Capillary array and electrophoresis apparatus, and methods

An electrophoresis apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of capillaries each having a first end and a second end, the plurality of capillaries being filled with a polymer capable of separating samples;
• a capillary head arranged to retain one end of the plurality of capillaries, and capable of being connected to the electrophoresis apparatus;
• a load header arranged to retain the other end of the capillaries at a predetermined position, and capable of being mounted on the electrophoresis apparatus;
• a detection unit arranged to retain a portion of the capillaries, and capable of acquiring information from the samples in the capillaries;
• and
• a frame capable of supporting the load header, the capillary head, and the detection unit, of which at least one is detachably supported.

A capillary array comprising:

• a plurality of capillaries having a first end and a second end, the plurality of capillaries being filled with a polymer capable of separating samples;
• a capillary head arranged to retain one end of the plurality of capillaries, and capable of being connected to an electrophoresis apparatus;
• a load header arranged to retain the other end of the capillaries at a predetermined position, and capable of being mounted on the electrophoresis apparatus;
• a detection unit arranged to support the plurality of capillaries in parallel, and capable of acquiring information from the samples in the capillaries;
• and
• a flexible frame capable of supporting the load header, the capillary head, and the detection unit, of which at least one is detachably supported.

A capillary array comprising:

• a plurality of capillaries having a first end and a second end, the plurality of capillaries being filled with a polymer capable of separating samples;
• a capillary head arranged to retain one end of the plurality of capillaries, and capable of being connected to an electrophoresis apparatus;
• a load header arranged to retain the other end of the capillaries at a predetermined position, and capable of being disposed on the electrophoresis apparatus;
• a detection unit arranged to support the plurality of capillaries in parallel, and capable of acquiring information from the samples in the capillaries;
• and
• a separator capable of individually supporting the capillaries in a non-fixed position;
• and
• a frame capable of supporting the load header, the capillary head, and the detection unit.

A capillary array comprising:

• a plurality of capillaries having a first end and a second end, the plurality of capillaries being filled with a polymer capable of separating samples;
• a capillary head arranged to retain one end of the plurality of capillaries, and capable of being connected to an electrophoresis apparatus;
• a load header arranged to retain the other end of the capillaries at a predetermined position, and capable of being disposed on the electrophoresis apparatus;
• a detection unit arranged to support the plurality of capillaries in parallel, and capable of acquiring information from the samples in the capillaries;
• and
• a separator capable of supporting the capillaries in a non-fixed position and capable of being disposed on the electrophoresis apparatus;
• and
• a frame capable of being detachably mounted to the load header, the frame detachably retaining the separator such that when the load header is disposed on the electrophoresis apparatus, the separator is positioned near a separator retaining member supported by the electrophoresis apparatus.

A method of mounting a capillary array on an electrophoresis apparatus, the capillary array comprising:

• a plurality of capillaries each having a first end and a second end, the plurality of capillaries being filled with a polymer capable of separating samples;
• a capillary head arranged to retain one end of the plurality of capillaries, and capable of being connected to an electrophoresis apparatus;
• a load header arranged to retain the other end of the capillaries at a predetermined position, and capable of being mounted on the electrophoresis apparatus;
• a detection unit arranged to retain a portion of the capillaries, and capable of being connected to the electrophoresis apparatus;
• and
• a frame capable of fixing a positional relationship among the capillary head, the detection unit, and the load header:
• the method comprising:
• mounting the load header on the electrophoresis apparatus while the load header, the capillary head, and the detection unit are fixed on the frame;
• separating the capillary head from the load header while the load header is mounted on the electrophoresis apparatus;
• separating the detection unit from the load header while the load header is mounted on the electrophoresis apparatus;
• connecting the capillary head to the electrophoresis apparatus while the load header is mounted on the electrophoresis apparatus;
• and
• connecting the detection unit to the electrophoresis apparatus while the load header is mounted on the electrophoresis apparatus.

A method of mounting a capillary array on an electrophoresis apparatus, the capillary array comprising:

• a plurality of capillaries each having a first end and a second end, the plurality of capillaries being filled with a polymer capable of separating samples;
• a capillary head arranged to retain one end of the plurality of capillaries, and capable of being connected to an electrophoresis apparatus;
• a load header arranged to retain a portion of the capillaries at a predetermined position, and capable of being disposed on the electrophoresis apparatus;
• a detection unit arranged to retain a portion of the capillaries in parallel, and capable of acquiring information from the samples in the capillaries;
• and
• a separator capable of individually supporting the capillaries in a non-fixed position and capable of being disposed on the electrophoresis apparatus;
• and
• a frame capable of retaining the load header and the separator;
• the method comprising:
• mounting the load header on the electrophoresis apparatus and disposing the separator in the vicinity of a separator attachment mounted on the electrophoresis apparatus, while the load header and the separator are retained by the frame;
• detaching the separator from the frame and disposing it on the separator attachment;
• and
• detaching the frame, which does not retain the separator, from the load header.