Abstract: The present invention involves a gel strip carrier module for a gel strip that reduces the handling of the gel strip and the hands-on-time during preparation of the gel strip for isoelectric focusing. The gel carrier module includes a gel strip chamber that serves as both a rehydration and focusing chamber, and allows the sample to be applied either throughout the entire gel or in a defined zone. The gel carrier module includes a pair of electrodes near opposite ends of the chamber that the gel strip rests on, gel side facing down. The gel carrier module includes a cover with hold-down blocks or pressure blocks to assure reliable, light contact between the gel and the electrodes during focusing. A rehydration buffer is added into the chamber, and the gel strip is gently placed in the chamber, gel side down, for rehydration.

Abstract: The present invention involves a gel casting and electrophoresis device that simplifies the gel cassette casting and electrophoresis process by providing an integral frame assembly that includes a bottom sealing means movable to a first position where the sealing means seals the bottom of the gel cassette for gel casting purposes and a second position which exposes the bottom of the gel cassette for electrophoresis purposes.

Abstract: The present invention involves a power application device including a flat power pad having an electrically insulating support that supports first and second conductive regions. The first conductive region is connected to a positive output terminal of a power supply, and the second conductive region is connected to a negative terminal of the same power supply. The power application device may be used with electrophoresis gel carrier modules of various dimensions having first and second conductive paths leading from the vicinity of each end of the gel to separate external electrical contacts points. The external electrical contact points can each make contact with the conductive regions upon which the electrophoresis gel module sits. When properly positioned on the power pad, the electrophoresis gel module spans the distance between two conductive regions of opposite charge and the external contact points of the electrophoresis module make electrical contact with the conductive regions.

Abstract: An electrophoresis gel cassette that includes a bottom plate with an attached base portion, a cover plate, and a gel chamber formed between the two plates. There is at least one opening, which is in communication with the gel chamber, encompassed in the base portion, thereby making the opening seamless or free of parting lines. Upon assembling the cassette, a contact face of the base portion of the bottom plate and a contact face of the cover plate can be sealed by sonic welding or adhesives to produce a water-tight seal and to facilitate casting.

Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus which overcomes the safety problems of the conventional apparatus by including a screen for preventing the operator from contacting the exposed surface of the gel chamber to avoid burns or electric shock. Shock due to contact with buffer solutions is also avoided by use of a power engaging mechanism which prevents the operator from accessing either of the buffer reservoirs when one or both of the buffer solutions are connected to the power source. The power engaging mechanism ensures that it is only possible to connect the buffer solutions to the power source when both reservoir covers are in their closed positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for efficiently circulating and moving a fluid across a workpiece. The apparatus can provide for the automated handling of the fluids used, and is well suited for use in the staining and fixing of biological assays such as electrophoresis gels. The tray of the invention includes first and second side walls, first and second end walls, a first curved wall portion connecting the first side wall and the first end wall, and a second curved wall portion connecting the second side wall and the second end wall. The inclusion of the curved surface in the combination causes mixing to occur efficiently when the tray is "rocked" from side to side as in the conventional apparatus. Thus, the apparatus of the invention may also include a motor for alternately raising and lowering each end wall of the tray in a rocking motion, thereby causing the fluid to alternately flow towards and away from each end wall.