CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS SYSTEM
The invention is an improved multiplex capillary electrophoresis instrument or module with at least four and preferably six user-accessible vertically stacked drawers. An x-z stage moves samples from the user accessible drawers to the capillary array for analysis. A computer program allows users to add capillary electrophoresis jobs to a queue corresponding to the analysis of rows or plates of samples without stopping or interrupting runs in progress.
1 . An electrophoresis console to enhance workflow, comprising;
a console housing an operable multiplexed capillary electrophoresis system;
a plurality of externally accessible drawers for holding sample plates or buffer plates in said console; and
a motion control system built within said console to move said sample plates or buffer plates from said drawers to an injection position of said capillary electrophoresis system.
2 . The console of claim 1 wherein the motion control system is a rotational encoder.
3 . The console of claim 1 wherein the motion control system is a liner encoder.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 which includes as the externally accessible drawers at least four vertically stacked drawers.
5 . The electrophoresis console according to claim 1 which includes as the externally accessible drawers at least six vertically stacked drawers.
6 . The electrophoresis console of claim 1 , wherein samples can be placed into at least some of said drawers while the instrument is running and collecting electrophoresis data.
7 . The electrophoresis console of claim 1 , which includes an operative computer program that enables multiple users to load multiple samples into said drawers, and to run said multiple samples sequentially while the system is performing electrophoresis.
8 . In a multiplex capillary electrophoresis device, the improvement comprising;
in combination with said electrophoresis device; a sample loader; and
a sample transporter to allow loading and transporting while the device is performing electrophoresis.
9 . The multiplex capillary electrophoresis device of claim 8 , further comprising a computer controller.
10 . In an electrophoresis console which includes a capillary array with a plurality of capillaries that can be filled with an electrophoresis medium; and a fluid handling system for injecting said capillaries with said electrophoresis medium or other fluids, the improvement comprising:
a plurality of externally accessible vertically stacked drawers for holding sample plates or buffer plates in said electrophoresis console; and
a motion control system built into the console that moves said sample plates or said buffer plates from said drawers to an injection position of said capillary array.
11 . The console of claim 10 wherein the motion control system is a rotational encoder.
12 . The console of claim 10 wherein the motion control system is a liner encoder.