Patent US3867271A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3867271A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gel electrophoresis apparatus and method
Assignee: Hoefer Scientific Instruments
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Filing: 1973-08-13
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1993-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A container receives a gel tube holder adapted to hold a plurality of gel tubes. The gel tube holder and container cooperate to form an upper buffer chamber, a central cooling chamber, and a lower buffer chamber. The gel tube holder has a hollow core the interior of which is in communication with the lower buffer chamber. The gel tubes extend between the upper and lower buffer chambers with a substantial portion in the cooling chamber. A cooling medium flows through the cooling chamber for maintaining a constant temperature in the gel contained in the tubes during polymerization and electrophoresis. Means for sealing the bottom of the gel tubes during polymerization is provided. Following polymerization the means for sealing is disengaged and the buffer chambers are filled with separate quantities of buffer solution having identical hydrostatic heads. An electrical potential is applied between the buffer solution in the upper and lower chambers to provide for a potential to the gel along the tubes to perform electrophoresis.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanton Albert Hoefer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N27/44756; G01N27/44782
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A GEL ELECTROPHORESIS APPARATUS COMPRISING A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPEN END, A GEL TUBE HOLDER REMOVABLY FITTED IN SAID CONTAINER, SEALING MEANS COOPERATIG BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER AND SAID GEL TUBE HOLDER TO DEFINE AN UPPER AND LOWER BUFFER CHAMBER WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AND A COOLING CHAMBER DISPOSED THEREBETWEEN, MEANS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID COOLING CHAMBER FOR PROVIDING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET PATH THEREFORE, A PLURALITY OF GEL TUBES EXTENDING THROUGH SAID COOLING CHAMBER HAVING INTERNAL BORES COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A GEL ELECTROPHORESIS APPARATUS COMPRISING A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPEN END, A GEL TUBE HOLDER REMOVABLY FITTED IN SAID CONTAINER, SEALING MEANS COOPERATIG BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER AND SAID GEL TUBE HOLDER TO DEFINE AN UPPER AND LOWER BUFFER CHAMBER WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AND A COOLING CHAMBER DISPOSED THEREBETWEEN, MEANS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID COOLING CHAMBER FOR PROVIDING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET PATH THEREFORE, A PLURALITY OF GEL TUBES EXTENDING THROUGH SAID COOLING CHAMBER HAVING INTERNAL BORES COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 1 together with means disposed in said lower buffer chamber for extracting said gel tube holder from said container and for simultaneously sealing one end of said plurality of gel tubes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 1 together with means cooperating with said container and said gel tube holder for both extracting said gel tube holder from said container and for sealing one end of said plurality of gel tubes, and wherein said means for extracting and sealing, said means for providing an electrical potential between said upper end lower buffer chambers, and said means for providing inlet and outlet paths are all accessible externally of said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said container comprises a jar for passing polymerizing light from a point external of said jar through said cooling chamber to said plurality of gel tubes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said container has a tapered internal diameter diminishing proceeding away from said open end, and wherein said gel tube holder comprises first and second circular discs having an equal number of overlying holes therethrough, a sealing grommet in each of said holes for receiving said gel tubes, a central core for supporting said first and second discs in spaced relation for forming said cooling chamber therebetween, said first disc having a pair of additional holes for receiving said inlet and outlet means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said central core extends from said lower buffer chamber through said upper buffer chamber having an inside diameter in communication with said lower buffer chamber, whereby a buffer solution may be placed in said lower chamber until it rises in said core and said upper and lower buffer chambers are filled to substantially the same levels eliminating the risk of distorting low concentration gels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said first and second discs have O-ring grooves around the circumference, aNd wherein said sealing means comprises O-rings seated in said O-ring grooves, and wherein said central core has a bore extending therethrough for communication with said lower buffer chamber, whereby each of said upper and lower buffer chambers may be filled through the open end of said container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said means for providing an electrical potential between said upper and lower buffer chambers comprises first and second terminals mounted on said central core, first and second conductors attached to said first and second terminals respectively extending adjacent said central core in communication with said upper and lower buffer chambers respectively, whereby an electrical potential applied at said first and second terminals is applied between said upper and lower buffer chambers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
197 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said gel tube holder comprises a hollow central core, first and second discs spaced on said hollow central core having a plurality of overlying holes for sealably receiving said plurality of gel tubes and for mounting said sealing means, and wherein said means for extracting said gel tube holder and for sealing one end of said plurality of gel tubes comprises a sealing disc disposed in said second buffer chamber, a sealing gasket attached to said sealing disc in juxtaposition with said plurality of gel tubes, a rod extending through said hollow core for engaging said sealing disc, a washer formed to fit over said hollow core surrounding said rod, a cover formed to fit the open end of said container, and means for urging said rod axially out of said hollow core for bearing against said washer and said cover, whereby when said means for urging said rod bears against said washer said gasket seals one end of said plurality of gel tubes, and when said means for urging said rod out of said hollow core bears against said cover said disc extracts said gel tube holder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of gel tubes are fire polished glass tubes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
