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EP0361046A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Constrained uniform field gel electrophoresis

Assignee: MJ Research Inc
•
Filing: 1989-08-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-08-10
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Abstract

Abstract A gel electrophoresis apparatus for separating DNA molecules of high molecular weight having means for generating at least two electric fields oriented transversely to each other, and a gel box, shaped, and contoured to simultaneously form both the electric fields into uniform electric fields.

Inventors

  • 👤 John D. Finney
  • 👤 Michael J. Finney

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 21:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N27/44756; G01N27/44773

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 53 words
Gel electrophoresis apparatus for separating DNA molecules of high molecular weight comprising: means for generating a first electric field and a second electric field, said fields being oriented transversely to each other, and a gel box shaped and contoured to simultaneously form both said first and second fields into generally uniform electric fields.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 53 words
Gel electrophoresis apparatus for separating DNA molecules of high molecular weight comprising: means for generating a first electric field and a second electric field, said fields being oriented transversely to each other, and a gel box shaped and contoured to simultaneously form both said first and second fields into generally uniform electric fields.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means comprises at least four electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 62 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gel box has a wall defining the shape of said gel box and an outer perimeter of said gel box, said perimeter and a base together defining a volume for accepting a gel and buffer, said perimeter having the shape of two rectangles placed on top of each other at an angle of between 90°-135°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said electrodes are positioned in the region of the outer perimeter of said box.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said rectangles are identical in shape, and at least one corner of one rectangle coincides with a corner of the other rectangle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
The apparatus of claim 1, said gel box comprising a baffle means formed of electrically non-conducting material, said baffle means positioned and arranged to limit formation of a non uniform electric field in said gel box.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 6, said baffle means being oriented along the overall direction of one electric field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 35 words
The apparatus of claim 7, said baffle means oriented along the overall direction of said first electric field and being positioned and arranged to limit formation of a non-uniform field in said second electric field.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 17 words
The apparatus of claims 7 or 8, wherein said baffle means comprises a plurality of baffle elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 33 words
The apparatus of claim 9, said plurality of baffle elements being oriented along the overall direction of said first electric field and arranged to constrain said second electric field to be generally uniform.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 6, said baffle means being in contact with the outer perimeter of said gel box.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 6, said baffle means being in contact with the base of said gel box.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 12, said baffle means having a height equal to that of said gel box.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 43 words
The apparatus of claim 9, a said plurality of baffle elements being in contact with the outer perimeter of said gel box and extending along the overall direction of said first uniform electric field, to the edge of said second uniform electric field.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 48 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each said electrode is separated from other electrodes of the same polarity by a baffle element formed of electrically non-conducting material, said baffle element preventing direct electric conduction between electrodes of the same plurality through a medium positioned in said gel box.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gel box comprises two non-conducting plates positioned to sandwich a gel therebetween.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said gel box is sized and shaped for separating DNA molecules of less than 1,500 bases in length, and comprises baffle means between said plates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said gel box comprises polyacrylamide gel.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 63 words
A method for separating DNA molecules of high molecular weight, comprising the steps of: positioning said DNA molecules within a gel matrix, providing means for generating alternating, transversely applied uniform electric fields, and positioning said gel matrix in a gel box shaped and contoured to simultaneously form two generally transverse uniform electric fields and subjecting said gel matrix to said alternating electric fields.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 63 words
A method for separating DNA molecules of high molecular weight, comprising the steps of: positioning said DNA molecules within a gel matrix, providing means for generating alternating, transversely applied uniform electric fields, and positioning said gel matrix in a gel box shaped and contoured to simultaneously form two generally transverse uniform electric fields and subjecting said gel matrix to said alternating electric fields.

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