Patent ID: 8030092
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A controlled electrophoresis method, comprising: introducing a sample into a transport passage of a multi-dimensional electrophoresis apparatus; the multi-dimensional electrophoresis apparatus including a first separation passage intersecting the transport passage at a first overlapping portion, a first analyte concentrator at the first overlapping portion to concentrate a first analyte of interest, a second separation passage intersecting the transport passage at a second overlapping portion, and a second analyte concentrator at the second overlapping portion to concentrate a second analyte of interest; passing the introduced sample in the transport passage into the first overlapping portion so that the first analyte of interest in the sample is concentrated in the first analyte concentrator; passing the introduced sample in the transport passage into the second overlapping portion so that the second analyte of interest in the sample is concentrated in the second analyte concentrator; localizing the first analyte concentrator and thereby increasing the concentration of the first analyte of interest by the first analyte concentrator; localizing the second analyte concentrator and thereby increasing the concentration of the second analyte of interest by the second analyte concentrator; releasing the first analyte of interest concentrated in the first analyte concentrator into the first separation passage; releasing the second analyte of interest concentrated in the second analyte concentrator into the second separation passage; delivering the released first analyte of interest in the first separation passage to an analyte detection zone which identifies and characterizes the first analyte of interest; and delivering the released second analyte of interest in the second separation passage to the analyte detection zone which also identifies and characterizes the second analyte of interest wherein: an intersection of the transport passage and the first separation passage has a staggered configuration such that the first overlapping portion is an elongated passage portion of the first separation passage and contains the first analyte concentrator; and/or an intersection of the transport passage and the second separation passage has a staggered configuration such that the second overlapping portion is an elongated passage portion of the second separation passage and contains the second analyte concentrator.