US 5,085,757 A · Integrated temperature control/alignment system for high performance capillary electrophoretic apparatus

Abstract

An integrated temperature control/alignment system for use with a high performance capillary electrophoretic apparatus comprises a complementary pair of capillary column mounting plates formed from an electrically insulative, high thermal conductivity material for mounting a capillary column. The first mounting plate includes a well having a predetermined circumference, first and second grooves contiguous with the well and ports formed in the grooves and extending through the plate. The second mounting plate includes a plug configured for insertion in the well and ports aligned with the ports of the first mounting plate. Respective ends of the capillary column are seated and locked in the grooves to preposition the capillary column with respect to the ports. Capillary columns of varying lengths may be mounted within the mounting plates by coiling the intermediate portion thereof within the well to increase or decrease the working length of the column in predetermined increments, depending upon the particular application. Optical coupling elements are disposed in the ports to couple sampling and reference radiation to and from the mounted capillary column. The temperature of substantially the entire capillary column is controlled or regulated by at least one thermopile disposed in thermal contact with one of the mounting plates. A thermistor may be thermally coupled to the capillary column or one of the mounting plates to provide feedback signals to operate the thermopile to maintain the capillary column at a predetermined electrophoretic operating temperature.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An integrated temperature control/alignment system for high performance capillary electrophoresis, comprising:

means for thermoelectrically regulating heat transfer between the capillary column and the ambient environment to maintain the capillary column at a predetermined electrophoretic operating temperature;
and
means for mounting the capillary column in a predetermined position as part of a capillary electrophoretic apparatus, said mounting means being formed from an electrically insulative, high thermally conductive material and configured to envelope the capillary column over substantially the entire working length thereof to provide efficient heat transfer between the capillary column and said mounting means to maintain the capillary column at said predetermined electrophoretic operating temperature, and wherein said thermoelectric regulating means is disposed in thermal contact with said mounting means, said mounting means including
means for physically engaging respective ends of the capillary column to lock the capillary column in said predetermined position within said mounting means, and
means for disposing the intermediate portion of the capillary column within said mounting means in thermal contact therewith, said disposing means being configured to accommodate the intermediate portion of capillary columns of varying lengths wherein the working length of the capillary column may be varied in predetermined increments for different electrophoretic separations.

2 more elements

An integrated temperature control/alignment system for use with a high performance capillary electrophoretic apparatus including a capillary column, a power supply, a thermoelectric controller, a detection device for on-column detection, and means for coupling radiation between the detection device and said integrated temperature control/alignment system, comprising:

means for thermoelectrically regulating heat transfer between the capillary column and the ambient environment to maintain the capillary column at a predetermined electrophoretic operating temperature;
and
means for mounting the capillary column as part of the capillary electrophoretic apparatus, said mounting means being formed from an electrically insulative, high thermally conductive material and configured to envelope the capillary column over substantially the entire working length thereof to provide efficient heat transfer between the capillary column and said mounting means to maintain the capillary column at said predetermined electrophoretic operating temperature, and wherein said thermoelectric regulating means is disposed in thermal contact with said mounting means, said mounting means including
means for aligning the capillary column within said mounting means in a predetermined position to the radiation coupling means to provide on-column detection, said aligning means including means for optically coupling radiation from the radiation coupling means onto the capillary column and for optically coupling radiation from the capillary column to the radiation coupling means,
means for physically engaging respective ends of the capillary column to lock the capillary column in said predetermined position within said mounting means, and
means for disposing the intermediate portion of the capillary column within said mounting means in thermal contact therewith, said disposing means being configured to accommodate the intermediate portion of capillary columns of varying lengths wherein the working length of the capillary column may be varied in predetermined increments for different electrophoretic separations.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrated temperature control/alignment system for high performance capillary electrophoretic apparatus

Life of this patent

Integrated temperature control/alignment system for high performance capillary electrophoretic apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11