Abstract: A storage vessel is provided to reduce evaporation of volatile substances such as matrix solution used for preparing samples originating from electrophoresis gel slabs for mass spectrometry. The storage vessel is configured with a reservoir having a recess to accommodate the volatile substance. The reservoir includes a channel for receiving a heat exchange fluid to cool the liquid. The reservoir member has an inlet and an outlet for connection to a circulating chiller bath. The storage vessel is configured for transport using the conveyor of a biological sample preparation apparatus, such as an autopipetting device.

Abstract: A float is used for preparing a density gradient in a parallel-walled vessel. The float has an outer peripheral surface that has a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of an inner surface of the vessel. With the float placed inside the vessel a liquid is introduced onto the float such that the liquid flows around the float between the float and the inner wall of the vessel. The shape and configuration of the float slows the velocity of the liquid such that there is only laminar flow as the liquid contacts other liquid below the float. Elimination of turbulent flow prevents mixing of different liquid introduced into the same vessel thereby forming layers of fluid. Preferably, the vessel is a centrifuge tube. In one embodiment, the outer diameter of the float is large enough to cause capillary action between the float and the inner surface of the centrifuge tube to force liquid to remain between the float and the inner surface of the centrifuge tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated, fully automated, high-throughput system for two-dimensional electrophoresis comprised of gel-making machines, gel processing machines, gel compositions and geometries, gel handling systems, sample preparation systems, software and methods. The system is capable of continuous operation at high-throughput to allow construction of large quantitative data sets.

Abstract: Microarrays are made from sections of a molded block having many channels. These channels, which are formed by casting and/or embedding a rod in a moldable solid, are used to immobilize biological and chemical binding components after rod removal. The microarrays can be used in general biological assays, clinical evaluations and chemical library analyses.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated, fully automated, high-throughput system for two-dimensional electrophoresis comprised of gel-making machines, gel processing machines, gel compositions and geometries, gel handling systems, sample preparation systems, software and methods. The system is capable of continuous operation at high-throughput to allow construction of large quantitative data sets.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for carrying out a first dimension electrophoresis separation of proteins and other macromolecules includes a supply magazine, an automated transferring device and an electrophoresis tank. The supply magazine includes a carousel for storing sample containers, a bar code reader, a holding device and an arm for transferring the sample container from the carousel to the bar code reader and the holding device. The transferring device includes a reciprocating pipette that is able to remove a sample from a sample container and deliver the sample to a selected gel tube in the electrophoresis tank. The tank includes a rack supporting a plurality of gel tubes and includes a chamber for containing a buffer solution in contact with one end of the gel tubes. The chamber includes a top wall with an opening having a guide surface for guiding the pipette through the chamber to the top end of the gel tubes.

Abstract: A computer-implemented image processing method and apparatus for combining a plurality of gel electrophoresis images. The method includes the steps of fitting the gel electrophoresis pixel intensity values for a subject pixel to a mathematical function, computing from the mathematical function a pixel intensity value according to a predetermined rule, and inserting the pixel intensity value into the composite image. The apparatus includes an image capturing device, and a computer having a memory and communicating with the image capturing device, the computer capable of receiving and storing into the memory a plurality of gel electrophoresis images from the image capturing device, the computer being further capable of fitting a plurality of intensity values of a pixel to a mathematical function over time and computing an optimal pixel intensity value for use in the composite image.

Abstract: A gel slab sealing strip adapted for use in an electrophoresis tank is provided according to the invention. The sealing strip includes a body having a height, at least one flap extending outwardly from the body and having a height substantially equal to the body, and a core extending at least partially through the body, wherein the sealing strip is adapted to be inserted into a corresponding receptacle in a bottom of the electrophoresis tank.

Abstract: An automated, computer controlled assembly is provided for continuously processing a large number of electrophoresis gels. The assembly includes a loading assembly for loading a gel onto a carrier, a gel staining assembly and a scanning and cutting assembly. The staining assembly and the scanning and cutting assembly each include a robotic arm that is able to capture a gel and transfer the gel to selected work stations and can transfer the gel between the respective robotic arms.

Abstract: A method for separating microorganisms, especially infectious agents, from a mixture by two dimensional centrifugation on the basis of sedimentation rate and isopycnic banding density, for sedimenting such microorganisms through zones of immobilized reagents to which they are resistant, for detecting banded particles by light scatter or fluorescence using nucleic acid specific dyes, and for recovering the banded particles in very small volumes for characterization by mass spectrometry of viral protein subunits and intact viral particles, and by fluorescence flow cytometric determination of both nucleic acid mass and the masses of fragments produced by restriction enzymes. The method is based on the discovery that individual microorganisms, such as bacterial and viral species, are each physically relatively homogeneous, and are distinguishable in their biophysical properties from other biological particles, and from non-biological particles found in nature.

Abstract: A float is used for preparing a density gradient in a parallel-walled vessel. The float has an outer peripheral surface that has a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of an inner surface of the vessel. With the float placed inside the vessel a liquid is introduced onto the float such that the liquid flows around the float between the float and the inner wall of the vessel. The shape and configuration of the float slows the velocity of the liquid such that there is only laminar flow as the liquid contacts other liquid below the float. Elimination of turbulent flow prevents mixing of different liquid introduced into the same vessel thereby forming layers of fluid. Preferably, the vessel is a centrifuge tube. In one embodiment, the outer diameter of the float is large enough to cause capillary action between the float and the inner surface of the centrifuge tube to force liquid to remain between the float and the inner surface of the centrifuge tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated, fully automated, high-throughput system for two-dimensional electrophoresis comprised of gel-making machines, gel processing machines, gel compositions and geometries, gel handling systems, sample preparation systems, software and methods. The system is capable of continuous operation at high-throughput to allow construction of large quantitative data sets.

Abstract: A slab gel processing tank is provided according to the invention. The slab gel processing tank comprises a bottom, two substantially parallel end panels, and two substantially parallel side panels having substantially vertical lower portions and outwardly angled upper portions, with the upper portions being textured to minimize contact with a gel slab, wherein the tank is adapted to be filled with a gel processing working fluid.

Abstract: A computer-implemented image processing method and apparatus for warping a plurality of gel electrophoresis images is provided. The method includes the steps of assigning tiepoints in a reference image and in one or more object images. The tiepoints in the object image are evaluated one-by-one by comparison to regions about a corresponding tiepoint in the reference image, and the location of the tiepoint in the object image is adjusted by slight movement to a location with respect to recognizable features in both the reference and object image thereby defining a tiepoint pair linking a location in the reference image with a location in the object image. outlier tiepoint pairs may be rejected if that pair does not meet predetermined conditions. Warping functions are generated and then globally optimized. The plurality of images are tied together using the tiepoint pairs such that all of the images may be subsequently warped into registration to a single base image selected from the plurality of images.