US 9,753,010 B2 · Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis apparatus and method

Abstract

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis apparatus includes an electrophoresis zone having four edges defined by a plurality of electrodes. A pair of opposed edges are defined by groups of discrete electrodes. Discrete electrodes within each group are electrically isolated from each other while the other pair of opposed edges are used to generate an electrical field. As a result, the electrical field is less distorted than would be the case if each edge was defined by a single elongate electrode. The apparatus can be provided as a cassette with electrodes configured to guide gas generated during electrolysis out of the cassette through apertures, to reduce the build up of combustible gases.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A two-dimensional gel electrophoresis apparatus comprising:

a plurality of electrodes defining an electrophoresis zone;
and
a gel support for retaining an electrophoresis gel in the electrophoresis zone,
the electrophoresis zone having at least four edges, each of which is defined by at least one of the said plurality of electrodes, the at least four edges comprising first and second pairs of opposed edges, wherein at least one of the second pair of edges is defined by a group of discrete electrodes, some or all of the electrodes having an outer wall with a generally concave formation on the side facing the opposed edge of the electrophoresis zone.

1 more element

A method of carrying out two-dimensional gel electrophoresis comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of electrodes which define an electrophoresis zone and providing electrophoresis gel in the electrophoresis zone, the electrophoresis zone having at least four edges, each edge defined by at least one of the said plurality of electrodes, the at least four edges comprising first and second pairs of opposed edges, wherein at least one of the second pair of edges is defined by a group of discrete electrodes and some or all of the electrodes have an outer wall with a generally concave formation on the side facing the opposed edge of the electrophoresis zone;
and
applying a potential difference between the electrodes defining the first pair of opposed edges, to generate an electrical field in a first direction across the electrophoresis zone, whilst the electrodes within the or each group of discrete electrodes which define the at least one of the second pair of edges are electrically isolated from each other.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/971,216Filed 16 Dec 2015 · continuation

Priority

GB 1102385.010 Feb 2011

Published

US 2016/0178575 A123 Jun 2016

Granted

5 Sep 2017

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G01N 27/44778
Multi-stage electrophoresis, e.g. two-dimensional electrophoresis: on a common gel carrier, i.e. 2D gel electrophoresis
B01D 57/02
Separation, other than separation of solids, not fully covered by a single other group or subclass, e.g. B03C: by electrophoresis
G01N 27/44713
Details; Accessories: particularly adapted electric power supply
G01N
Investigating or analysing materials by determining their chemical or physical properties

Family

PCT/GB2012/050295Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Feb 2012

US 2016/0178575 A1Pre-grant publication · published 23 Jun 2016

Application13/984,616Parent of this continuation

US 2014/0054172 A1Published application

US 9,753,010 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17