Mask for depositing and distributing reagents on an analytical support
OwnerFranck Belloninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention concerns a mask for distributing one or more reagents on an analytical support, in particular an electrophoresis support, for example an electrophoresis gel. The mask (10) (termed a mobile mask) held in a mask holder 12 is designed to be displaced above predetermined zones on an analytical support, and comprises traversing orifices 36 for distributing reagents on the analytical support. The invention has application, for example, in the field of detecting and characterizing constituents present in a biological sample. In particular, detection can be accomplished by immunofixation.
Claims42
A mask for depositing and distributing reagents on an analytical support for biological samples, comprising:
- a lower surface and an upper surface that are at least partially mutually parallel, separated by a distance constituting the thickness of the mask;
- one or more delimited zones (lanes) located on the level of the lower surface of the mask and comprising an element (32) that projects (projecting element) from the lower surface of the mask, each projecting element comprising a portion constituting a slope with respect to a horizontal plane;
- associated with each lane, an opening traversing the mask over the whole of its thickness from an upper orifice (36) on the upper surface of the mask to a lower orifice (34), said lower orifice being located in the lane in the proximity of the lowest point of the slope of the lane;
- the mask being such that the lane or lanes it comprises can hold reagents loaded into each opening and deposited on the analytical support by capillary action between the lane and the surface of the analytical support facing which the mask is to be placed.
A mask suitable for depositing and distributing reagents on an analytical support for biological samples, comprising:
- a lower surface and an upper surface that are at least partially mutually parallel, separated by a distance constituting the thickness of the mask;
- one or more delimited zones (lanes) located in the lower surface of the mask and comprising an element (32) that projects (projecting element) from the lower surface of the mask, each projecting element comprising a lower surface and an upper surface that are mutually parallel and parallel to the lower and upper surface of the mask;
- associated with each lane, an opening traversing the mask over the whole of its thickness from an upper orifice (36) on the upper surface of the mask to a lower orifice (34), said lower orifice being located in the lane in the proximity of the lowest point of the slope of the lane, produced by inclining the mask with respect to the analytical support in the position of use;
- the mask being such that the lane or lanes it comprises can hold reagents loaded into each opening and deposited on the analytical support by capillary action between the lane and the surface of the analytical support facing which the mask is to be placed.
A method for detecting the constituents of one or more biological samples by immunofixation, comprising the steps of:
- carrying out electrophoresis on an electrophoresis support of the biological sample or samples to separate out the constituents;
- depositing and distributing one or more reagents on an electrophoresis support, using a method according to any one of claims 32 or 33 to 44;
- incubating the biological samples separated by electrophoresis with the reagent or reagents to allow their immunofixation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.