Patent US4294684A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4294684A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Template for forming multiple gel tracks within a single electrophoretic gel frame

Assignee: The University of Texas System
•
Filing: 1980-06-30
•
Granted: 1981-10-13
•
Expires: 2000-06-30
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A template and method for using the same to form multiple concentration running gel tracks within a single electrophoretic gel bed. A template body comprises a support frame maintaining in parallel alignment a set of elongate bars. A sample well forming comb is provided for use in conjunction with the template body, said comb comprising a set of teeth projecting from a base and aligned in the same fashion as the elongate bars. The template body and comb are positioned in a gel bed with the well comb forming the electrophoretic origin and the bars forming tracts running parallel with the eventual current. A liquified gel is poured into the gel bed being excluded by the template in part, thereby forming the eventual gel running tracts and sample wells. After the gel hardens the template body is removed and the gel running tracks are filled with varying concentrations of gels. After the running gels have hardened the sample well forming comb is removed to allow introduction of a sample for subsquent electrophoresis.

Inventors

  • 👤 Philip Serwer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 17:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N27/44756; G01N27/44782

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 114 words
A template for forming multiple gel tracks in a gel bed, which comprises: a support frame; a plurality of rigid elongate bars, each bar spaced a sufficient distance from an adjacent bar effective to form gel tracks in a gel bed, each bar of which is securely attached to the support frame in a parallel alignment with respect to the other bars; and a sample-well forming comb having a plurality of teeth projecting linearly from a base, said comb adapted to be detachably disposed with respect to the support frame, the teeth of the comb aligned in a manner to form a flush contact with one set of ends presented by the elongate bars.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 114 words
A template for forming multiple gel tracks in a gel bed, which comprises: a support frame; a plurality of rigid elongate bars, each bar spaced a sufficient distance from an adjacent bar effective to form gel tracks in a gel bed, each bar of which is securely attached to the support frame in a parallel alignment with respect to the other bars; and a sample-well forming comb having a plurality of teeth projecting linearly from a base, said comb adapted to be detachably disposed with respect to the support frame, the teeth of the comb aligned in a manner to form a flush contact with one set of ends presented by the elongate bars.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The template of claim 1 wherein: each bar is spaced equidistant from an adjacent bar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The template of claim 1 wherein: the elongate bars comprise a length of rigid material having a nonadhering surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
The template of claim 1 wherein: the elongate bars are substantially rectangular in cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
The template of claim 1 wherein: the support frame and elongate bars form an integral unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 38 words
The template of claim 1 wherein: the base of the sample-well forming comb has a bore running vertically through each end of the base, each bore being adapted for accommodating a guide pin projecting from a gel bed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The template of claim 1 wherein: the teeth of the sample-well forming comb are tapered.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The template of claim 1 which further comprises: a handgrip structure mounted to the surface of the support frame.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 194 words
A method of forming multiple running gel tracks within a single solidified gel frame employing a template which includes a sample-well forming comb and template body presenting a plurality of elongate bars in parallel alignment, said method comprising the steps of: providing an electrophoresis gel tank having a gel bed formed therein; positioning the template body within the gel bed, having the elongate bars addressed longitudinally within the gel bed and parallel with the eventual electrophoretic current path; lowering the sample-well forming comb into the anode end of the gel bed, having the teeth of said comb projecting perpendicular to the floor bed and aligned flush with a set of ends formed by the elongate bars; pouring liquified gel into the gel bed, wherein the gel is excluded by the template thereby forming the eventual gel running tracks and sample well origins impressed into a solidified gel frame; removing the template body from the gel bed after solidification of the surrounding gel while retaining the sample-well forming comb in position thereby exposing a plurality of mold running tracks impressed in a solidified gel frame; filling each running track with a dilute concentration of gel.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 194 words
A method of forming multiple running gel tracks within a single solidified gel frame employing a template which includes a sample-well forming comb and template body presenting a plurality of elongate bars in parallel alignment, said method comprising the steps of: providing an electrophoresis gel tank having a gel bed formed therein; positioning the template body within the gel bed, having the elongate bars addressed longitudinally within the gel bed and parallel with the eventual electrophoretic current path; lowering the sample-well forming comb into the anode end of the gel bed, having the teeth of said comb projecting perpendicular to the floor bed and aligned flush with a set of ends formed by the elongate bars; pouring liquified gel into the gel bed, wherein the gel is excluded by the template thereby forming the eventual gel running tracks and sample well origins impressed into a solidified gel frame; removing the template body from the gel bed after solidification of the surrounding gel while retaining the sample-well forming comb in position thereby exposing a plurality of mold running tracks impressed in a solidified gel frame; filling each running track with a dilute concentration of gel.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2147458A Cited
US3495446A Cited
US3616387A Cited
US3888759A Cited
US4061561A Cited
US4136007A Cited
US4199428A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-10-12 1985-04-13 1985-10-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-10-12 1989-04-13 1989-10-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-10-12 1993-04-13 1993-10-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag