Platform for conducting electrophoresis, and electrophoresis plate for use with the platform

A platform for conducting electrophoresis with an electrophoresis plate which includes a substrate and an electrophoretic medium layer with first and second end regions on the substrate, said platform comprising:

• support means, having a surface, for supporting the substrate of the electrophoresis plate on the surface;
• a first electrode extending upwardly from the surface of the support means to contact the first end region of the electrophoresis plate;
• a second electrode extending upwardly from the surface of the support means to contact the second end region of the electrophoresis plate;
• and
• bipolar power supply means for supplying the first electrode with an electrical potential that is positive with respect to ground potential and for supplying the second electrode with an electrical potential that is negative with respect to ground potential.

An electrophoresis plate comprising:

• a substrate;
• a separation region including gel material in contact with the substrate;
• two spaced-apart end regions each including gel material and electrode buffer material;
• and
• the substrate including at least two apertures, each aligned under one of the end regions.

An electrophoresis plate for use with an electrophoresis platform which includes support means for supporting the electrophoresis plate on a surface, at least one first electrode extending upward from a first region of the surface of the support means, and at least one second electrode extending upward from a second region of the surface of the support means, the first and second regions of the surface of the support means being spaced apart, said electrophoresis plate comprising:

• a substrate having at least one first hole for receiving the at least one first electrode and at least one second hole for receiving the at least one second electrode;
• an electrophoretic medium layer on the substrate, the electrophoretic medium layer having a first end region to receive the at least one first electrode and a second end region to receive the at least one second electrode;
• and
• at least one pre-formed cavity in at least one end region extending entirely through the end region.

A platform for conducting electrophoresis with an electrophoresis plate which includes a substrate and an electrophoretic medium layer with first and second end regions on the substrate, comprising:

• support means, having a surface, for supporting the electrophoresis plate on the surface;
• a first electrode to electrically contact the first end region of the electrophoretic medium layer;
• a second electrode to electrically contact the second end region of the electrophoretic medium layer;
• and
• a polar power supply means for supplying the first electrode with an electrical potential that is positive with respect to ground potential and for supplying the second electrode with an electrical potential that is negative with respect to ground potential.

An electrophoresis plate comprising:

• a separation region including gel material;
• two spaced-apart regions including gel material and electrode buffer material, each end region including at least one hollow electrode receiving cavity formed therein;
• and
• a substrate with a flat surface, the separation region and the spaced-apart regions being supported on the flat surface of the substrate.