Capillary array and electrophoresis apparatus, and method
AssigneeApplera Corporation
InventorsJohan R.P. Goudberg, Syouzou Kasai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A capillary electrophoresis device including a capillary array, and a method of manufacturing the capillary array, are provided. During the manufacture of the capillary array, a plurality of capillaries are arranged in a substantially parallel arrangement and are fixed with a fixing member, to form a ribbon-shaped member. A detection cell can be arranged on the ribbon shaped member. The capillary array can achieve uniform heat dissipation thereby allowing electrophoretic velocity to be independent of the temperature characteristics of the capillaries. The plurality of capillaries are not attracted or repelled to each other by way electrostatic effects during electrophoresis, and the productivity of the capillary array can be improved.
Claims33
A method of manufacturing a capillary array comprising:
- providing a plurality of capillaries each being capable of being filled with a separation medium, each capillary including an inlet end portion that is capable of feeding a sample into the capillary and a light-illuminable portion that is capable of allowing the sample to be illuminated with light;
- arranging the plurality of capillaries substantially parallel to each other along a substantially flat plane;
- fixing a portion of the plurality of capillaries that are arranged substantially parallel to each other with a fixing member;
- preparing a ribbon-shaped member formed by the plurality of substantially parallel capillaries;
- and
- arranging a detection cell on the ribbon-shaped member such that the detection cell is arranged substantially parallel to the light-illuminable portion of the plurality of capillaries.
A capillary array comprising:
- a plurality of capillaries each capable of being filled with a separating medium for separating a sample, each capillary including an inlet end portion for feeding a sample, an opposite end portion arranged opposite to the inlet end portion, and a light-illuminable portion capable of being illuminated with light;
- a load header arranged to support the inlet end portion of the plurality of capillaries at a predetermined position;
- a capillary head arranged to support the opposite end portion of the plurality of capillaries;
- a detection cell arranged substantially parallel to the light-illuminable portion of the plurality of capillaries;
- and
- a fixing member arranged to support a portion of the plurality of capillaries substantially parallel to one another.
An electrophoresis device comprising:
- a plurality of capillaries each capable of being filled with a separating medium for separating a sample, each capillary including an inlet end portion for feeding a sample, an opposite end portion arranged opposite to the inlet end portion, and a light-illuminable portion capable of being illuminated with light;
- a detection cell arranged substantially parallel to the light-illuminable portions;
- a fixing member arranged to support a portion of the plurality of capillaries substantially parallel to one another;
- a sample tray capable of holding a plurality of samples;
- a voltage mechanism that is capable of applying a voltage between at least the inlet end portion of the capillaries and the light-illuminable portion of the capillaries;
- a pumping optical mechanism capable of directing light onto the light-illuminable portions of the capillaries;
- and
- a detecting optical mechanism that is capable of detecting light emitted from the light-illuminable portions of the capillaries.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.