Gel loading adapter

Abstract

An adaptor for a multi-channel pipettor which allows the user to load multiple wells of a gel simultaneously using gel loading tips. The adaptor has apertures at the top which lead to channels which travel the length of the adaptor and exit at the bottom. Gel loading tips, already affixed onto a multi-channel pipettor, are inserted into the apertures at the top of the adaptor and the ends of the tips exit the adaptor through apertures at the bottom of the adaptor. The apertures at the bottom of the adaptor are spaced so that they match the spacing of wells for various gels.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An adaptor useful for transferring multiple fluid samples from a first set of receptacles spaced apart by a first spacing to a second set of receptacles spaced apart by a second spacing, comprising: 
 a body, said body defining 
 a first set of apertures at one end of said body, said first set of apertures spaced apart by the first spacing,  
 a second set of apertures at a second end of said body remote from said first end, said second set of apertures spaced apart by the second spacing, and  
 channels within said body connecting said first set of apertures with said second set of apertures.  
   
     
     
         2 . An adaptor as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said body comprises plastic.  
     
     
         3 . An adaptor as defined in    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 an lip coupled to said second end of said body, wherein said second set of apertures is disposed in said lip.    
     
     
         4 . An adaptor as defined in    claim 3   , further comprising: 
 one or more receiving lips coupled to said second end of said body.    
     
     
         5 . An adaptor as defined in    claim 1   , wherein the second spacing is different from the first spacing.  
     
     
         6 . An adaptor as defined in    claim 1   , wherein the second set of apertures are evenly spaced.  
     
     
         7 . An adaptor as defined in    claim 1   , wherein the second set of apertures are unevenly spaced.  
     
     
         8 . An adaptor as defined in    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a means, coupled to said body, for stabilizing and aligning said body over a vertical, substantially vertical, horizontal, or substantially horizontal gel.    
     
     
         9 . An adaptor as defined in    claim 8   , wherein said means for stabilizing and aligning comprises: 
 a base having a body with a back, two sides, and two horizontal support members.    
     
     
         10 . An adaptor as defined in    claim 9   , wherein said base further comprises: 
 an angled ledge, extending downwards and outwards from said back, comprising one or more grooves for slidably receiving therein said receiving lips.    
     
     
         11 . An assembly useful for transferring multiple fluid samples from a first set of receptacles spaced apart by a first spacing to a second set of receptacles spaced apart by a second spacing, comprising: 
 a body, said body defining 
 a first set of apertures at one end of said body, said first set of apertures spaced apart by the first spacing,  
 a second set of apertures at a second end of said body remote from said first end, said second set of apertures spaced apart by the second spacing, and  
 channels within said body connecting said first set of apertures with said second set of apertures; and  
   gel-loading pipette tips inserted into said channels.    
     
     
         12 . An assembly as defined in    claim 11   , wherein said receptacles are wells of an electrophoresis gel.  
     
     
         13 . An assembly as defined in    claim 12   , further comprising: 
 an automated fluid transferring device for transferring fluid from said first set of receptacles to said wells of an electrophoresis gel.    
     
     
         14 . An assembly as defined in    claim 11   , further comprising: 
 a multi-channel pipettor attached to said gel-loading pipette tips.    
     
     
         15 . An assembly useful for transferring multiple fluid samples from a first set of receptacles spaced apart by a first spacing to a second set of receptacles spaced apart by a second spacing, comprising: 
 a body, said body defining 
 a first set of apertures at one end of said body, said first set of apertures spaced apart by the first spacing,  
 a second set of apertures at a second end of said body remote from said first end, said second set of apertures spaced apart by the second spacing, and  
 channels within said body connecting said first set of apertures with said second set of apertures;  
   a base coupled to said body for stabilizing and aligning said body over a vertical, substantially vertical, horizontal, or substantially horizontal gel; and    gel-loading pipette tips inserted into said channels.    
     
     
         16 . An assembly as defined in    claim 15   , further comprising: 
 a multi-channel pipettor attached to said gel-loading pipette tips.    
     
     
         17 . An assembly useful for transferring multiple fluid samples from a first set of receptacles spaced apart by a first spacing to a second set of receptacles spaced apart by a second spacing, comprising: 
 a body, said body defining 
 a first set of apertures at one end of said body, said first set of apertures spaced apart by the first spacing,  
 a second set of apertures at a second end of said body remote from said first end, said second set of apertures spaced apart by the second spacing, and  
 channels within said body connecting said first set of apertures with said second set of apertures; and  
   a multi-channel pipettor inserted into said channels.    
     
     
         18 . An assembly as defined in    claim 17   , further comprising: 
 a base coupled to said body for stabilizing and aligning said body over a vertical, substantially vertical, horizontal, or substantially horizontal gel.    
     
     
         19 . A method for transferring multiple fluid samples from a first set of receptacles spaced apart by a first spacing to a second set of receptacles spaced apart by a second spacing, comprising: 
 (a) affixing gel-loading pipette tips onto a multi-channel pipettor;    (b) drawing fluid from the first set receptacles into the gel-loading pipette tips;    (c) inserting the gel-loading pipette tips into an adaptor, wherein the adaptor has channels leading from at least two apertures at the top of the adaptor, configured to interface with the first spacing, to a second set of apertures at the bottom of the adaptor, configured to interface with the second spacing;    (d) threading the gel-loading pipette tips through the channels so that they extend from the apertures at the bottom of the adaptor; and    (e) dispensing the fluid from the gel-loading pipette tips so that fluid flows through the adaptor into the second set of receptacles.    
     
     
         20 . A method for transferring multiple fluid samples from a first set of receptacles spaced apart by a first spacing to a second set of receptacles spaced apart by a second spacing, comprising: 
 (a) inserting the channels of a multi-channel pipettor into an adaptor wherein the adaptor has channels leading from at least two apertures at the top of the adaptor, configured to interface with the first spacing, to a second set of apertures at the bottom of the adaptor, configured to interface with the second spacing;    (b) drawing fluid from the first set receptacles into the adaptors channels; and    (c) dispensing the fluid from the adaptors channels so that fluid flows through the adaptor into the second set of receptacles.    
     
     
         21 . A kit for transferring fluid from one set of receptacles to another set of receptacles which may have different spacing, which comprises one or more containers wherein: 
 a first container contains an assembly useful for transferring multiple fluid samples from a first set of receptacles spaced apart by a first spacing to a second set of receptacles spaced apart by a second spacing, the assembly comprising 
 a body having channels leading from at least two apertures at the top of the multi-channel pipettor adaptor, configured to mate with the air channels of a multi-channel pipettor, to a second set of apertures at the bottom of the multi-channel pipettor adaptor, and  
 a base for stabilizing and aligning said body over a gel; and  
   a second container contains gel-loading pipette tips.    
     
     
         22 . The kit of    claim 21   , wherein said second container further contains a multi-channel pipettor.  
     
     
         23 . The kit of    claim 21   , wherein said second container further contains a gel-electrophoresis apparatus.  
     
     
         24 . The kit of    claim 21   , wherein said kit further comprises: 
 a third container which contains a multi-channel pipettor.    
     
     
         25 . The kit of    claim 21   , wherein said kit further comprises: 
 a third container which contains a gel-electrophoresis apparatus.    
     
     
         26 . The kit of    claim 21   , wherein said second container contains a multi-channel pipettor.  
     
     
         27 . The kit of    claim 22   , wherein said kit further comprises: 
 a fourth container which contains a gel-electrophoresis apparatus.    
     
     
         28 . A kit for transferring fluid from one set of receptacles to another set of receptacles which may have different spacing, which comprises one or more containers wherein: 
 a first container contains an assembly useful for transferring multiple fluid samples from a first set receptacles spaced apart by a first spacing to a second set of receptacles spaced apart by a second spacing, the assembly comprising 
 a body having channels leading from at least two apertures at the top of the multi-channel pipettor adaptor, configured to mate with the air channels of a multi-channel pipettor, to a second set of apertures at the bottom of the multi-channel pipettor adaptor; and  
   a second container contains an automated fluid transfer device.