Automated electrophoresis gel manipulation apparatus and method

Abstract

An automated, computer controlled assembly is provided for continuously processing a large number of electrophoresis gels. The assembly includes a loading assembly for loading a gel onto a carrier, a gel staining assembly and a scanning and cutting assembly. The staining assembly and the scanning and cutting assembly each include a robotic arm that is able to capture a gel and transfer the gel to selected work stations and can transfer the gel between the respective robotic arms.

1 . An automated apparatus for processing an electrophoresis gel comprising: 
 a first recording assembly for receiving identifying information of a second dimension electrophoresis gel slab;    a second recording assembly for receiving identifying information of a gel clamp where said gel clamp is capable of supporting and transporting said gel slab; and    a computer coupled to said first recording assembly and said second recording assembly for cataloging a selected gel slab with a selected gel clamp.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first recording assembly comprises a support for receiving a second dimension electrophoresis gel cassette having identifying information; and 
 a reader for reading said identifying information and sending an identifying signal to said computer.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said identifying information is printed indicia and wherein said reader is able to read said indicia.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said identifying indicia is a bar code and said reader is a bar code reader.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second recording assembly comprises a support for supporting said gel clamp; and 
 a reader for reading said identifying information on said gel clamp.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said support receives a plurality of said gel clamps.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said identifying information on said gel clamp is printed indicia and wherein said reader is able to read said printed indicia.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said printed information is a bar code and wherein said reader is a bar code reader.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein-said reader is mounted in a fixed location with respect to said support.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a manually operated switch coupled to said first recording assembly and said second recording assembly.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said support comprises a rack for receiving a plurality of said gel clamps in a row and wherein said reader is oriented to read said identifying information on a selected gel clamp in a predetermined location.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a shield to shield said identifying information of said gel clamps from said reader that are not in said predetermined location.  
   
   
       13 - 47 . (canceled)  
   
   
       48 . A gel processing apparatus for processing a second dimension electrophoresis gel slab, said apparatus comprising: 
 a first gel slab processing device for processing said gel slab;    a robotic arm assembly for manipulating said gel slab and maneuvering said gel slab into a substantially horizontal processing position of said first gel processing device; and    an operating computer operatively coupled to said robotic arm for controlling said robotic arm to maneuver said gel slab into said processing position.    
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said robotic arm is movable between a first position for receiving said gel slab and said processing position.  
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said robotic arm includes a substantially flat support surface for supporting said gel slab.  
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said first position of said robotic arm is at an incline.  
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said robotic arm assembly is movable in a substantially horizontal direction and in a substantially vertical direction.  
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein said robotic arm assembly is pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis between a vertical position and a horizontal position.  
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , further comprising a gel slab supporting member having a dimension for supporting and transporting said gel slab, said supporting member being removably coupled to said robotic arm.  
   
   
       55 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein said robotic arm assembly includes a coupling assembly for removably coupling to said supporting member.  
   
   
       56 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein said robotic arm assembly is movable between a gel receiving position and a horizontal position.  
   
   
       57 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein said robotic arm assembly is movable in a horizontal direction to insert said supporting member and said gel into said first processing device.  
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein said first processing device is a gel scanning device for capturing an image of said gel.  
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a second gel slab processing device and wherein said robotic assembly is programmed to move said supporting member and said gel slab from said first processing device to said second processing device.  
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein said second processing device is a cutting device for cutting and excising a gel sample from said gel slab.  
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein said gel slab is coupled to a clamp assembly for griping an edge of said gel slab and suspending said gel slab in a vertical orientation, and wherein said supporting device is dimensioned to receive said clamp.  
   
   
       62 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , further comprising a gel relaxing and flattening device for enabling said gel to lay substantially flat on said supporting member.  
   
   
       63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein said robotic arm assembly is operable to insert said supporting member and gel into said relaxing device to flatten said gel.  
   
   
       64 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , further comprising an actuating device for opening said clamp for a time sufficient to relieve stress in said gel slab and allow said gel slab to lay substantially flat on said support.  
   
   
       65 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , further comprising a pressing member for applying a localized pressure on said gel to flatten said gel on said supporting member.  
   
   
       66 . The apparatus of  claim 65 , wherein said pressing member is a stationary roller.  
   
   
       67 . The apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein said relaxing member includes a base for supporting said supporting member and wherein said roller is spaced above said base, said robotic arm assembly being operable to insert said supporting member into said relaxing device whereby said roller flattens said gel.  
   
   
       68 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , further comprising a supporting member removably coupled to said robotic assembly for receiving and supporting said gel slab and a washing device for washing said support member, and wherein said robotic assembly is movable to a wash position.  
   
   
       69 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein said robotic arm assembly is operable to move said support member to a substantially vertical orientation when in said wash position.  
   
   
       70 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein said washing device includes a spray nozzle for directing a wash liquid onto said supporting member.  
   
   
       71 . The apparatus of  claim 70 , wherein said washing device includes an air outlet for directing drying air onto said support member.  
   
   
       72 . The apparatus of claims  68 , wherein said washing device comprises a plurality of spray nozzles for spraying a wash liquid to a first side and to a second side of said supporting member for a time sufficient to wash said supporting member, and wherein said robotic arm assembly is operable to move said supporting member between sides of said supporting member.  
   
   
       73 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein said washing device includes an air knife positioned for directing a stream of drying air to said first and second sides of said supporting member.  
   
   
       74 . The apparatus of claims  72 , further comprising a control system for automatically operating said robotic arm assembly to position said supporting member in said washing device, operating said spray nozzles to spray wash liquid onto said supporting member and to operate said air knife to direct air onto said supporting member.  
   
   
       75 . A method of scanning an image of a stained electrophoresis gel and excising selected gel spots from the gel by an automated assembly, said method comprising the steps of: 
 capturing said stained electrophoresis gel on a supporting member that is removably coupled to an automated arm assembly,    transferring said supporting member to a gel scanning device by said automated robotic arm assembly,    scanning said gel and capturing an image of said gel and identifying selected spots to be excised and generating a cutting signal for cutting said selected spots,    transferring said supporting member from said scanning device to a gel cutting device by said automated robotic arm assembly, and    directing said cutting signal to said cutting device for automatically operating said cutting device and cutting and removing said selected spots from said gel.    
   
   
       76 . A method of  claim 75 , further comprising operating said automated arm assembly by a computer control system to transfer said supporting member to said scanning device.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein said scanning device sends a signal to said control system indicating completion of said scanning step, and said control system actuates said robotic arm assembly to transfer said supporting member to said cutting device.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein said cutting device sends a signal to said control system indicating completion of said cutting step, and said control system actuates said robotic arm assembly to remove said supporting member from said cutting device.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein said control system actuates said robotic arm assembly to position said supporting member in a gel flattening device and flattening said gel on said supporting member.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 79 , further comprising removing air bubbles trapped between said supporting member and said gel to flatten said gel.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein said flattening device includes a stationary roller and said method comprises moving said gel below said roller and displacing said air bubbles from between said supporting member and said gel, said control system actuating said robotic arm assembly to move said gel below said roller.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 81 , further comprising transferring said gel and supporting member from said gel flattening device to said scanning device by said robotic arm assembly.  
   
   
       83 . An apparatus for leveling an electrophoresis gel on a supporting member, comprising: 
 a base member having a dimension for receiving said supporting member and said gel, and    a pressing member for applying a localized pressure toward said base member for leveling said gel on said supporting member.    
   
   
       84 . The apparatus of  claim 83 , wherein said pressing member is positioned above said base member and substantially parallel thereto.  
   
   
       85 . The apparatus of  claim 84 , wherein said pressing member is spaced from said base member a distance to contact bulges in said gel.  
   
   
       86 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein said pressing member is in a fixed location with respect to said base member.  
   
   
       87 . The apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein said pressing member is a cylindrical shaped roller mounted on a shaft, said roller being mounted for free rotation on said shaft.  
   
   
       88 . The apparatus of  claim 86 , further comprising a guide member for guiding said supporting member below said pressing member.