IP Library Granted Patent US 10,401,322
Granted Patent B2
US 10,401,322 · App. 15/303,555 · Granted Sep 3, 2019

Biomolecule analyzer

Inventors: Taiga Tominaga (Sakai, JP); Hideki Kinoshita (Sakai, JP); Shinichi Goto (Sakai, JP); Mieko Hirabayashi (Sakai, JP); Kouhei Kageyama (Sakai, JP); Takateru Matsunaga (Sakai, JP); Kimihiko Yabe (Sakai, JP)
Assignee: Merck LTD.
G01N27/44739G01N27/44773
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,401,322
App. No.
15/303,555
Granted
Sep 3, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A separation unit is a configuration that is arranged vertically, and thus bubbles generating from the electrode will not negatively influence the contact location between the transfer membrane and separation unit. An anode ( 32 ) is arranged at a position separated by a certain distance in the conveying direction (X) of the transfer membrane ( 1 ) from the dispensing part ( 50 a ) of an electrophoresis gel chip ( 50 ). An insulating electrode cover ( 35 ) for setting free bubbles generating from the anode ( 32 ) is arranged at an upper part of the anode ( 32 ).

Claims (44)

1. A biomolecule analyzer, comprising:

a transfer membrane;

a conveying unit that conveys the transfer membrane along a predetermined conveying direction;

a separation unit that perpendicularly abuts the transfer membrane and is installed vertically, separates analyte by way of electrophoresis, and dispenses the analyte that has been separated to the transfer membrane;

an electrode that is disposed at a position separated by a certain distance in the conveying direction from a contact location at the dispensing part between the separation unit and the transfer membrane; and

an insulating electrode cover that is disposed at an upper part of the electrode to abut the electrode or be separated from the electrode, wherein the insulating electrode cover is arranged so that it will constrict an electrical line of force between the electrode and the contact location at the dispensing part during electrophoresis and dispensing of separated analyte onto the transfer membrane.

2. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein one end part of the electrode cover is at a lower part of an end part of the contact location on a side of the electrode.

3. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 2 , further comprising a buffer tank in which the electrode is disposed,

wherein a slit is formed between the one end part of the electrode cover and a bottom face of the buffer tank.

4. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising a buffer tank in which the electrode is disposed,

wherein the electrode cover is curved to a side of the electrode at a lower part of an end part of the contact location on a side of the electrode, so that one end part of the electrode cover is positioned at a lower part of the electrode, and

wherein a slit is formed between the one end part of the electrode cover and a bottom face of the buffer tank.

5. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising a first insulating member that is disposed perpendicularly relative to the transfer membrane at a lower part of an end part of the contact location on a side of the electrode,

wherein the electrode cover is extended until an upper part of the first insulating member, and

wherein a slit is formed between the electrode cover and the first insulating member.

6. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising, at

a lower part of an end part of the contact location on an opposite side to the side of the electrode,

a second insulating member that is disposed perpendicularly relative to the transfer membrane.

7. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode cover slopes relative to the conveying direction, and an end part of the electrode cover that is farther from the contact location is farther from the electrode in a direction orthogonal to an in-plane direction of the transfer membrane, than an end part of the electrode cover that is closer to the contact location.

8. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode cover slopes relative to a direction that is orthogonal to the conveying direction and parallel to an in-plane direction of the transfer membrane.

9. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein a water contact angle to a surface of the electrode cover is no more than 90°.

10. A biomolecule analyzer, comprising:

a buffer solution tank;

a transfer membrane that is disposed inside the buffer solution tank;

a conveying unit that conveys the transfer membrane along a predetermined conveying direction;

a separation unit that perpendicularly abuts the transfer membrane and is installed vertically, separates analyte by way of electrophoresis, and dispenses the analyte that has been separated to the transfer membrane;

an electrode that is disposed at a position separated by a certain distance in the conveying direction from a contact location at the dispensing part between the separation unit and the transfer membrane; and

an insulating electrode cover that is disposed between the electrode and the contact location,

wherein a first concave part is provided at a position on a bottom part of the buffer solution tank that is interposed by the electrode and the contact location, and

wherein the electrode cover hangs down towards the first concave part, and wherein the electrode cover is arranged so that it will constrict an electrical line of force between the electrode and the contact location at the dispensing part during electrophoresis and dispensing of separated analyte onto the transfer membrane.

11. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 10 , wherein a second concave part is provided to the buffer solution tank at a position separated by a certain distance in the conveying direction from the first concave part, and

wherein the electrode is disposed inside the second concave part.

12. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 10 , wherein the electrode cover includes a convex part that hangs down towards the first concave part.

13. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 12 ,

wherein the convex part of the electrode cover consists of a plurality of convex parts,

wherein the first concave part of the buffer solution tank consists of a plurality of concave parts, and

wherein the plurality of convex parts are disposed so as to individually hang down to the plurality of concave parts.

14. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 12 , wherein the convex part of the electrode cover is movably inserted in the first concave part.

15. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 10 , wherein an end part of the electrode cover is movably inserted in the first concave part.

16. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 10 , wherein the first concave part is provided at a lower part of an end part of the contact location on a side of the electrode.

17. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 10 , wherein a face of the electrode cover that opposes the buffer solution tank slopes relative to the conveying direction, and

wherein an end part of the face opposing the buffer solution tank that is farther from the contact location is farther from the electrode in a direction orthogonal to an in-plane direction of the transfer membrane, than an end part of the electrode cover that is closer to the contact location.

18. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 10 , wherein the electrode cover has a side wall that widens towards a bottom face of the buffer solution tank along two sides of the electrode cover that are parallel to the conveying direction.

19. The biomolecule analyzer according to claim 10 , wherein a water contact angle of a surface of the electrode cover is no more than 90°.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2019
From: SHARP LIFE SCIENCE CORPORATION
To: MERCK LTD.
Reel/Frame 048514/0614 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2017
From: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: SHARP LIFE SCIENCE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043100/0818 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2016
From: TOMINAGA, TAIGA; KINOSHITA, HIDEKI; GOTO, SHINICHI; HIRABAYASHI, MIEKO; KAGEYAMA, KOUHEI; MATSUNAGA, TAKATERU; YABE, KIMIHIKO
To: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 040323/0635 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2014-255113 · Dec 17, 2014 · national
JP 2015-034588 · Feb 24, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170276644A1 · Sep 28, 2017