# US 2018/0321189 A1 · Systems and methods for capillary electrophoresis, isoelectric point, and molecular weight analysis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0321189 A1 - Document ID: US20180321189A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/033,808 - Filed: 2018-07-12 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-13 - Assignees: ProteinSimple - Applicants: ProteinSimple - Inventors: David J. ROACH; Tom Weisan YANG; Hui XU - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180321189A1 ## CPC - G01N 27/44791: {Microapparatus (sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027)} - G01N 27/447: using electrophoresis - G01N 27/44704: {Details; Accessories} - G01N 27/44743: {Introducing samples} - G01N 27/44747: {Composition of gel or of carrier mixture} - G01N 21/05: Flow-through cuvettes (G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10) - G01N 27/44721: {by optical means} - G01N 27/44726: {using specific dyes, markers or binding molecules} - G01N 27/44795: {Isoelectric focusing} - G01N 30/74: Optical detectors {(measurement of intensity, velocity, spectral content, polarisation, or phase of infrared, visible or ultraviolet light G01J)} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A system includes a housing, a cartridge retainer disposed within the housing, a detection assembly disposed within the housing, and a reagent tray holder movably disposed in the housing. The cartridge retainer configured to receive a capillary cartridge having a capillary. The detection assembly includes at least one emitter, a first detector, and a second detector. The detection assembly is configured to transition between a first configuration, in which the first detector detects a first output of the at least one emitter, and a second configuration, in which the second detector detects a second output of the at least one emitter. The reagent tray holder is configured to move relative to the cartridge retainer to place the capillary of the capillary cartridge in fluid communication with a reagent volume. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a housing; a cartridge retainer disposed within the housing, the cartridge retainer configured to receive a capillary cartridge having a capillary; a detection assembly disposed within the housing, the detection assembly including at least one emitter, the detection assembly including a first detector and a second detector, the detection assembly configured to transition between a first configuration, in which the first detector detects a first output associated with the at least one emitter, and a second configuration, in which the second detector detects a second output associated with the at least one emitter; and a reagent tray holder movably disposed in the housing, the reagent tray holder configured to move relative to the cartridge retainer to place a capillary of the capillary cartridge in fluid communication with a reagent volume. ### Claim at position 2 -6. (canceled) ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the at least one emitter is a light source; the first detector is a first optical detector configured to detect a first optical output associated with a first sample being illuminated by a first beam of light emitted from the light source that substantially converges to a point; the second detector is a second optical detector configured to detect a second optical output associated a second sample being illuminated by a second beam of light emitted from the light source that forms a column of light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the first beam of light is configured to illuminate a position along the capillary when the capillary cartridge is disposed within the cartridge retainer, the first optical detector is configured to detect an analyte within a sample contained in the capillary when the first beam of light illuminates the position along the capillary. ### Claim at position 5 -10. (canceled) ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the cartridge retainer is electrically coupled to an electrical source, the cartridge retainer configured to electrically couple the capillary to the electrical source when the capillary cartridge is disposed within the cartridge retainer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the second beam of light is configured to illuminate a length of the capillary when the capillary cartridge is disposed within the cartridge retainer, the second optical detector configured to detect one or more analytes within a sample contained in the capillary when the second beam of light illuminates the length of the capillary. ### Claim at position 8 -24. (canceled) ### Claim 24 A system, comprising: a housing; a cartridge retainer disposed within the housing, the cartridge retainer configured to receive a capillary cartridge having a capillary, the cartridge retainer including a plurality of contact surfaces configured to contact the capillary cartridge and to align the capillary cartridge within the cartridge retainer; a detection assembly disposed within the housing, the detection assembly including a first emitter and a second emitter, the detection assembly including a first detector and a second detector, the detection assembly configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration based at least in part on one or more characteristics associated with the capillary cartridge, the first detector configured to detect an output associated with the first emitter when the detection assembly is in the first configuration, the second detector configured to detect an output associated with the second emitter when the detection assembly is in the second configuration; a reagent tray holder movably disposed in the housing, the reagent tray holder configured to move relative to the cartridge retainer to place a capillary of the capillary cartridge in fluid communication with a reagent volume; and a control assembly disposed within the housing, the control assembly configured to receive data associated with the capillary cartridge when the capillary cartridge is disposed within the cartridge retainer, the control assembly configured to send a signal to the detection assembly to place the detection assembly in the first configuration or the second configuration based on the data associated with the capillary cartridge. ### Claim at position 10 -26. (canceled) ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, further comprising: a pressure source disposed within the housing, the pressure source in fluid communication with the cartridge retainer, the cartridge retainer configured to place the capillary cartridge in fluid communication with the pressure source when the capillary cartridge is disposed within the cartridge retainer, the pressure source configured to decrease a pressure within a first portion of the capillary cartridge and configured to increase a pressure within a second portion of the capillary cartridge. