Capillary electrophoresis cathode systems and methods

Abstract

The present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to a system for measuring capillary electrophoresis current. The system includes a plurality of capillaries ( 206 ), where each capillary has a cathode end and an anode end. The system further includes a plurality of cathode buffers ( 202 ). Each of the cathode buffers is configured to be electrically isolated from the other cathode buffers. Further, each cathode buffer ( 202 ) is associated with one capillary ( 206 ) of the plurality of capillaries. The cathode end of each capillary ( 206 ) is immersed in its associated cathode buffer ( 202 ). The system includes a plurality of current sensors ( 204 ), each current sensor associated with one capillary of the plurality of capillaries for measuring current. In some embodiments, the plurality of capillaries is four capillaries.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for measuring capillary electrophoresis current, the system comprising:
 a plurality of capillaries, wherein each capillary has a cathode end and an anode end;   a plurality of cathode buffers, wherein each of the cathode buffers is configured to be electrically isolated from the other cathode buffers, each cathode buffer is associated with one capillary of the plurality of capillaries, and the cathode end of each capillary is immersed in its associated cathode buffer; and   a plurality of current sensors, each current sensor associated with one capillary of the plurality of capillaries for measuring current.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of capillaries is four capillaries. 
     
     
         3 . A system for measuring capillary electrophoresis current, the system comprising:
 a first capillary and a second capillary, wherein each capillary has a cathode end and an anode end;   a first cathode buffer and a second cathode buffer, wherein the first cathode buffer is configured to be electrically isolated from the second cathode buffer, and the cathode end of the first capillary is immersed in the first cathode buffer and the cathode end of the second capillary is immersed in the second cathode buffer; and   a first current sensor associated with the first capillary and a second current sensor associated with the second capillary for measuring current.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a third capillary and a fourth capillary;   a third cathode buffer and a fourth cathode buffer, wherein the third cathode buffer is configured to be electrically isolated from the fourth cathode buffer, and the cathode end of the third capillary is immersed in the third cathode buffer and the cathode end of the fourth capillary is immersed in the fourth cathode buffer; and   a third current sensor associated with the third capillary and a fourth current sensor associated with the fourth capillary for measuring current.   
     
     
         5 . A system for detecting a liquid level, the system comprising:
 a plurality of cathodes;   an electrolytic buffer, wherein each of the plurality of cathodes is submerged in the electrolytic buffer; and   a capacitance sensor connected to the plurality of electrodes configured to measure capacitance between the plurality of cathodes and the electrolytic buffer.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of cathodes is two cathodes. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the capacitance is proportional to the surface area of the cathodes. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the capacitance is linear with the immersion depth of the cathodes. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of cathodes are cylindrical. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a processor for calculated the immersion depth of the cathodes within the electrolytic buffer.   
     
     
         11 . A system for performing capillary electrophoresis, comprising:
 a capillary system comprising an array of capillaries and a tag configured to provide identifying information about the capillary system;   a high voltage system electrically coupled to the capillary system, the high voltage system comprising a high voltage supply providing a voltage of at least 1 kilovolt and at least one circuit electrically coupled to the high voltage supply;   a low voltage system coupled to the high voltage system;   wherein the tag provides at least one of (1) electrically isolation between the high voltage system and the low voltage system, (2) a data and/or control signal between the high voltage system and the low voltage system, or (3) power from the low voltage system to the high voltage system.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tag comprises a radio frequency identification tag. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tag comprises a dynamic passive near-field communication/radio frequency identification tag. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the high voltage electrical system comprises a least one of liquid level sensor circuit, a capillary current sensor, or a microcontroller. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the low voltage circuit comprises radio frequency identification reader/writer that is coupled to tag. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the tag comprises a radio frequency identification tag or a dynamic passive near-field communication/radio frequency identification tag. 
     
     
         17 . A system for performing capillary electrophoresis, comprising:
 a capillary system comprising an array of capillaries and a tag configured to provide identifying information about the capillary system;   a high voltage system electrically coupled to the capillary system, the high voltage system comprising a high voltage supply providing a voltage of at least 1 kilovolt and at least one circuit electrically coupled to the high voltage supply;   a low voltage system coupled to the high voltage system;   wherein the tag provides electrically isolation between the high voltage system and the low voltage system.   
     
     
         18 . A system for performing capillary electrophoresis, comprising:
 a capillary system comprising an array of capillaries and a tag configured to provide identifying information about the capillary system;   a high voltage system electrically coupled to the capillary system, the high voltage system comprising a high voltage supply providing a voltage of at least 1 kilovolt and at least one circuit electrically coupled to the high voltage supply;   a low voltage system coupled to the high voltage system;   wherein the tag provides a data and/or control signal between the high voltage system and the low voltage system.   
     
     
         19 . A system for performing capillary electrophoresis, comprising:
 a capillary system comprising an array of capillaries and a tag configured to provide identifying information about the capillary system;   a high voltage system electrically coupled to the capillary system, the high voltage system comprising a high voltage supply providing a voltage of at least 1 kilovolt and at least one circuit electrically coupled to the high voltage supply;   a low voltage system coupled to the high voltage system;   wherein the tag provides power from the low voltage system to the high voltage system.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the tag provides a data and/or control signal between the high voltage system and the low voltage system.