Apparatus and methods for electrophoresis

Claim 3

An electrophoresis apparatus, comprising: an upper buffer reservoir for holding a buffer solution; an upper electrode within said upper buffer reservoir in electrical contact with said buffer solution therein a lower buffer reservoir for holding said buffer solution; a lower electrode within said lower buffer reservoir in electrical contact with said buffer solution therein; means for defining a gel column, said means being interposed between said upper and lower buffer reservoirs and further interposed between said upper and lower electrodes, said means comprising: a hollow outer frustum, an inner member spaced apart from an interior surface of said hollow outer frustum to form said gel column therebetween, wherein said gel column is in electrical contact with said upper and lower electrodes, wherein said gel column is constructed of a shape having a decreased diameter along the length thereof, and wherein said inner member provides additional heat exchange surface to remove heat from said gel column, and wherein said hollow frustum has a plurality of spacers on said interior thereof to space said inner member apart from said interior of said hollow frustum.

Claim 4

An electrophoresis apparatus, comprising: an upper buffer reservoir for holding a buffer solution; an upper electrode within said upper buffer reservoir in electrical contact with said buffer solution therein a lower buffer reservoir for holding said buffer solution; a lower electrode within said lower buffer reservoir in electrical contact with said buffer solution therein; means for defining a gel column, said means being interposed between said upper and lower buffer reservoirs and further interposed between said upper and lower electrodes, said means comprising: a hollow outer frustum, an inner member spaced apart from an interior surface of said hollow outer frustum to form said gel column therebetween, wherein said gel column is in electrical contact with said upper and lower electrodes, wherein said gel column is constructed of a shape having a decreased diameter along the length thereof, and wherein said inner member provides additional heat exchange surface to remove heat from said gel column, and wherein said hollow frustum has a plurality of spacers on said interior thereof to space said inner member apart from said interior of said hollow frustum.

Claim 5

An electrophoresis apparatus, comprising: an upper buffer reservoir for holding a buffer solution; an upper electrode within said upper buffer reservoir in electrical contact with said buffer solution therein; a lower buffer reservoir for holding said buffer solution; a lower electrode within said lower buffer reservoir in electrical contact with said buffer solution therein; and means for defining a gel column, said means being interposed between said upper and lower buffer reservoirs and further interposed between said upper and lower electrodes, said means comprising: a hollow outer frustum, and an inner member spaced apart from an interior surface of said hollow outer frustum to form said gel column therebetween, wherein said gel column is in electrical contact with said upper and lower electrodes, wherein said gel column is constructed of a shape having a decreased diameter along the length thereof, and wherein said inner member provides additional heat exchange surface to remove heat from said gel column, and means for recycling said buffer solution in a path between said lower buffer reservoir and said upper buffer reservoir without a formation of an electrical circuit across said path.

Claim 6

An electrophoresis apparatus, comprising: an upper buffer reservoir for holding a buffer solution; an upper electrode within said upper buffer reservoir in electrical contact with said buffer solution therein; a lower buffer reservoir for holding said buffer solution; a lower electrode within said lower buffer reservoir in electrical contact with said buffer solution therein; and means for defining a gel column, said means being interposed between said upper and lower buffer reservoirs and further interposed between said upper and lower electrodes, said means comprising: a hollow outer frustum, and an inner member spaced apart from an interior surface of said hollow outer frustum to form said gel column therebetween, wherein said gel column is in electrical contact with said upper and lower electrodes, wherein said gel column is constructed of a shape having a decreased diameter along the length thereof, and wherein said inner member provides additional heat exchange surface to remove heat from said gel column, and means for recycling said buffer solution in a path between said lower buffer reservoir and said upper buffer reservoir without a formation of an electrical circuit across said path.

Claim 7

An electrophoresis apparatus for separating a component from a mixture under the influence of an electrical current, comprising: an upper buffer reservoir for holding a buffer solution; an upper electrode within said upper buffer reservoir in electrical contact with said buffer solution therein; a lower buffer reservoir for holding said buffer solution; a lower electrode within said lower buffer reservoir in electrical contact with said buffer solution; means for separating said component from said mixture, said means being interposed between said first and second reservoirs, said means comprising: a hollow frusto-conical outer member, an inner conical member spaced apart from an interior surface of said hollow frusto-conical outer member to form a column therebetween, said inner conical member including a cavity to provide additional heat exchange surface to remove heat from said column, and a separation medium within said column in electrical contact with said upper and lower electrodes, wherein said component is simultaneously concentrated while being separated from said mixture as said component migrates through said separation medium from a first end of said column to a second end thereof; an elution chamber attached to said second end of said column for removing a separated and concentrated component from said separation medium; and recycle means for recycling said buffer solution in a path between said first and second buffer reservoirs without a formation of an electrical circuit across said path.

Claim 8

An electrophoresis apparatus for separating a component from a mixture under the influence of an electrical current, comprising: an upper buffer reservoir for holding a buffer solution; an upper electrode within said upper buffer reservoir in electrical contact with said buffer solution therein; a lower buffer reservoir for holding said buffer solution; a lower electrode within said lower buffer reservoir in electrical contact with said buffer solution; means for separating said component from said mixture, said means being interposed between said first and second reservoirs, said means comprising: a hollow frusto-conical outer member, an inner conical member spaced apart from an interior surface of said hollow frusto-conical outer member to form a column therebetween, said inner conical member including a cavity to provide additional heat exchange surface to remove heat from said column, and a separation medium within said column in electrical contact with said upper and lower electrodes, wherein said component is simultaneously concentrated while being separated from said mixture as said component migrates through said separation medium from a first end of said column to a second end thereof; an elution chamber attached to said second end of said column for removing a separated and concentrated component from said separation medium; and recycle means for recycling said buffer solution in a path between said first and second buffer reservoirs without a formation of an electrical circuit across said path.