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US 6,270,644 B1Granted
Capillary array electrophoresis scanner
AssigneeAffymetrix, Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Mathies, James R. Scherer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Monster Capillary Array Electrophoresis scanner measures four-color electropherograms from over a thousand capillary electrophoretic separations in parallel. The system consists of a two-dimensional confocal rotary scanner and a four-color detection unit.
Claims21
A capillary array electrophoresis apparatus comprising:
- two cylinders, each having a side;
- a plurality of capillary tubes disposed in a circular array on the sides of the two cylinders;
- a source of radiant energy of a first wavelength;
- a rotor means for rotating in a single direction;
- an objective lens, mounted on the rotor means, for receiving and focusing the radiant energy of a first wavelength onto the capillary tubes;
- a dichroic beam splitter mounted on the rotor means;
- confocal spatial and spectral filter means for transmitting radiant energy of a second wavelength emitted from the capillaries and rejecting radiant energy of other wavelengths;
- and,
- a detector means for measuring the intensity of the second radiant energy.
6 more elements
An apparatus for determining the sequence of a nucleic acid sample, the apparatus comprising:
- two cylinders, each having a circumference;
- a plurality of electrophoresis lanes disposed along the circumference of the cylinders in a circular array;
- a source of radiant energy of a first wavelength;
- an optical detection system for detecting radiant energy of a second wavelength emanating from the electrophoresis lanes, the optical detection system comprising:
- (i) collection optics for collecting and focusing the radiant energy of a second wavelength;
- (ii) a detector for measuring the intensity of the radiant energy of a second wavelength;
- and,
- (iii) a rotary scanner for directing the radiant energy of a first wavelength to each electrophoresis lane.
5 more elements
A capillary array electrophoresis apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a source of radiant energy of a first wavelength;
- at least one cylinder having a circumference;
- a rotor;
- an objective lens, mounted on the rotor and housed within the at least one cylinder, for focusing the radiant energy of a first wavelength, wherein the objective lens is positioned in the path of the radiant energy;
- a plurality of capillaries positioned along the circumference of the at least one cylinder and in the path of the radiant energy of a first wavelength focused by the objective lens;
- and
- at least one detector for detecting radiant energy of a second wavelength emitted from the capillaries.
4 more elements
A capillary array electrophoresis apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a source of radiant energy of a first wavelength;
- three vertical posts;
- two cylinders, each having a circumference, wherein the two cylinders share a common vertical axis and are mounted on the posts;
- a rotor;
- an objective lens, mounted on the rotor and housed within the at least one cylinder, for focusing the radiant energy of a first wavelength, wherein the objective lens is positioned in the path of the radiant energy;
- a plurality of capillaries positioned along the circumference of the at least one cylinder and in the path of the radiant energy of a first wavelength focused by the objective lens;
- four dichroic beam splitters, each calibrated to pass a different wavelength of radiant energy emitted from the capillaries and to reject all other wavelengths;
- and
- four photodetectors, each of which measures the intensity of radiant energy passed to it by one of the beam splitters.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.