Abstract: An electrophoretic device and method for focusing a charged solute is disclosed. The device includes a first chamber for receiving a fluid medium, the first chamber having an inlet for introducing a first liquid to the chamber and an outlet for exiting the first liquid from the chamber; a second chamber comprising an electrode array, the second chamber having an inlet for introducing a second liquid to the chamber and an outlet for exiting the second liquid from the chamber; and a porous material separating the first and second chambers. The device's electrode array includes a plurality of electrodes and generates an electric field gradient profile which can be dynamically controlled. In the method, a charged solute is introduced into a fluid medium followed by the application of a hydrodynamic force. Opposing the hydrodynamic force with an electric field gradient results in solute focusing in the fluid medium.

Abstract: A device and apparatus for producing ultra-thin electrophoresis gels formed between spaced-apart plates is provided, where at least one of the plates has a plurality of grooves, the device comprising a spacer comb having extensions formed thereon which are arranged, sized, shaped and located so as to approximately mate with and occupy the grooves on the plate so as to exclude gel material from the grooves during the formation of the electrophoresis gel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the electronic sample preparation of biological materials utilize the differential charge-to-mass ratio and/or the differential affinity of sample constituents to separation materials for sample preparation. An integrated system is provided for performing some or all of the processes of: receipt of biological materials, cell selection, sample purification, sample concentration, buffer exchange, complexity reduction and/or diagnosis and analysis. In one embodiment, one or more sample chambers adapted to receive a buffer solution are formed adjacent to a spacer region which may include a trap or other affinity material, electrophoretic motion of the materials to be prepared being effected through operation of electrodes. In another aspect of this invention, a transporter or dipstick serves to collect and permit transport of materials, such as nucleic acids, most preferably DNA and/or RNA.

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: An electrophoresis microgel is formed in a gel holder. The gel holder comprises a top substrate, a bottom substrate and a spacer disposed between the top substrate and the bottom substrate. The spacer establishes a separation of from 25 to 250 microns between the top substrate and the bottom substrate. A gel compartment is formed by partially sealing the top substrate to the bottom substrate, while leaving an opening for the introduction of unpolymerized gel. The gel compartment is then filled with an unpolymerized gel, which is polymerized in the gel compartment. Electrodes may be printed on the substrates, may be contacts to an exposed edge of gel, or may be applied through windows cut into one of the substrates. One type of gel holder makes use of graded beads having a diameter of 25 to 250 microns slurried in an adhesive such as an acrylate adhesive as the spacer. The slurry is printed onto the surface of one or both substrates to form a spacer of the desired shape, and then hardened using heat or light.

Abstract: The present invention provides electrophoresis systems and methods for forming at least one gel therein and for conducting electrophoresis on the gel without removing the gel from the electrophoresis system. The systems of the present invention include an electrophoresis platform which is a surface onto which one or more electrophoresis gels can be cast, and at least one gel casting/electrophoresis member for use in casting at least one gel on the electrophoresis platform and conducting electrophoresis on the gel. The present invention also includes optional members specific to other stages of the electrophoresis process, including a gel staining member and a gel drying member.

Abstract: A substantially closed cassette for conducting therein electrophoresis separation which includes a closed chamber, the chamber includes therein a body of gel, at least one ion source having a volume smaller than the volume of the gel for providing ions for driving the electrophoresis separation and electrodes for connecting the cassette to an external electrical power source, thereby enabling to drive the electrophoresis separation.

Abstract: Automated electrophoresis is performed by applying a cover plate to a substrate having a plurality of electrophoresis lanes, applying at least one sample to the plurality of electrophoresis lanes, electrophoresing the at least one sample, removing the cover plate from the substrate, and washing the substrate. Thereafter, the aforementioned steps are repeated using the same substrate.

Abstract: An improved plastic mold for the polymerization of electrophoresis gels. The improved electrophoresis gel mold comprises non-conductive plastic film. The film is supported by a rigid plastic frame. The frame maintains the integrity of the electrophoresis gel. The molds of the present invention are particularly useful in the manufacture of precast electrophoresis gels.

Abstract: A spacer-comb element including (i) a longitudinal central axis and (ii) three or more, preferably four, teeth arrays radially extending about the central axis and extending along a length thereof, serves to emplace arrayed slit apertures within flat sheets of a gel state material that is itself suitable to receive samples upon which electrophoresis may be performed. The spacer-comb element is placed between the sidewalls of, and engaged by, a tray holding the gel material in a central reservoir so that the teeth of only a selected one array extend downwards into the tray. An opposite, upwards-extending, teeth array engages the underside of an overlying tray, preferably at an optional complimentary groove feature on the tray's underside, so as to support the tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting samples by gel electrophoresis has a base table, a cutting tool or an extractor disposed above the base table, a moving mechanism, a pattern detector and a control device. The base table is for placing thereon a gel in the form of a slab with one of its sandwiching support plates removed therefrom in such a way that the gel is exposed in the upward direction. The cutter is for cutting out a specified portion of the gel, and the extractor is for extracting a specified migration band in such a specified portion of the gel by electrophoresis. The moving mechanism is for moving the cutter, or the extractor, three-dimensionally. The pattern detector is for optically detecting migration patterns in the gel on the base table so as to enable the user to determine which part of the gel or which migration band thereon is of interest.

Abstract: A novel device and method for biomolecule purification is provided as a handy tool for routine applications when both a high resolution and an easy manipulation are required. A sample is applied into a device and the different biomolecules are separated from each other and stored in segregated liquid fractions in the device automatically after 1 hour electrophoresis. These purified biomolecules in liquid fractions are then easily released from the device in 4 minutes.

Abstract: A substantially closed cassette for conducting therein electrophoresis separation which includes a closed chamber, the chamber includes therein a body of gel, means for providing ions for driving the electrophoresis separation and electrodes for connecting the cassette to an external electrical power source, thereby enabling to drive the electrophoresis separation.

Abstract: A preparative two dimensional gel electrophoresis system which serves as a single procedure for separation and isolation of preparative amounts of proteins from complex biological preparations. The system includes sized-up isoelectric focusing tube gels and slab gel molds which allow for sample loads of between about 0.5 and 2 mg or greater. Increased protein loads, resolution and electrotransfer allow for subsequent sequencing of separated proteins by conventional methods.