Hoefer Pharmacia Biotech, Inc.

Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Inc.

Amersham Biosciences (sf) Corp

Mohammed Rezaul Islam

Urs Steiner

Eric R Hungerman

Lori Hennessy

Robert S Jetter

Richard Alan Flanagan

Doug Read

Hilary Davies

Helene Bredberg-Davies

The present invention involves a gel strip carrier module for a gel strip that reduces the handling of the gel strip and the hands-on-time during preparation of the gel strip for isoelectric focusing. The gel carrier module includes a gel strip chamber that serves as both a rehydration and focusing chamber, and allows the sample to be applied either throughout the entire gel or in a defined zone. The gel carrier module includes a pair of electrodes near opposite ends of the chamber that the gel strip rests on, gel side facing down. The gel carrier module includes a cover with hold-down blocks or pressure blocks to assure reliable, light contact between the gel and the electrodes during focusing. A rehydration buffer is added into the chamber, and the gel strip is gently placed in the chamber, gel side down, for rehydration. The rehydration buffer may include the sample, or, in the event that the sample needs to be applied after rehydration, the gel carrier module includes sample application wells between the electrodes that the sample can be added to after rehydration of the gel strip.

Device for rehydration and electrophoresis of gel strips and method of using the same

A cassette and electrophoretic gel assembly includes a non-conductive cassette, two solid buffer reservoirs, and an agarose gel. The assembly is disposable, and the sample wells on the gel are in standard microtiter plate format. The configuration is such that the gel is continuously in electrical contact with the electrodes in operation despite the production/migration of water and other exudates.

Cassette for gel electrophoresis having solid buffer reservoirs

An improved system for running electrophoresis gels &ldquo;face up&rdquo; is described. The system includes a single gel capacity strip holder, two electrodes, a sample cup, and a cover. The system provides a means of separating basic proteins on any length gel strip and the cup provides a user-friendly means of successfully putting the proteins on the gel face.

Sample loading means for electrophoresis gel strips

Device for rehydration and electrophoresis of gel strips and method of

The present invention involves a power application device including a flat power pad having an electrically insulating support that supports first and second conductive regions. The first conductive region is connected to a positive output terminal of a power supply, and the second conductive region is connected to a negative terminal of the same power supply. The power application device may be used with electrophoresis gel carrier modules of various dimensions having first and second conductive paths leading from the vicinity of each end of the gel to separate external electrical contacts points. The external electrical contact points can each make contact with the conductive regions upon which the electrophoresis gel module sits. When properly positioned on the power pad, the electrophoresis gel module spans the distance between two conductive regions of opposite charge and the external contact points of the electrophoresis module make electrical contact with the conductive regions. A temperature control mechanism is integrated with the power pad for controlling the temperature of the gel during electrophoresis.

Device and method for applying power to gel electrophoresis modules

An apparatus for efficiently circulating and moving a fluid across a workpiece. The apparatus can provide for the automated handling of the fluids used, and is well suited for use in the staining and fixing of biological assays such as electrophoresis gels. The tray of the invention includes first and second side walls, first and second end walls, a first curved wall portion connecting the first side wall and the first end wall, and a second curved wall portion connecting the second side wall and the second end wall. The inclusion of the curved surface in the combination causes mixing to occur efficiently when the tray is 'rocked' from side to side as in the conventional apparatus. Thus, the apparatus of the invention may also include a motor for alternately raising and lowering each end wall of the tray in a rocking motion, thereby causing the fluid to alternately flow towards and away from each end wall. The apparatus can include an automated means for supplying fluid to and from the tray to one or more containers.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Mohammed Rezaul Islam