US4151065A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Horizontal slab gel electrophoresis
Assignee: University of California, San Diego
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Filing: 1978-01-30
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Granted: 1979-04-24
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Expires: 1998-01-30
Abstract
Abstract An improved horizontal slab gel electrophoresis apparatus having compartments for vertical wicks at each end of a removable horizontal trough. Adjacent to the vertical wicks are vertical buffer compartments with built in electrodes. A partition separates the vertical wirks from the buffer compartment and includes a slot with a silicone plug which can be removed after curing or hardening of the vertical wicks to permit communication between the buffer and the gel slab. Flow adapters and an interconnecting tube permit constant circulation of the buffer to maintain equal volume and pH. The horizontal trough has slots for insertion of combs to form up to seventy-five sample wells and additional slots at each end for sealing the end of the horizontal slab when the gel slab is removed. The apparatus includes coils in a horizontal bed or plate beneath the trough for cooling the gel slab during a run and levelling screws for levelling the horizontal trough before pouring the gel slab.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald A. Kaplan
- 👤 Gary L. Wilcox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N27/44756
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for horizontal slab gel electrophoresis comprising: a horizontal flat bed, vertical chambers extending downward from opposite ends of said horizontal bed, a frame enclosing said bed and said chambers, partition means partitioning said vertical chambers into first compartments crosswise and immediately adjacent each end of said bed and second compartments parallel to and immediately adjacent said first compartments, an open-ended horizontal trough removably resting on said horizontal bed, and opening means for opening said first compartments for communication with said second compartments.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for horizontal slab gel electrophoresis comprising: a horizontal flat bed, vertical chambers extending downward from opposite ends of said horizontal bed, a frame enclosing said bed and said chambers, partition means partitioning said vertical chambers into first compartments crosswise and immediately adjacent each end of said bed and second compartments parallel to and immediately adjacent said first compartments, an open-ended horizontal trough removably resting on said horizontal bed, and opening means for opening said first compartments for communication with said second compartments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including: cooling means for cooling said horizontal bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said horizontal bed and cooling means comprises: a first plastic sheet having continuous grooves therein, a second plastic sheet sealed over said first sheet for sandwiching in said grooves, flow adapters connected to said grooves for circulating a coolant therethrough, whereby said horizontal bed may be cooled by the coolant circulated through said grooves thereby cooling said removable trough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said opening means comprises: a removable silicone plug sealing an elongate slot in said partitioning means whereby the circulating buffer in one compartment may be in direct contact with a gel in the adjacent compartment when said plug is removed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said removable trough is made of an ultraviolet transmitting material whereby said trough having a gel therein may be removed from the apparatus and the gel can be directly illuminated through the trough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 including end plates for closing the ends of the removable trough to seal the ends of the gel in the trough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said horizontal bed is also constructed of an ultraviolet transmitting marerial.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said removable trough includes: vertical sides, and a plurality of vertical slots in the vertical spaced at predetermined intervals along the sides of said trough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein vertical slots are positioned at each end of said horizontal trough for insertion of end plates whereby the ends of said trough may be sealed when a gel is being removed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including: circulating means for circulating a buffer through said second compartments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said circulating means includes: interconnecting conduit means connecting said second compartments whereby a buffer may be circulated from one of said second compartments through said interconnecting means to the other of said second compartments during a sample run.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including: electrodes permanently mounted in each of said second compartments, socket means on said frame connected to said electrodes whereby an electrical source can be connected to said electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said trough and said horizontal bed are constructed of Plexiglas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said electrodes comprise: a plastic rod traversing each of said second compartments, a platinum electrode spirally wrapped around said plastic rods.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including: adjusting means for adjusting said horizontal bed and said trough whereby said bed and said trough may be levelled.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including: a transparent cover covering the entire apparatus including the vertical compartments, the horizontal bed and removable trough, said cover means being constructed of an ultraviolet transparent material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said cover is constructed of Plexiglas.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 including: at least one comb adapted to fit a slot in the sides of said trough, said comb having a plurality of narrow teeth for forming narrow preformed wells in a gel poured into said trough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein: said trough has three pairs of slots spaced equally from one end of said trough, a comb having twenty-five teeth fitting each of said slots for forming seventy-five sample wells.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein: said end plates have a plurality of vertical slots, sectioning means fitting said vertical slots for sectioning said trough into a plurality of longitudinal compartments, whereby a plurality of different density gels may be simultaneously run with samples for comparison.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3773647A
Cited
US3873433A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-04-23 | 1982-10-23 | 1983-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-23 | 1986-10-23 | 1987-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-23 | 1990-10-23 | 1991-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |