Cooling system for a slab gel electrophoresis apparatus

摘要

Disclosed herein is a gel slab electrophoresis device having novel temperature and heat control capability. The electrophoresis device includes a sample unit having a pair of transversely-spaced first and second plates containing a gel cast, these plates having open top and bottom slots spaced therebetween. An integral part of the apparatus is a heat sink which is in thermal communication with the sample unit, the heat sink constituting a pneumatic circuit for both heat distribution and removal to and from the gel cast. There is also provided upper and lower solution chambers, both filled with conductive solutions, and both in fluid communication with the respective top and bottom portions of the gel. The apparatus also includes an arrangement for applying an electrical potential between the upper and lower solution chambers and, thereby, across the entire vertical length of the gel. Additionally provided is a refrigeration sub-system, the output of which is heat exchanged into the pneumatic circuit.