Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Beckman Instruments, Inc.

Dh Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.

Brian D Peterson

Stephen L Pentoney, Jr

Yagang Liu

Charles A Keenan

Patty Pang

Robert Retter

Jack D McNeal

Chitra Kumari Ratnayake

Sunil S Deliwala

Craig A Hudson

Peter S Kotowski

James C Osborne

Jean-Marc Rene Lucien Busnel

Jane Luo

Anna X Lou

Tom Tran

Clive Cheung

James H Reyes

Dale Alan Owens

Aspects of the innovations presented herein relate to improved systems that in some embodiments perform capillary electrophoresis (CE) and CE in conjunction with electrospray ionization (ESI) as an input to a mass spectrometry system (MS). Some embodiments use a high voltage isolated CE power supply that is configured to float on the high voltage output of an ESI-MS power supply, with a protective resistance in the ESI-MS path, as well as DC/DC converter isolation and communication system isolation for the isolated CE power supply. Some embodiments additionally use a cartridge assembly integrating separation and conductive fluid capillaries with fluid cooling and protective retractable housings for the capillary end portions and for the ESI output. The protective housing may further be used with an adapter for interfacing with different MS systems.

Capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry system

An analytical system is disclosed. The analytical system includes a storage container configured to store a plurality of capillaries. It also includes a gripper configured to receive at least one of the plurality of capillaries, and move the at least one capillary so that an end of the capillary contacts a sample in a sample container and draws the sample in the capillary. The system also includes a reader configured to detect a signal from the sample in the capillary.

Analytical system with capillary transport

A holder (10) is provided for securing a capillary (30) having a window section (28) including first and second edges (46) (48) to a mount (80). The holder (10) comprises a retaining surface (14) for securing the capillary (30) to the holder (10) and a mounting surface (18) for detachably securing the holder (10) to the mount (80). The retaining surface (14) is attached to the capillary (30) proximate to the opposed first and second edges (46), (48), with a portion of the window section (28) exposed. Since the capillary (30) is secured proximate the opposed first and second edges (46), (48), the fragile capillary window section (28) is protected during manufacturing or installation into an electrophoretic system (32). The retaining surface (14) preferably is sized and shaped to retain a plurality of capillaries (30) to allow for the substantially simultaneous testing of multiple capillaries (30). Optimally, the mounting surface (18) secures the holder (10) to the mount (80) with the capillaries (30) in fluid communication with a support medium supply (106) so that the support medium inside each capillary (30) can be replaced without removing each capillary (30) from the mount (80).

Capillary holder

A gel pump operated by a stepper motor may be used to deliver fresh gel to one or more capillaries through one or more manifolds and valves. By controlling the valves, fresh gel delivered by the pump will replace the old gel in the capillaries for an automated gel replacement system. In a different setting of the valves, the manifolds may be purged of the old gel prior to delivery of fresh gel to the capillaries. The gel delivery system may also be combined with an electrophoresis system so that sealing connection capable of withstanding high pressure adequate for gel injection need not be frequently broken when the gel is to be replaced. Manifold/reflector assembly is advantageously used in the system that facilitates electrical circuit for electrophoresis and for gel replacement.

Electrophoretic system including means for replacing separation medium

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Ontario, CA, United States of America

Brian D Peterson