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: Data acquisition and cataloging are used to classify polypeptides into a reference index or database. The database can be used to identify previously unidentified samples. New polypeptides are characterized and added to the database.

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: Methods are disclosed comprising specific technologies including a system for routinely concentrating proteins from human urine ranging down to approximately 2.5 kDa automated systems for immunosubtraction of major proteins form urine and plasma to reveal minor ones, and systems for routinely fractionating protein mixtures on the basis of native molecular weight, isoelectric point that are applicable to a range of human body fluid proteins, particularly those found in urine.

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 alignment plate is provided with a plurality of holes for guiding a pipette tip toward a sample plate of a MALDI mass spectrometer. Each of the holes is provided with a conical upper contour in order to guide the pipette tip toward a specific location on the sample plate. Two companion alignment plates are used in order to overlay two separate arrays of samples on the sample plate. For instance, a first of two alignment plates is formed with a 10×10 array of holes so that a 10×10 array of samples is deposited by the pipette tip onto the sample plate. The second of the two alignment plates is formed with a 9×9 array of holes so that a 9×9 array of samples is deposited on the sample plate at locations offset from the 10×10 array of samples already on the sample plate. The number of samples loaded on the sample plate is large and the space on the sample plate is more fully utilized.

Abstract: A device for forming angled wells in an electrophoresis gel slab includes a device having a plurality of projections oriented at an angle with respect to a longitudinal dimension of the device. A method for forming angled wells in a gel places the device in a gel forming material and allows the material to polymerize to form the electrophoresis gel slab. The device can be removed from the gel slab without distorting or tearing the gel and forming a plurality of substantially uniform sample wells oriented at an angle with respect to the edge of the gel slab. The sample wells are dimensioned to contain a liquid sample for electrophoresis separation. The gel slab can be rotated 90° so that the sample wells are oriented along a vertical edge of the gel slab with the sample wells retaining the liquid sample therein.

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, 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: An automated high-throughput system for excising spots or samples from an electrophoresis slab gel includes a computer controlled robotic arm assembly and a sample plate handling assembly for supplying a sample plate to a loading station. The computer is connected to a scanner and imaging device to identify selected sample locations on the slab gel and to direct the robotic arm to the selected locations for excising the gel spots. The cutting assembly includes a removable tray for supporting the slab gel during the cutting process and is coupled to the automated sample plate handling assembly. The sample plate handling assembly delivers a multiwell plate to the cutting assembly for receiving the gel spots. The removable tray cooperates with a scanner for identifying protein spots and includes a positioning device to position the tray in the scanner and the cutting assembly in selected locations to coordinate the scanned image with the cutting process.

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: 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 computer-implemented method analyzes a scanned image of a 2-D electrophoresis gel producing spot specific data (SSD). The computer creates an object pattern of a suitably processed scanned image and uses the spot information in the object pattern in order to warp a master pattern into alignment with the object pattern (and hence the scanned image). The object pattern is replaced with the warped master pattern, augmented by addition of well-defined spots in the object image not present in the warped master pattern, and optimized to fit a processed version of the scanned image. This new object model thus contains identifying and relative position information from the master pattern and other spot specific data (SSD) from the old object model. The new object pattern thereby forms a basis upon which to compare the scanned image with other scanned images similarly processed.

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 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: An apparatus for expressing and unloading an isoelectric focusing gel from an electrophoresis gel tube includes a first support for supporting the gel tube, a plunger rod and a second support for supporting the plunger rod. The first support is mounted on a movable carriage and is moved toward the second support so that the gel tube slides onto the plunger rod to unload the gel from the gel tube. A plurality of gel tubes can be mounted in a rack and the rack coupled to the first support. The first support preferably includes a plurality of openings oriented with the gel tubes for guiding a respective plunger rod through the axial passage of the gel tubes. In preferred embodiments, the second support supporting the plunger rods is substantially stationary while the first support moves toward the second support so that the gel tubes slide onto the plunger rods.

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.