Fluid handling – With indicator – register – recorder – alarm or inspection means – Liquid level responsive indicator – recorder or alarm
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-15
2001-10-09
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
Liquid level responsive indicator, recorder or alarm
C204S619000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298874
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an electrophoresis gel processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Background Art
Gel electrophoresis is a process for distinguishing and identifying organic macromolecules. Some of the uses of gel electrophoresis are protein analysis and DNA analysis. Gel electrophoresis typically separates macromolecule components in one or two dimensions to provide a result wherein individual macromolecule components appear as bands or spots. The bands or spots may be analyzed to determine the abundance and characteristic of macromolecule components.
Humans possess a staggering number of such macromolecules whose functions and locations await discovery. In response to this challenge, a wide variety of processes and equipment systems have been developed to augment and speed up the gel electrophoresis process through large-scale automation.
Gel electrophoresis is so called because a gel medium (typically a polyacrylamide gel) is used in the process. Sample macromolecules to be analyzed are typically applied to a surface or edge of the gel. The gel is subjected to an electric field (the process of electrophoresis) and the applied macromolecules (which are generally electrically charged) move through the gel medium, yielding a physical separation of the component macromolecules.
There are different types of electrophoresis gels, with one type being a slab (or sheet), typically one to two millimeters thick and roughly the size of a sheet of paper. The gel slab is soft, rubbery, and pliable.
Slab gels may be used alone, or as the second dimension of a two-dimensional separations procedure. In the first dimension of a two-dimensional separation, a first dimension isoelectric focusing separation is performed in which proteins of a test sample are separated through a noodle-like gel strand under the influence of an electric field. As a result, the macromolecule components in the test sample are physically separated in one dimension on the basis of their electrical charges.
In the second dimension electrophoresis step of a two-dimensional electrophoresis process, the first dimension gel strand is placed on an edge of a two-dimensional gel slab (or sheet). The slab and first dimension gel strand are then subjected to electrophoresis to cause the macromolecule components to migrate through the electrophoresis gel slab. As a result of this second electrophoresis, the macromolecule components travel through the gel slab at different rates and are separated on the basis of polypeptide chain length (roughly proportional to molecular weight). The macromolecule components are therefore separated in two dimensions.
After electrophoresis, the gel slab must still be processed so that the identities, relative positions, and concentrations of macromolecule components may be determined. This may include treatment with fixatives, stains, developers, and washes. The gel may need to be submerged multiple times in such solutions, and this must be done in a controllable environment, without damage to the gel.
There remains a need in the art, therefore, for improvements in electrophoresis gel processing apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A slab gel processing tank is provided according to a first aspect of the invention. The slab gel processing tank comprises a bottom, two substantially parallel end panels, and two substantially parallel side panels having substantially vertical lower portions and outwardly angled upper portions, with the upper portions including a textured surface to minimize contact with a gel slab, wherein the tank is adapted to be filled with a gel processing working fluid.
A slab gel processing tank is provided according to a second aspect of the invention. The slab gel processing tank comprises a bottom, two substantially parallel end panels, two substantially parallel transparent side panels having substantially vertical lower portions and outwardly angled upper portions, with the upper portions including a textured surface with a plurality of ridges and troughs adapted to minimize contact with a gel slab, the plurality of ridges and troughs having a substantially pyramidal shape, a fluid level sensor, a drain, and an input, wherein the tank is adapted to be filled with a gel processing working fluid.
A method for decreasing a contact area between a slab of substantially planar gel material and a solid support is provided according to a third aspect of the invention. The method includes the step of providing a gel-contacting surface of the solid support with a plurality of projections, wherein the plurality of projections touch the gel and decrease an actual contact area between the gel and the support.
The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will be further understood from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 315951 (1991-04-01), Berninger et al.
patent: 3888758 (1975-06-01), Saeed
patent: 4574040 (1986-03-01), Delony et al.
patent: 4594064 (1986-06-01), Anderson
patent: 4772373 (1988-09-01), Ebata et al.
patent: 4773984 (1988-09-01), Flesher et al.
patent: 4830725 (1989-05-01), Berninger et al.
patent: 5073246 (1991-12-01), Chu et al.
patent: 5344534 (1994-09-01), Danziger
patent: 5449446 (1995-09-01), Verma et al.
patent: 5458749 (1995-10-01), Stone et al.
patent: 5792332 (1998-08-01), Montecino et al.
patent: 5993628 (1999-11-01), Selby et al.
patent: 6090255 (2000-07-01), Riley et al.
Anderson N. Leigh
Anderson Norman G.
Large Scale Proteomics Corporation
Rivell John
Roylance Abrams Berdo & Goodman L.L.P.
LandOfFree
Slab gel processing tank does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Slab gel processing tank, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Slab gel processing tank will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2574662