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US4588491A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Horizontal gel electrophoresis device

Assignee: International Biotechnologies Inc
•
Filing: 1984-02-27
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Granted: 1986-05-13
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Expires: 2004-02-27
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Abstract

Abstract This application discloses a horizontal gel slab electrophoresis device comprised of a base containing two buffer chambers having a central divider means positioned below a horizontal self. The horizontal shaft is provided with means for cooling. A movable gel tray is positioned on top of the shelf for containing the gel slab and samples to be analyzed. An electrode is positioned in each buffer chamber adjacent to the central divider means. A valve means is positioned in the central divider means for controlling fluid flow between the buffer chambers. In addition, a port is positioned in each buffer chamber for feeding fluids into each of the buffer chambers. The device is useful in the electrophoresis analysis of samples contained in the gel slab within the movable gel tray.

Inventors

  • 👤 John H. Kreisher
  • 👤 Hal D. Belle Isle
  • 👤 Charles A. Nalbantian

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 12:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N27/44756; G01N27/44704

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 124 words
A horizontal gel electrophoresis device comprising a generally flat shelf, two side-by-side, horizontally disposed buffer chambers for containing buffer fluid positioned directly beneath said shelf with said shelf running between said chambers to provide buffer fluid directly beneath said shelf, a movable gel tray positioned on said shelf for containing gel and analyzing samples, an electrode in each buffer chamber, a removable top for said buffer chambers, a central divider means positioned directly below said shelf separating each of said buffer chambers and together with said shelf forming a fluid-tight separation therebetween, a valve means in said central divider means for controlling fluid flow between said buffer chambers, and a port in each of said buffer chambers for feeding fluids into said buffer chambers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 124 words
A horizontal gel electrophoresis device comprising a generally flat shelf, two side-by-side, horizontally disposed buffer chambers for containing buffer fluid positioned directly beneath said shelf with said shelf running between said chambers to provide buffer fluid directly beneath said shelf, a movable gel tray positioned on said shelf for containing gel and analyzing samples, an electrode in each buffer chamber, a removable top for said buffer chambers, a central divider means positioned directly below said shelf separating each of said buffer chambers and together with said shelf forming a fluid-tight separation therebetween, a valve means in said central divider means for controlling fluid flow between said buffer chambers, and a port in each of said buffer chambers for feeding fluids into said buffer chambers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said two buffer chambers are formed from a bottom portion, two parallel sides connected to two parallel ends, and wherein said central divider means is secured between said two parallel sides and said bottom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
The device of claim 2 wherein each electrode is comprised of a vertical section connected to a horizontal section, and is positioned adjacent to said oentral divider means and below said shelf.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said vertical section of each electrode is secured within one of said sides adjacent to said central divider means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 57 words
The device of claim 4 wherein each electrode is secured within said side by means of a rod attached to one end of said vertical sections which is positioned within the lower portion of a threaded bolt which is threadably secured against a flexible gasket positioned in the bottom of an electrode opening positioned within said side.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said horizontal section of each electrode is secured within a groove in the bottom of said buffer chamber adjacent to said central divider means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said removable top is provided with hinging means for securing to one of said parallel sides of said buffer chambers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 40 words
The device of claim 7 including a rod secured to the parallel side opposite from the parallel side in which the electrodes are secured, and slotted hinging means secured to one end of said top for rotating about said rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said tray is provided with vertical slots adjacent to each end to inhibit the flow of gel slab from the tray.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said parallel sides have a trapezoidal-shaped portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
The device of claim 10 wherein each end of said buffer chambers is secured to the sides at a point removed from said trapezoidal-shaped portion, leaving a bottom portion outside of each buffer chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
The device of claim 11 wherein a leveling screw is positioned in each bottom portion outside of each buffer chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 33 words
The device of claim 12 wherein a leveling pin is located on the underside of said bottom portion at a point underneath said central dividing means and said vertical portions of said electrodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 22 words
The device of claim 13 wherein a leveling bubble is positioned in one of the bottom portions outside of each buffer chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 24 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the buffer chambers covered with said top serves as a nitrogen plenum for casting acrylamide gels in place.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device of claim 1 including cooling means within said shelf for cooling the buffer and gel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 18 words
The devide of claim 16 including coolant supply means extending through said central divider and into said shelf.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device of claim 17 including coolant removal means extending through said shelf and into said divider.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device of claim 1 including gel and analyzing samples on said tray and buffer fluid in said buffer chambers and covering said gel and analyzing samples.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3047489A Cited
US3374166A Cited
US3751357A Cited
US3873433A Cited
US4151065A Cited
US4234400A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-05-12 1989-11-11 1990-05-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-05-12 1993-11-11 1994-05-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-05-12 1997-11-11 1998-05-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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