The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 21, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 13, 1997
Percy H Rhodes, Huntsville, AL (US);
Robert S Snyder, Huntsville, AL (US);
Other;
Abstract
A novel free-fluid electrophoresis system applicable to both 'analytical' and 'preparative' separations combines the advantages of electrophoresis with those of automated liquid chromatography. The system attains plug flow of sample molecules within a separation column that has a sufficiently small diameter to avoid uncorrected convective dispersions and a sufficiently large diameter to ensure adequate preparative throughput. Sample molecules are introduced by liquid chromatographic-type injection mechanisms and moved to the separation column by means of a highly accurate, low-pressure pumping system. A novel pressure detector monitors pressure across the column during the electrophoretic separation. When the pressure across the column is zero, electroosmotic flow within the column exactly balances pump-induced flow so that there is no lateral dispersion of the separating sample molecules (i.e., plug flow is achieved). The pressure detector is monitored by a computer that controls either the pump and/or the electrophoretic power supply to maintain balance between the pressure-driven flow and the electroosmotically driven flow; alternatively carefully controlled departures from the balance can be maintained to increase throughput. The separated sample molecules can be optically detected within the separation column. When the separated sample molecules leave the separation column, they can be collected using fraction collection equipment similar to that used in liquid chromatography. The use of programmed nonuniform voltage and temperature fields allow for practically unlimited scale-up potential.