| 摘要 |
<p>An automated apparatus and system for effecting capillary electrophoresis is disclosed. The system includes two conveyors (R1,R2) for conveying septum sealed vials into registry underneath a cartridge (C) containing a capillary for capillary electrophoresis. The capillary interior of the cartridge is wound in a serpentine path. The capillary depends at its two distal ends downwardly from the cartridge at two spaced apart locations from the bottom surface of the cartridge. The vials, each held in a vial holder, are conveyed until one vial on one conveyor underlies one depending distal capillary end and the other vial on the other conveyor underlies the other depending distal capillary end. Once registry of the vials to the distal capillary ends has occurred, the vials are moved upwardly -- typically by piston assisted movement of vial holders with respect to the conveyors. Such upward piston assisted movement continues until the vials are pierced at a sealing septum by hypodermics. After piercing of the hypodermics, the piston assisted upward movement continues to thread the hypodermic with either a capillary or an electrode for access to the content to the interior of the vial. The apparatus and process actuates a sequence of vials to produce automated capillary electrophoresis. The sequence includes charging the capillary at a first vial with electrolyte and thereafter injecting from a second and different vial a predetermined amount of sample into the electrolyte filled capillary. After sample injection the sequence includes causing paired third and fourth vials of electrolyte to be communicated to the depending ends of the capillary, communicating electrodes to each of the third and fourth vials to produce the required electric force for capillary electrophoresis and permitting the capillaries to be exposed at its distal ends to the electric forces for a sufficient period of time to cause sample classification due to the electrophoresis. Provision is made in the cartridge immediately adjacent one of the ends thereof for detection of the electrophoretically classified components. The detection schemes including fluorescence, light absorption or reflection, light deflection responsive to electrical changing optical index. Upon completion of the electrophoresis, the capillary is recharged with electrolyte and the process endlessly repeated using differing sequences of vial. The continued electrophoresis either uses the same capillary in the same cartridge or a differing capillary mounted to a different cartridge.</p> |
