Patent ID: 6554991
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A spot cutter for cutting spots from a loose electrophoresis gel, comprising:a support table including a working region capable of receiving and supporting said electrophoresis gel when said electrophoresis gel is laid loose in the absence of any attached backing material onto said working region; an image detector capable of imaging said electrophoresis gel when said electrophoresis gel is in position on said support table; a means for laying onto said working regions said electrophoresis gel loose in the absence of any attached backing material; a spot cutter head including a hollow punch that is capable of moving downward into contact with said support table, thereby passing through said electrophoresis gel, with said hollow punch cutting out an electrophoresis gel region substantially equal in size to an inner dimension of said hollow punch; a positioning mechanism for positioning said spot cutter head relative to said support table, said spot cutter head being affixed to and movable by said positioning mechanism; and a controller communicating with said image detector and receiving an electrophoresis gel image, positioning said positioning mechanism, and activating said spot cutter head.