Patent ID: 6969453
Filing Date: 2005-11-29
Classification: B01D,G01N

Abstract:
1. An electrophoresis apparatus for processing compounds in small sample volumes comprising: (a) a cathode in a static cathode buffer zone or compartment; (b) an anode in a static anode buffer zone or compartment, the cathode disposed relative to the anode so as to be adapted to generate an electric field in an electric field area therebetween upon application of a voltage potential between the cathode and anode; (c) a removable cartridge disposed in the electric field area between the anode and cathode, the cartridge containing a first non-isoelectric separation barrier and a second non-isoelectric separation barrier disposed between a selected one of the cathode buffer zone and the anode buffer zone and the first barrier so as to define a first chamber having an interstitial volume of less than 5 mL therebetween; wherein in use, the removable cartridge containing the non-isoelectric separation barriers is disposed in the apparatus forming the cathode buffer zone and the anode buffer zone, electrophoretic buffer is disposed in the cathode buffer zone and the anode buffer zone, a sample containing one or more compounds is provided to the first chamber; wherein upon application of the voltage potential a selected compound is removed from the sample through one of the first or second non-isoelectric separation barriers and provided to one of the cathode buffer zone or the anode buffer zone; and wherein there is substantially no circulation of buffer or sample in the buffer zones or the first chamber.