US 5,238,651 A · Gel plates, equipment and kits for combined electrophoretic-immunoelectrophoretic analysis

Abstract

Combined electrophoretic-immunoelectrophoretic analysis is conducted using a gel plate having a plurality of preformed trenches therein dividing the plate into a number of electrophoretic tracks. Serum samples are applied to the tracks such that each pair of tracks has the same sample. After subjecting the tracks to electrophoresis, one track from each pair of matching tracks is removed for protein staining by inserting a spatula into a trench and under the track to be removed. Small dabs of high vacuum silicone stopcock grease are applied to the ends of each sidewall of the remaining gel tracks and antiserum is applied therebetween. After immunoprecipitation and staining, the removed tracks are returned to their original positions to permit exact correlation of said immunoprecipitation and electrophoresis patterns. This analysis technique may be facilitated by use of equipment which includes a plate holder, a plate holder frame, underlay inserts, left and right margin inserts, a guide bar frame, templates, spatulas and plate handling hooks, burnishing rods and applicator pens. The trenches may be formed in conventional gel plates by specially designed equipment including a trench former insert frame, a double bladed gel cutter and a gel displacement beak.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A kit for facilitating combined electrophoretic-immunoelectrophoretic analysis, comprising:

1) a plate holder comprising side walls defining a predetermined perimeter, gel-support surface means for supporting a gel plate, and guide means for guiding a gel plate into a predetermined position on said gel-support surface means;
and
2) a plate holder frame comprising guide wall means having an inner perimeter corresponding to the outer perimeter of said plate holder side walls for holding said plate holder therewithin, plate holder support surface means for supporting said plate holder within said wall means, and a peripheral surface disposed outside of said guide wall means, said peripheral surface being an extension of said plate holder support surface means, said peripheral surface extending beyond said guide wall means for a distance sufficient to serve as a hand support when in use.

A kit for facilitating the formation of precisely disposed trenches in a gel plate, comprising:

a trench former insert frame comprising perimeter walls and two matching rows of multiple slots disposed on opposing portions of said perimeter walls each of said pairs of slots being precisely disposed in a predetermined position;
a double bladed trench cutter comprising two gel cutting blades, two blade support means disposed parallel to and in predetermined distance from one another, each having one of said cutting blades mounted thereon on the inside surface facing the other blade support means, the blade portion of said cutting blades extending out beneath said blade support means, for supporting said blades in a predetermined position, and two thumb plate means connected to said blade support means on the side thereof opposite the side from which said blades extend and fixing said blade support means and the supported blades such that said blades are held parallel to one another with a fixed predetermined separation therebetween and such that the space between said blades between said thumb plate means remains completely accessible from the side of said blade support means opposite the side from which said blades extend, and wherein the outside dimensions of said blade support means precisely correspond to the dimensions of said multiple slots so as to precisely fit therewithin when in use;
and
a gel displacement beak having a width exactly equal to the space between said blades, said gel displacement beak having a beak portion tapering to a tip at one end and having a handle portion at the other end.

1 more element

A kit for use in preparing a trenched gel plate, comprising:

a trench former frame which is disposed in a predetermined position with respect to the gel plate to be trenched when in use;
a double bladed trench cutter comprising
a) two gel cutting blades,
b) two blade support means disposed parallel to and at a predetermined distance from one another, each having one of said cutting blades mounted thereon on the inside surface facing the other blade supporting means, the blade portion of said cutting blades extending out beneath said blade support means, for supporting said blades in a predetermined position, and
c) connecting means connected to said blade support means and fixing said blade support means and the supported blades such that the space between said blades remains accessible from the side of said blade support means opposite the side from which said blades extend;
and
positioning means associated with said trench former frame and said trench cutter for ensuring that said trench cutter is positioned on said trench former frame at a predetermined position with respect to the gel plate to be trenched when in use.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gel plates, equipment and kits for combined electrophoretic-immunoelectrophoretic analysis

Life of this patent

Gel plates, equipment and kits for combined electrophoretic-immunoelectrophoretic analysis

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17