillary in sample to inject a quantity of sample to said capillary: simultaneously registering said third and fourth vials to the distal ends of said capillary to immerse the depending ends of said capillary in electrolyte; and applying an electropotential across the third and fourth vials whereby the distal ends of said capillary produce electrophoresis along the length of said capillary.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said registering step of said first vial includes sealing said first vial with respect to the bottom of said cartridge and applying pressure to said first vial whereby electrolyte from said first vial fills said capillary.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 5 and wherein said registering step of said second vial includes seal said second vial with respect to the bottom of said cartridge and applying pressure to said second vial whereby sample is injected from said second vial to said capillary.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
310 words
Apparatus for automated electrophoresis, said apparatus comprising: a cartridge body having a bottom, said cartridge defining a serpentine path for receiving a capillary: first and second spaced apart exits through the bottom of said cartridge, said exits communicated to the distal ends of said serpentine path; a capillary wound to said serpentine path within said cartridge and having its two distal ends depending from the bottom of said cartridge at said spaced apart exits: first and second septum sealed vials for registration to said spaced apart distal ends of said depending capillary at said spaced apart exits; said vials having a body for the containment of fluid with an upwardly disposed opening; first and second conveyors for conveying vials, said first conveyor for conveying said first vial and having a first path under said first exit of said cartridge whereby a vial may be registered under a depending distal end of said capillary; said second conveyor for conveying said second vial having a second path under said second exit of said cartridge whereby a second vial in said second conveyor can be registered under the other depending distal end of said capillary; means for moving said first and second vial from registry under said exits of said cartridge to and from a position of penetration of said distal ends of said capillary at the opening of said vials whereby the depending distal ends of said capillary depending from said cartridge may be in fluid communication with the contents of said vial; means for piercing said septum sealed vial position between said capillary and said vials, said piercing mean including a hypodermic threaded by said capillary; means for communicating electropotential to said vials whereby said cartridge when filled with electrolyte and sample undergoes electrophoresis between the distal ends of said two capillaries. said communication means including an electrode threading said hypodermic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
310 words
Apparatus for automated electrophoresis, said apparatus comprising: a cartridge body having a bottom, said cartridge defining a serpentine path for receiving a capillary: first and second spaced apart exits through the bottom of said cartridge, said exits communicated to the distal ends of said serpentine path; a capillary wound to said serpentine path within said cartridge and having its two distal ends depending from the bottom of said cartridge at said spaced apart exits: first and second septum sealed vials for registration to said spaced apart distal ends of said depending capillary at said spaced apart exits; said vials having a body for the containment of fluid with an upwardly disposed opening; first and second conveyors for conveying vials, said first conveyor for conveying said first vial and having a first path under said first exit of said cartridge whereby a vial may be registered under a depending distal end of said capillary; said second conveyor for conveying said second vial having a second path under said second exit of said cartridge whereby a second vial in said second conveyor can be registered under the other depending distal end of said capillary; means for moving said first and second vial from registry under said exits of said cartridge to and from a position of penetration of said distal ends of said capillary at the opening of said vials whereby the depending distal ends of said capillary depending from said cartridge may be in fluid communication with the contents of said vial; means for piercing said septum sealed vial position between said capillary and said vials, said piercing mean including a hypodermic threaded by said capillary; means for communicating electropotential to said vials whereby said cartridge when filled with electrolyte and sample undergoes electrophoresis between the distal ends of said two capillaries. said communication means including an electrode threading said hypodermic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 8 and wherein said means for communicating electropotential includes a second hypodermic and an electrode threading said second hypodermic.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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