Gel extraction device
OwnerJeremy Caldwell, Dale Caldwell +1inventors
InventorsJeremy Caldwell, Dale Caldwell, Leon Clouser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gel extraction device comprising a hollow cutting member having a cutting edge at one end and a squeeze bulb at the other end. In a further embodiment, the air passage between the cutting edge and the bulb has a constriction zone to prevent any extracted gel from being drawn too deeply into the extractor. In a further embodiment, a blow-hole in the hollow cutting member or in the squeeze bulb provides for the passage of air displaced by gel through the extractor. The blow-hole may be covered to secure the gel in the receptacle for transfer from the matrix to a sample container.
Claims20
A gel extraction device comprising:
- a hollow cutting member having a connector end and an opposing cutting end defining two ends of a lumen, wherein the lumen in the cutting end defines a sample receptacle terminating in a perimeter cutting edge;
- and
- a squeeze bulb attached at the connector end,
- wherein a constriction zone provides restricted passage between the receptacle and the squeeze bulb.
A gel extraction device comprising:
- a hollow cutting member having a connector end and an opposing cutting end defining two ends of a lumen, wherein the lumen in the cutting end defines a sample receptacle terminating in a perimeter cutting edge;
- and
- a squeeze bulb attached at the connector end.
A method of extracting a gel sample from an electrophoresis gel matrix with a gel extraction device comprising a hollow cutting member having a connector end and an opposing cutting end defining two ends of a lumen, wherein the lumen in the cutting end defines a sample receptacle terminating in a perimeter cutting edge and a squeeze bulb attached at the connector end, the method comprising the steps of:
- pressing the perimeter cutting edge against the gel matrix to cut the gel sample, and force the sample into the sample receptacle;
- pulling gel extraction device from the gel matrix to extract the gel sample in the sample receptacle;
- and
- squeezing the bulb to force the gel sample from the sample receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.