Separation of charged particles by a spatially and temporally varying electric field
US6193866A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 16, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB82Y30/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention relates to a method and device for separating charged particles according to their diffusivities in a separation medium by means of a spatially and temporally varying electric potential. The method is particularly suited to sizing and separating DNA fragments, to generating DNA fragment length polymorphism patterns, and to sequencing DNA through the separation of DNA sequencing reaction products. The method takes advantage of the transport of charged particles subject to an electric potential that is cycled between an off-state (in which the potential is flat) and one or more on-states, in which the potential is preferably spatially periodic with a plurality of eccentrically shaped stationary potential wells. The potential wells are at constant spatial positions in the on-state. Differences in liquid-phase diffusivities lead to charged particle separation. A preferred embodiment of the device is microfabricated. A separation medium fills physically defined separation lanes in the device. Electrodes deposited substantially transverse to the lanes create the required electric potentials. Advantageously, injection ports allow sample loading, and special gating electrode…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.