Solution phase electrophoresis device, components, and methods

Abstract

A device for fluid phase electrophoresis, particularly solution phase isoelectric focusing, components thereof, and methods for use are presented.

1 . A device for solution phase electrophoretic separation of analytes within a sample, comprising:
 an anode;   a cathode;   a chamber stack disposed between said anode and said cathode; and   chamber stacking means,   wherein said chamber stack comprises a plurality of detachably mated sample chambers aligned along the electrical axis between said anode and cathode, the lumens of said coaxially aligned sample chambers being collectively capable of defining an electrically conductive fluid column therethrough;   wherein said chamber stack further comprises a plurality of junctional partitions, each of said partitions positioned at a different one of the junctions between adjacent sample chambers, said partitions being permeable to ions and to at least a plurality of the analytes in said sample; and   wherein said chamber stacking means is disposed completely external to said chamber stack.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen of each of said sample chambers is rotationally nonsymmetric within the vertical plane orthogonal to the electrical axis. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen of each of said sample chambers is nonsymmetric across the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the lumen of each of said sample chambers is ovoid within the vertical plane orthogonal to the electrical axis. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the lumen of each of said sample chambers has a more acute radius of curvature at the bottom than at the top. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said chamber lumen has a volume of less than about 2 ml. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said chamber lumen has a volume of less than about 1.5 ml. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said chamber lumen has a volume of less than about 1.0 ml. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said chamber lumen has a volume of less than about 750 μl. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said chamber lumen has a volume of about 600-700 μl. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each said sample chamber further comprises at least one port, said at least one port capable of fluidly connecting said chamber lumen with the exterior of said chamber when said chamber is mated within the chamber stack. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein each said sample chamber lumen is ovoid with a more acute radius of curvature at the bottom than at the top, and at least one of said sample chamber ports is at the top of each said chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein each said sample chamber port is inwardly tapered. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sample chambers are capable of mating solely by application of axially directed force. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said mated chambers are incapable of interchamber rotation. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the mating of said chambers positions all said chamber ports upward. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each said partition has the shape of a sample chamber lumen. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein each said partition has an ovoid shape. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a plurality of said partitions have a fixed pH. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein each of said plurality has a different fixed pH. 
     
     
         21 - 96 . (canceled)