Apparatus and process for resolving sample species
AssigneeBios Corporation
InventorStanley M. Hurd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The apparatus and process of the present invention resolves sample species in an electrolyte solution containing two or more types of ions, wherein the sample species to be resolved will move in response to fluid flow of the electrolyte and a non-linear voltage gradient such that the non-linear voltage gradient serves to counteract forces of diffusion as the sample travels along the electrophoresis chamber good resolution is obtained in species of widely divergent electrophoretic mobility.
Claims12
Apparatus for resolving sample species in an electrolyte solution containing two or more types of ions which comprises:
- an electrolyte;
- a continuous electrophoresis chamber containing said electrolyte having a long axis, an upper portion and a lower portion;
- a plurality of parallel, vertically aligned, spaced-apart electrode pairs with the members of each pair situated on opposite sides of said electrophoresis chamber and bordering said electrophoresis chamber such that the plane formed between each pair is orthogonal to the long axis of the electrophoresis chamber to establish a non-linear voltage gradient in said electrophoresis chamber, wherein the lines of electric force have a net component parallel to the long axis of the electrophoresis chamber;
- means for obtaining fluid flow of said electrolyte in said chamber from the upper portion to the lower portion;
- and means for injecting a sample species to be resolved into a single upper portion of said chamber, wherein sample species to be resolved will move in response to said fluid flow and non-linear voltage gradient such that the non-linear voltage gradient serves to counteract forces of diffusion as the sample species travel along said chamber and wherein good resolution is obtained in species of widely divergent electrophoretic mobility.
Apparatus for resolving sample species in an electrolyte solution containing two or more types of ions which comprises:
- an electrolyte;
- a continuous electrophoresis chamber containing said electrolyte having a long axis, an upper portion and a lower portion;
- means to establish a non-linear voltage gradient in said electrolyte;
- means for obtaining fluid flow of said electrolyte in said chamber from the upper portion to the lower portion;
- and means for injecting a sample species to be resolved into a single upper portion of said chamber, wherein sample species to be resolved will move in response to said fluid flow and non-linear voltage gradient such that the non-linear voltage gradient serves to counteract forces of diffusion as the sample species travel along said chamber and wherein good resolution is obtained in species of widely divergent electrophoretic mobility, including an internal channel within the chamber constructed of a material which will allow electric field lines to pass therethrough, but will retain the species being resolved.
Process for resolving sample species in an electrolyte solution containing two or more types of ions which comprises:
- confining an electrolyte solution in a continuous electrophoresis chamber having a long axis, an upper portion and a lower portion;
- establishing an electric current throughout said solution;
- and providing a plurality of parallel, vertically aligned, spaced-apart electrode pairs with the members of each pair situated on opposite sides of said electrophoresis chamber and bordering on said electrophoresis chamber such that the plane formed between each pair is orthogonal to the long axis of the focusing chamber;
- and applying a non-linear voltage gradient along the length of the electrophoresis chamber by means of said electrode pairs wherein the lines of electric force have a net component parallel to the long axis of the electrophoresis chamber;
- providing fluid flow of said electrolyte in said chamber from the upper portion to the lower portion;
- and injecting a sample species to be resolved into a single upper portion of said chamber, whereby sample species to be resolved will move in response to said fluid flow and such that the non-linear voltage gradient serves to counteract forces of diffusion as the sample species travel along said chamber and whereby good resolution is obtained in species of widely divergent electrophoretic mobility.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.