Automated fraction collection system
AssigneeAlfa Wassermann S.p.A.
InventorBlaine J. Marsh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for separating a sample and collecting the separated sample. The system includes an ultracentrifuge having a cylindrical rotor. The system includes a gradient delivery assembly for delivering a gradient solution to the ultracentrifuge rotor, and a sample delivery assembly for delivering the solution containing the sample to the ultracentrifuge rotor. The system includes a fraction collection assembly for collecting discrete volumes of the separated sample. The system includes a processor for controlling operation of the ultracentrifuge, as well as the gradient delivery assembly, the sample delivery assembly, and/or the fraction collection assembly.
Claims3
A fraction volume measurement assembly for measuring and dispensing a predetermined volume of a sample, said assembly comprising:
- a measurement tube having a lower end and an upper end, said lower end including an opening for permitting the sample to enter and leave the tube;
- a valve in communication with the opening in the lower end of the measurement tube for controlling flow of the sample into and out of the tube;
- an electromagnetic transmitter mounted on the tube for transmitting electromagnetic energy along a line;
- and
- an electromagnetic receiver mounted on the tube opposite the transmitter and along the line of transmitted electromagnetic energy so that when an upper level of the sample in the tube is below the line, energy transmitted by the transmitter is received by the receiver and when an upper level of the sample in the tube is above the line, the transmitted energy is refracted so it is not received by the receiver, indicating the predetermined volume of the sample is present in the tube.
A fraction collection assembly for collecting fractions having predetermined volumes, said assembly comprising:
- a measurement tube having a lower end and an upper end, said lower end including an opening for permitting the sample to enter and leave the tube;
- a valve in communication with the opening in the lower end of the measurement tube for controlling flow of the sample into and out of the tube;
- and
- an infrared sensor mounted adjacent the tube for determining when a predetermined volume of sample is present in the tube.
A processor for automatically controlling operation of a system including an ultracentrifuge having a rotor for containing and spinning a solution to separate particles in the solution according to their buoyant density, a solution delivery assembly connected to the ultracentrifuge for delivering a solution to the ultracentrifuge rotor, and a sample delivery assembly connected to the ultracentrifuge for delivering the solution containing the particles to the ultracentrifuge rotor, said processor providing commands to the system to perform a method comprising:
- filling the rotor of the ultracentrifuge with buffer solution;
- eliminating air from the rotor of the ultracentrifuge;
- filling at least a portion of the rotor of the ultracentrifuge with gradient solution;
- rotating the rotor to a predetermined speed;
- loading a sample solution into the rotating rotor;
- recycling eluent through the rotating rotor;
- stopping the rotor;
- drawing solution from a lower end of the stopped rotor;
- and
- indexing a receptacle having a series of wells to sequentially collect the solution from the lower end of the rotor in the wells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.