US 6,582,577 B1Granted

Electrophoresis gel cassette

AssigneeVisible Genetics Inc.

InventorAlex Izmailov

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Abstract

An electrophoresis cassette is made from two substrates separated by spacers, and a one-piece molded plastic edge adapter. The edge adapter provides the contoured edge to facilitate sample loading, and because it is made from molded plastic is easier to make. Furthermore, the edge adapter has vertically extending arms which define the sides of the loading region and which, when glued to the back substrate, prevent leakage of buffer solution from the region surrounding the electrophoresis origin. In one variation, a groove in the bottom edge of the edge adapter receives the top edge of the front substrate to further define the position of the edge adapter in relation to the substrate. Vertical divider fins may optionally be formed on the contoured surface of the edge adapter. These divider fins define loading wells for the introduction of sample into the lanes of the electrophoresis gel.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An electrophoresis cassette comprising:

(a) a front substrate and a back substrate each having a width in a direction transverse to a direction of migration, and a length parallel to the direction of migration;
(b) at least one spacer disposed between the front and back substrates to define an assembled cassette having an electrophoresis gel cavity;
(c) an edge adapter affixed to the front and back substrates, where the length of the front substrate is less than the length of the back substrate, thereby leaving a top portion of the back substrate exposed in the assembled cassette;
wherein the edge adapter comprises a generally U-shaped main body having a transverse portion and two arms extending vertically from opposing ends of the transverse portion, having an overall height substantially equal to the difference between the length of the front substrate and the back substrate, said edge adapter having a contoured region extending along and proximal to an upper edge of the transverse portion of the U-shaped body member, said contoured region having a thickness at the edge proximal to the transverse portion greater than the thickness at the edge distal to the transverse portion, and where said contoured region provides a sample application region bounded by said contoured region and said back substrate for a gel formed within the gel cavity.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.