Transgenomic, Inc.

John E Sutton

Douglas T Gjerde

Paul D Taylor

Donn H Vanden Bosch

A system for separating an aqueous stream of mixed polynucleotides into a series of length-based polynucleotide fractions and collecting one or more of the length-based polynucleotide fractions into separate containers. The system comprises a separation column containing separation media for separating an aqueous stream of mixed polynucleotides into a series of length-based polynucleotide fractions; a container including one or more single-sample containers; an ejection chamber having a separated sample inlet for receiving the length-based polynucleotide fractions, a waste outlet for discharging uncollected sample, and a capillary-sized fraction outlet positioned to discharge a selected length-based polynucleotide fraction into a single-sample container. The system also includes means for effecting discharge of a selected length-based polynucleotide fraction into the separate container. The means for effecting discharge of a selected length-based polynucleotide fraction into a separate container can include a puff valve having a pressurized gas inlet and a puff gas outlet and the ejection chamber can include a puff gas inlet communicating with the puff gas outlet, whereby activation of the puff valve will discharge a puff of gas into the ejection chamber and will effect discharge of sample through the fraction outlet; or the means can include a flow restriction actuator and flow restriction to increase liquid pressure in the ejection chamber. Computer controls and a method for fraction collection are also described.

Fragment collector apparatus

A liquid chromatography apparatus with stationary and mobile phase temperature controls suitable for polynucleotide separations by MIPC and DMIPC processes. The apparatus includes heater means with a temperature control system; a matched ion polynucleotide chromatography separation column having an inlet end; a coil of capillary tubing having an inlet end and an outlet end. The outlet end of the capillary tubing is connected with the inlet end of the separation column. The inlet end of the capillary tubing comprising means for receiving process liquid, the tubing having a length of from 6 to 400 cm having a linear tubing length of heating means. The separation column and the coil of capillary tubing are enclosed in the heater means. The capillary tubing preferably is PEEK or titanium. The heater means can be an air batch oven. Preferably, it is a heat-conducting block having a first heat transfer surface, a separation column receptacle, and a capillary coil receptacle. A separation column is positioned within the separation column receptacle in heat conducting relationship with an inner wall thereof. A coil of capillary tubing is positioned in the capillary coil receptacle, the outer extremities of the coil being in heat conducting relationship with an inner wall of the capillary coil receptacle. Optimally, the heating means is a Peltier heating and cooling unit in heat conducting relationship with a heat transfer surface of the heating block.

MIPC chromatographic apparatus with improved temperature control

Disclosed is a system and method which allows user controlled formation, and ejection of droplets of sample analyte containing solutions, thereby enabling precise user directed fractionalization and distributed collection of sample analytes.

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Bellevue, NE, United States of America

John E Sutton