US3839183A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrophoresis sample applicator
Assignee: Beckman Coulter Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-15
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1993-06-15
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides an apparatus and applicator for applying liquid sample to an electrophoretic membrane. The applicator comprises two parallel strips of flexible plastic film separated by a spacer along one edge. At the other edge the strips form fingers between which are suspended liquid samples. The applicator is gripped at the laminated edge by the apparatus at the end of an arm pivotally mounted on a base plate. The arm is connected by mechanical linkage to a handle which controls movement of the arm such that the applicator can be lowered to contact a membrane supported by the base plate with the correct amount of force to deposit the liquid samples cleanly and precisely on the membrane. The gripping element of the apparatus can be adjusted to control the spacing between the fingers and thereby control the amount of sample deposited.
Inventors
- 👤 G Klein
- 👤 R Meyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N27/44704; G01N27/44743
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for applying liquid sample to a membrane, comprising a base plate, an arm pivotally mounted on one end and supported by the base plate, means at the other end of the arm for gripping a sample applicator, a handle connected by a mechanical linkage to the arm such that rotation of the handle results in rotation of the arm, whereby, when a membrane is placed on the base plate, rotation of the handle causes the applicator to contact the membrane and release sample contained by the applicator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for applying liquid sample to a membrane, comprising a base plate, an arm pivotally mounted on one end and supported by the base plate, means at the other end of the arm for gripping a sample applicator, a handle connected by a mechanical linkage to the arm such that rotation of the handle results in rotation of the arm, whereby, when a membrane is placed on the base plate, rotation of the handle causes the applicator to contact the membrane and release sample contained by the applicator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gripping means includes means for adjusting the horizontal alignment of the applicator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gripping means includes means for adjusting the sample holding capacity of the applicator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mechanical connection between the handle and the arm is such that a large rotation of the handle results in a correspondingly smaller rotation of the arm as the arm approaches a horizontal position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base plate includes keypins for accurately positioning the membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gripping means comprises a face at the end of the arm, an adjusting knob threadedly engaged to the face, a jaw between the face and the knob, the jaw being free to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the face about an axis passing through the adjusting knob, means biasing the upper portion of the jaw away from the face.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the face includes a protrusion for fixing the lateral position of the applicator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in combination with a sample applicator comprising two substantially parallel strips of flexible film separated at one edge by a spacer laminated between the strips, each strIp having a plurality of fingers at the opposite edge which define capillary spaces between the strips for containing liquid sample.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein the applicator has a notch at the laminated edge for engaging a protrusion in the gripping means for fixing lateral motion of the applicator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A sample applicator comprising two substantially parallel strips of a flexible film separated at one edge by a spacer laminated between the strips, each strip having a plurality of fingers at the opposite edge which define capillary spaces between the strips for containing liquid sample.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A sample applicator comprising two substantially parallel strips of a flexible film separated at one edge by a spacer laminated between the strips, each strip having a plurality of fingers at the opposite edge which define capillary spaces between the strips for containing liquid sample.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The applicator of claim 10 wherein the fingers of one strip are slightly longer than the fingers of the other strip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The applicator of claim 11 wherein each shorter finger has a hole in it to facilitate loading of sample.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The applicator of claim 12 wherein the inner surfaces of the strips are hydrophilic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The applicator of claim 13 having a notch at the laminated edge adapted to engage a protrusion for fixing lateral motion of the applicator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |