Apparatus and method for the preparation of experiments using proteins contained within gels
US6889727B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 21, 2003 |
| Grant date | May 10, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 21, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2035/1039
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method for dispensing protein-containing materials, such as, for example, pastes, gels, lipidic cubic phases, lipidic mesophases, and mixtures of the foregoing into containers, e.g., wells of assay trays. The invention further provides a method for preparing the aforementioned containers for various experiments involving soluble proteins or membrane proteins or both types of proteins. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes (a) a gel dispenser assembly for dispensing small quantities of gels; (b) a pipette probe for dispensing fluids; (c) an actuator for moving the gel dispenser assembly vertically relative to the pipette probe; (d) a liquid-handling robot having a robot arm for moving the pipette probe and the gel dispenser assembly vertically and horizontally relative to containers, e.g., wells of assay trays; (e) at least one pump for delivering a substantially incompressible fluid to the gel dispenser assembly; and (f) at least one pump for delivering reagents, and, optionally, other materials, to the pipette probe.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.