Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A method of removing at least one molecular species from a sample, comprising the steps of: moving the sample to a first location; transporting said one molecular species to a second location spaced from the first location on a first side of a membrane having pores sufficiently small to hold said molecular species; said step of transporting said one molecular species including the steps of establishing an electrical field between said first location and a third location spaced a greater distance from said first side of said membrane than said first location and establishing a path for ion flow between the third location and the second side of said membrane, whereby the one molecular species is moved by electrophoresis from the sample to a position against the first side of the membrane; removing at least a portion of the first molecular species from the first side of the membrane; the step of transporting said one molecular species to a second location including the step of transporting said one molecular species to a second location spaced from the first location on a first side of a first membrane; said step of moving the sample to a first location including the step of placing said sample on a first side of a second membrane; and the step of establishing an electrical field between the first location and a third location including the step of establishing an electrical potential between the second side of the second membrane and the second side of the first membrane.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
252 words
A method of removing at least one molecular species from a sample, comprising the steps of: moving the sample to a first location; transporting said one molecular species to a second location spaced from the first location on a first side of a membrane having pores sufficiently small to hold said molecular species; said step of transporting said one molecular species including the steps of establishing an electrical field between said first location and a third location spaced a greater distance from said first side of said membrane than said first location and establishing a path for ion flow between the third location and the second side of said membrane, whereby the one molecular species is moved by electrophoresis from the sample to a position against the first side of the membrane; removing at least a portion of the first molecular species from the first side of the membrane; the step of transporting said one molecular species to a second location including the step of transporting said one molecular species to a second location spaced from the first location on a first side of a first membrane; said step of moving the sample to a first location including the step of placing said sample on a first side of a second membrane; and the step of establishing an electrical field between the first location and a third location including the step of establishing an electrical potential between the second side of the second membrane and the second side of the first membrane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the step of establishing a potential between the first and third locations further includes the step of establishing a potential difference between a first buffer solution in intimate contact with the second side of the first membrane and a second buffer solution in intimate contact with the second side of the second membrane, said first and second solutions being insulated from each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 2 further including the step of placing a protective material against the first side of the first membrane, whereby said one molecular species is moved into said protective material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 3 further including the step of continuously passing different portions of said sample through said first location, whereby said one molecular species is continuously moved from a flowing sample.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
214 words
A method of removing at least one molecular species from a sample, comprising the steps of: moving the sample to a first location; transporting said one molecular species to a second location spaced from the first location on a first side of a membrane having pores sufficiently small to hold said molecular species; said step of transporting said one molecular species including the steps of establishing an electrical field between said first location and a third location spaced a greater distance from said first side of said membrane than said first location and establishing a path for ion flow between the third location and the second side of said membrane, whereby the one molecular species is moved by electrophoresis from the sample to a position against the first side of the membrane; removing at least a portion of the first molecular species from the first side of the membrane; said step of moving the sample to a first location including the step of placing said sample on a first side of a second membrane; and the step of establishing an electrical field between the first location and the third location including the step of establishing an electrical potential between the second side of the second membrane and the second side of the first-mentioned membrane.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
214 words
A method of removing at least one molecular species from a sample, comprising the steps of: moving the sample to a first location; transporting said one molecular species to a second location spaced from the first location on a first side of a membrane having pores sufficiently small to hold said molecular species; said step of transporting said one molecular species including the steps of establishing an electrical field between said first location and a third location spaced a greater distance from said first side of said membrane than said first location and establishing a path for ion flow between the third location and the second side of said membrane, whereby the one molecular species is moved by electrophoresis from the sample to a position against the first side of the membrane; removing at least a portion of the first molecular species from the first side of the membrane; said step of moving the sample to a first location including the step of placing said sample on a first side of a second membrane; and the step of establishing an electrical field between the first location and the third location including the step of establishing an electrical potential between the second side of the second membrane and the second side of the first-mentioned membrane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method according to claim 5 in which the step of establishing a potential between the second and third locations further includes the step of establishing a potential difference between a first buffer solution in intimate contact between the second side of the first membrane and a second buffer solution in intimate contact with the second side of the second membrane, said first and second solutions being insulated from each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 6 further including the step of placing a protective material against the first side of the first-mentioned membrane, whereby said one molecular species is moved into said protective material.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of removing at least one molecular species from a sample, comprising the steps of: moving the sample to a first location; transporting said one molecular species to a second location spaced from the first location on a first side of a membrane having pores sufficiently small to hold said molecular species; said step of transporting said one molecular species including the steps of establishing an electrical field between said first location and a third location spaced a greater distance from said first side of said membrane than said first location and establishing a path for ion flow between the third location and the second side of said membrane, whereby the one molecular species is moved by electrophoresis from the sample to a position against the first side of the membrane; removing at least a portion of the first molecular species from the first side of the membrane; and placing a protective material against the first side of the first-mentioned membrane, whereby said one molecular species is moved into said protective material.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of removing at least one molecular species from a sample, comprising the steps of: moving the sample to a first location; transporting said one molecular species to a second location spaced from the first location on a first side of a membrane having pores sufficiently small to hold said molecular species; said step of transporting said one molecular species including the steps of establishing an electrical field between said first location and a third location spaced a greater distance from said first side of said membrane than said first location and establishing a path for ion flow between the third location and the second side of said membrane, whereby the one molecular species is moved by electrophoresis from the sample to a position against the first side of the membrane; removing at least a portion of the first molecular species from the first side of the membrane; and placing a protective material against the first side of the first-mentioned membrane, whereby said one molecular species is moved into said protective material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 8 further including the step of removing at least a portion of the first molecular species from the first side of the first-mentioned membrane.