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The system of claim 27, wherein the first portion of the capillary cartridge includes a lumen defined by the capillary, the decrease in pressure within the first portion of the capillary cartridge is operative to draw a sample into the lumen of the capillary when the capillary is in fluid communication with the reagent volume. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, further comprising: a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with at least one of the capillary retainer or the reagent tray holder via one or more fluid flow paths, the control assembly configured to receive a signal associated with a pressure within the one or more fluid flow paths and configured to determine a fill volume of the fluid reservoir based at least in part on the pressure, a portion of the control assembly configured to provide an indication when the fill volume of the fluid reservoir is below a threshold fill level. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the cartridge retainer includes a pinch valve actuator, the controller configured to send a signal to a motor indicative of an instruction to move the pinch valve actuator relative to the cartridge retainer between a first position and a second position, the pinch valve actuator configured to be placed in contact with a pinch valve of the capillary cartridge when the capillary cartridge is disposed within the cartridge retainer and the pinch valve actuator is in the second position. ### Claim 31 An apparatus, comprising: a cartridge body; a capillary defining an interior volume configured to contain a sample including an analyte, the capillary disposed within the cartridge body, the capillary having a first end defining a first end of the interior volume and a second end defining a second end of the interior volume; a conductive vial containing a buffer disposed within the cartridge body, the conductive vial having a first septum and a second septum, the buffer electrically coupled to the first end of the interior volume of the capillary via the first septum such that, when the interior volume contains the sample, the sample is electrically coupled to the vial; a first electrode electrically coupled to the conductive vial; and a second electrode electrically coupled to the capillary between the conductive vial and the second end of the capillary such that the first electrode, the second electrode, and the sample define a portion of a circuit when the interior volume contains the sample. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the conductive vial is constructed of a conductive plastic. ### Claim at position 17 -34. (canceled) ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the second septum is configured to be disrupted when the cartridge body is disposed within an analyzer such that the capillary is fluidically coupled to the analyzer via the conductive vial. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the cartridge body defines a pressure port and a vacuum port, the pressure port configured to be fluidically coupled to a pressure source, the vacuum port configured to be fluidically coupled to a vacuum source. ### Claim 37 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising: a pressure line disposed within the cartridge and extending from a port defined by the cartridge body such that the pressure line is configured to be fluidically coupled to a pressure source of an analyzer via the port, the pressure line configured to extend into a reagent vial exterior to the cartridge such that the reagent vial can be pressurized via the pressure line while the reagent is aspirated into the capillary. ### Claim 38 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein: the capillary is disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge body; and the cartridge body is configured to be disposed within an analyzer such that the longitudinal axis is vertical. ### Claim 39 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein: the cartridge body is configured to be disposed within an analyzer; and the capillary is disposed within the cartridge body and configured for analyte separation, the apparatus further comprising: a tube disposed within the cartridge body and coupled to an end of the capillary such that the analyzer can apply at least one of a pressure or a vacuum to the capillary; and an opening defined by the cartridge body, at least a portion of the tube exposed via the opening, the opening configured to receive a portion of a pinch valve actuator of the analyzer, the pinch valve actuator configured to pinch the tube. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a membrane disposed between the conductive vial and the interior volume of the capillary, the membrane configured to prevent bulk fluid flow from the conductive vial to the interior volume of the capillary. ### Claim at position 24 -42. (canceled) ### Claim 43 (depends on 39) The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to apply an electric potential along a length of the capillary such that the analyte migrates within the capillary. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the pinch valve actuator is configured to pinch the tube while the analyte migrates within the capillary such that bulk flow is inhibited. ### Claim at position 27 -62. (canceled)