US4059501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated electrophoresis unit
Assignee: Beckman Coulter Inc
•
Filing: 1976-08-16
•
Granted: 1977-11-22
•
Expires: 1996-08-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for accomplishing electrophoresis in an automated manner. A supported electrophoretic medium, having been implanted with sample to be analyzed, is moved through a chamber wherein the electrophoresis takes place. The apparatus comprises an electrophoresis separation chamber containing a pair of elongated electrolyte wells, electrolyte contained within the wells, electrodes disposed within the electrolyte and connectable to an appropriate source of power, and a wicking arrangement communicating with each of the electrolyte wells to provide a continuous electrical contact zone. A moving belt arrangement is provided capable of moving support strips having the electrophoretic medium disposed thereon from one end of the separation chamber to the other while keeping one end of the strips in electrical contact with one wick and the opposite end in electrical contact with the second wick whereby a continuous electrical field is applied across the strips and electrophoretic medium as they move through the separation chamber and the electrophoresis separation is caused to take place. In the preferred embodiment, the strips containing the electrophoretic medium are releasably carried by a flexible backing material so that the strips can be moved into and through the separation chamber individually or in groups.
Inventors
- 👤 Allen Strickler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N27/44756; G01N27/44782
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
Automated electrophoresis apparatus comprising: a. an elongated electrophoretic separation chamber having an inlet and an outlet and including a pair of electrolyte wells; b. electrolyte contained within said wells; c. means for moving a strip of electrophoretic medium through said separation chamber from said inlet to said outlet; d. electrode means disposed in electrical contact with said electrolyte in said wells and adapted to be connected to a source of d.c. power; e. a pair of wicks disposed one to each of said wells to provide constant electrical contact between said electrolyte in said wells and the electrophoretic medium as it moves through said chamber whereby an unchanging electrical field will be established in a portion of the electrophoretic medium while it is moving through said chamber; f. a flexible backing material releasably carrying strips of electrophoretic medium; g. an input plate in parallel relationship with said moving means and having an edge adjacent the input of said chamber whereby said flexible backing material can be moved across said plate carrying said strips of electrophoretic medium toward said inlet and said moving means then bend around said edge to a new direction substantially normal to said moving means to cause said strips of electrophoretic medium to be released from said flexible backing material and continue into said inlet of said electrophoretic separation chamber to engage said moving means; and, h. means for moving said flexible backing material across said input plate in the manner described.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
Automated electrophoresis apparatus comprising: a. an elongated electrophoretic separation chamber having an inlet and an outlet and including a pair of electrolyte wells; b. electrolyte contained within said wells; c. means for moving a strip of electrophoretic medium through said separation chamber from said inlet to said outlet; d. electrode means disposed in electrical contact with said electrolyte in said wells and adapted to be connected to a source of d.c. power; e. a pair of wicks disposed one to each of said wells to provide constant electrical contact between said electrolyte in said wells and the electrophoretic medium as it moves through said chamber whereby an unchanging electrical field will be established in a portion of the electrophoretic medium while it is moving through said chamber; f. a flexible backing material releasably carrying strips of electrophoretic medium; g. an input plate in parallel relationship with said moving means and having an edge adjacent the input of said chamber whereby said flexible backing material can be moved across said plate carrying said strips of electrophoretic medium toward said inlet and said moving means then bend around said edge to a new direction substantially normal to said moving means to cause said strips of electrophoretic medium to be released from said flexible backing material and continue into said inlet of said electrophoretic separation chamber to engage said moving means; and, h. means for moving said flexible backing material across said input plate in the manner described.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
Automated electrophoresis apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein additionally: a. said contact means comprises a pair of wicks disposed one to each of said wells; and, b. each of said electrolyte wells has an inlet disposed adjacent said wick and an outlet disposed away from said wick, said inlets and outlets including connecting means adapted to be operably connected to means for recirculating said electrolyte whereby an electrode rinsing action by the movement of said electrolyte across said electrodes and away from said wicks will be created within said electrolyte wells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
Automated electrophoresis apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said connecting means includes means for suppressing the shunting of electrical current through said recirculating means via paths external to the path represented by said electrolyte in said electrolyte wells, said wicks and said electrophoretic medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
Automated electrophoresis apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and additionally comprising: a. an enclosure surrounding said electrophoretic separation chamber and including means for maintaining a controlled environment therein to maintain the electrophoretic medium under conditions favorable for electrophoresis, said enclosure further carrying said moving means; and, b. a base disposed within said enclosure and carrying said electrolyte wells and said contact means, said base including leveling means whereby the position of said base and said contact means within said enclosure can be changed to assure constant electrical contact between said contact means and the electrophoretic medium as the electrophoretic medium is carried through said electrophoretic separation chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
169 words
Automatic electrophoresis apparatus comprising: a. an elongated electrophoretic separation chamber having an inlet and an outlet and including a pair of electrolyte wells; b. electrolyte contained within said wells; c. means for moving a transverse strip of electrophoretic medium through said separation chamber from said inlet to said outlet; d. electrode means disposed in electrical contact with said electrolyte in said wells and adapted to be connected to a source of d.c. power; e. means for providing constant electrical contact between said electrolyte in said wells and the electrophoretic medium as it moves through said chamber whereby an unchanging electrical field will be established in a portion of the electrophoretic medium while it is moving through said chamber; f. a backing material releasably carrying strips of electrophoretic medium; and, g. means for moving said backing material to said inlet of said chamber including means for releasing individual strips of the electrophoretic medium disposed adjacent said inlet whereby a released strip will enter said inlet to engage said moving means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
169 words
Automatic electrophoresis apparatus comprising: a. an elongated electrophoretic separation chamber having an inlet and an outlet and including a pair of electrolyte wells; b. electrolyte contained within said wells; c. means for moving a transverse strip of electrophoretic medium through said separation chamber from said inlet to said outlet; d. electrode means disposed in electrical contact with said electrolyte in said wells and adapted to be connected to a source of d.c. power; e. means for providing constant electrical contact between said electrolyte in said wells and the electrophoretic medium as it moves through said chamber whereby an unchanging electrical field will be established in a portion of the electrophoretic medium while it is moving through said chamber; f. a backing material releasably carrying strips of electrophoretic medium; and, g. means for moving said backing material to said inlet of said chamber including means for releasing individual strips of the electrophoretic medium disposed adjacent said inlet whereby a released strip will enter said inlet to engage said moving means.
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) | 1980-11-21 | 1981-05-23 | 1981-11-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-21 | 1985-05-23 | 1985-11-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-21 | 1989-05-23 | 1989-11-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |