Electrophoresis apparatus for simultaneous loading of multiple samples

Abstract

The present invention includes apparatus for simultaneous loading of multiple samples for molecular separation, including a separation area with walls wherein at least one of the walls has apertures having loading sites, a gel located within the separation area, and a plurality of wells within the gel. The apertures are connected to the plurality of wells by channels structurally configured to convey samples from the apertures to the wells. The present invention further includes apparatus for electrophoresis separation having a substantially closed electrophoresis area, an electrophoresis gel located within the electrophoresis area, and multiple rows of wells within the electrophoresis gel, wherein the rows are arranged in a stagger format. A device is provided for delivering samples into wells for molecular separation, having a flat surface with a top side and a bottom side, multiple loading sites on the top side arranged in standard format, multiple apertures on the bottom side arranged in stagger format and leading to the wells, and a channel through the flat surface connecting the loading sites to the apertures. The present invention provides a method for simultaneous loading of multiple samples into an electrophoresis apparatus, including the steps of providing an electrophoresis apparatus having an area with walls defining the area and a gel within the area having multiple wells arranged in stagger format, wherein the walls include apertures having loading sites and channels structurally configured to direct samples into the wells, loading the samples into the loading sites with a standard multiple loading mechanism, and conveying the samples from the loading sites to the wells.

1 - 95 . (canceled) 
     
     
         96 . An apparatus for electrophoresis separation, the apparatus comprising:
 a substantially closed electrophoresis area;   an electrophoresis gel located within the electrophoresis area;   a wall in contact with the electrophoresis gel, wherein the wall comprises a plurality of loading sites and wherein the loading sites are arranged in at least two non-staggered rows; and   a plurality of wells within the electrophoresis gel.   
     
     
         97 . The apparatus of  claim 96 , further comprising at least one ion exchange matrix. 
     
     
         98 . The apparatus of  claim 96 , wherein the plurality of loading sites are configured in a rectangular arrangement. 
     
     
         99 . The apparatus of  claim 96 , wherein the plurality of loading sites are spaced at a predetermined interval. 
     
     
         100 . The apparatus of  claim 99 , wherein, the predetermined intervals comprises loading site spacings in the range of 0.001-20 millimeters. 
     
     
         101 . The apparatus of  claim 96 , wherein the wall forms part of a substantially closed cassette, and wherein the cassette contains the electrophoresis gel therewithin and the cassette comprises electrically conducting electrodes for performing the electrophoresis separation. 
     
     
         102 . A system for conducting an electrophoresis separation, the system comprising:
 an electrical power source;   a substantially closed, disposable cassette for conducting the electrophoresis separation therein, wherein the cassette contains electrically conductive electrodes and a body of electrophoresis gel;   a plurality of wells in the body of electrophoresis gel;   a plurality of loading sites arranged in at least two non-staggered rows, and   wherein the electrical power source is connected to the electrically conductive electrodes of the cassette.   
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 102 , further comprising a support for connecting the electrical power source to the conductive electrodes of the substantially closed cassette. 
     
     
         104 . The apparatus of  claim 102 , further comprising at least one ion exchange matrix. 
     
     
         105 . The system of  claim 101 , further comprising a light source, thereby enabling visualization of the electrophoresis separation while said cassette is in situ. 
     
     
         106 . The system of  claim 102 , wherein the support is configured to connect to one or more gels simultaneously. 
     
     
         107 . The system of  claim 102 , wherein the plurality of loading sites are configured in a rectangular arrangement. 
     
     
         108 . The system of  claim 102 , wherein the plurality of loading sites are spaced at a predetermined interval. 
     
     
         109 . The system of  claim 102 , wherein the predetermined interval comprises loading site spacings in the range of 0.001-20 millimeters. 
     
     
         110 . A method for molecular separation, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an apparatus having a separation chamber having walls defining the separation chamber and a gel within the chamber, wherein said walls comprise a plurality of loading sites arranged in at least two non-staggered rows;   loading at least one sample into at least one row of the plurality of loading sites;   providing an electrical current through said separation chamber so as to allow for separation of the sample according to predefined properties, wherein the predefined properties are molecular size, binding properties, or a combination of molecular size and binding properties.   
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein the sample is loaded into the plurality of loading sites wherein the plurality of loading sites are configured in a rectangular arrangement. 
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein the sample is loaded into the plurality of loading sites wherein the plurality of loading sites are spaced at a predetermined interval. 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein the sample is loaded into the plurality of loading sites wherein the predetermined interval comprises loading site spacings in the range of 0.001-20 millimeters. 
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 110 , further comprising visualizing, the separated sample. 
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 110 , further comprising visualizing the separated sample in situ.