185 words
In a gel electrophoresis apparatus a container for passing polymerizing light having an open end and a tapered internal diameter diminishing away from said open end, a gel tube holder removably fitted in said container, said gel tube holder cooperating with said container internal diameter to form upper and lower buffer chambers and a cooling chamber therebetween, means for sealing between said upper and lower buffer chamber and said cooling chamber, a plurality of gel tubes extending through said cooling chamber in communication with said upper and lower buffer chambers, means cooperating with said container and said gel tube holder for extracting said gel tube holder from said container, means for sealing simultaneously one end of each of said plurality of gel tubes, inlet and outlet means for providing flow of a cooling medium through said cooling chamber, and means for providing an electrical potential between said upper and lower buffer chambers, whereby soluble colloids may in sequence be placed in said plurality of gel tubes, contained therein, polymerized, and exposed at opposite ends of said gel tubes to said upper and lower buffer chambers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
185 words
In a gel electrophoresis apparatus a container for passing polymerizing light having an open end and a tapered internal diameter diminishing away from said open end, a gel tube holder removably fitted in said container, said gel tube holder cooperating with said container internal diameter to form upper and lower buffer chambers and a cooling chamber therebetween, means for sealing between said upper and lower buffer chamber and said cooling chamber, a plurality of gel tubes extending through said cooling chamber in communication with said upper and lower buffer chambers, means cooperating with said container and said gel tube holder for extracting said gel tube holder from said container, means for sealing simultaneously one end of each of said plurality of gel tubes, inlet and outlet means for providing flow of a cooling medium through said cooling chamber, and means for providing an electrical potential between said upper and lower buffer chambers, whereby soluble colloids may in sequence be placed in said plurality of gel tubes, contained therein, polymerized, and exposed at opposite ends of said gel tubes to said upper and lower buffer chambers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said gel tube holder has a hollow central vertical core, and wherein said means for extracting said gel tube holder comprises an extractor disc disposed in said lower buffer chamber, a rod extending through said hollow core in said gel tube holder, a cover formed to fit the open end of said container having a central opening surrounding said rod, and means for engaging said rod and bearing against said cover, said last named means operating to lift said rod and to bring said extractor disc into engagement with the bottom of said gel tube holder for breaking the seal between said holder and said internal tapered bore of said container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said means for providing an electrical potential comprises a pair of electrical terminals and conductors connected independently to said terminals extending one each into said upper and lower buffer chambers, and wherein said cover has openings provided for said terminals to extend therethrough, whereby when said cover is installed and an electrical potential is applied between said terminals no part of the electrical circuit is exposed externally of the apparatus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
141 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said means for sealing simultaneously one end of said plurality of gel tubes comprises a sealing disc, a sealing gasket on said sealing disc in juxtaposition with the ends of said plurality of gel tubes which are in communication with said lower buffer chamber, and wherein said gel tube holder has a hollow central vertical core, a rod extending through said hollow core of said gel tube holder for engaging said sealing disc, a washer formed to fit the upper end of said hollow core surrounding said rod, and means for engaging said rod and for bearing against said washer, whereby when said last named means bears against said washer said sealed gasket is brought into simultaneous contact with the ends of said plurality of gel tubes for holding fluids for polymerization.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
A gel electrophoresis apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said gel tube holder has a hollow central vertical core, wherein said upper buffer chamber may be filled with a buffer solution to a specified level, and wherein said lower buffer chamber may be filled with a buffer solution to substantially the same level in said gel tube holder hollow core, whereby the hydrostatic head on the gel contained in the plurality of gel tubes is equalized on the ends thereof for elimination of the risk of distorting low concentration gels.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
120 words
The method of performing gel electrophoresis which comprises the steps of placing empty gel tubes in a gel tube holder, sealing the lower ends of the gel tubes, pouring a soluble colloid into the gel tubes, maintaining the gel tubes at a constant temperature, polymerizing the soluble colloid in the gel tubes, unsealing the lower end of the gel tubes, communicating the lower end of the gel tubes with a buffer solution, placing a sample in the upper ends of the gel tubes, communicating the upper end of the gel tubes with a buffer solution, equalizing the hydrostatic head of the buffer solutions, removing all trapped bubbles in the buffer solutions, and applying an electrical potential between the buffer solutions.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
120 words
The method of performing gel electrophoresis which comprises the steps of placing empty gel tubes in a gel tube holder, sealing the lower ends of the gel tubes, pouring a soluble colloid into the gel tubes, maintaining the gel tubes at a constant temperature, polymerizing the soluble colloid in the gel tubes, unsealing the lower end of the gel tubes, communicating the lower end of the gel tubes with a buffer solution, placing a sample in the upper ends of the gel tubes, communicating the upper end of the gel tubes with a buffer solution, equalizing the hydrostatic head of the buffer solutions, removing all trapped bubbles in the buffer solutions, and applying an electrical potential between the buffer solutions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |