Thin layer chromatography frame
AssigneeBaylor University
InventorsBryan F. Shaw, Levi Garza, Roxane Marie Jourdain
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Abstract
The disclosure provides a thin layer chromatography (TLC) frame for allowing those with visual impairment to perform TLC. The TLC frame provides a structure that includes walls and stops to guide entry of a TLC plate for processing, asymmetrical guiding cones to funnel glass capillaries to correct positions, a solvent entry slit to guide solvent delivery for processing the TLC plate, and a tactile ruler for measuring the length of the reaction. Once complete, the TLC plate can be removed, the TLC frame cleaned if required, and another TLC plate inserted to perform the technique again. The invention will allow a brand-new field of researchers to perform experiments and contribute their time and effort.
Claims6
A thin layer chromatography frame 2 for processing samples, comprising:
- a housing 4 comprising an entrance slide 6 having side walls 8 and a back wall 10;
- an elevated portion 12 coupled to the side walls above the entrance slide forming a slot 14 proximal to the back wall;
- at least one guide cone 18 with a large end 20 and a small end 22, the small end coupled to the elevated portion with at least one cone opening 24 through the elevated portion aligned with the small end of the at least one guide cone, the slot 14 sized to allow a sample plate 26 to pass into the slot and under the at least one cone opening 24;
- and
- a solvent opening 28 formed in the housing, fluidically coupled to the entrance slide and configured to allow liquid to flow into the slot and wet an area on the sample plate under the at least one cone opening.
A method of processing a sample for chromatography for a visually impaired user with a thin layer chromatography frame, comprising;
- inserting a sample plate 26 into a slot 14 of the frame 2;
- guiding placement of at least one sample using a guiding cone 18 on the frame;
- flowing a liquid into a solvent opening 28 in contact with at least a portion of the sample plate 26 to process the sample plate;
- and
- analyzing the results of the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.