Patent ID: 8377277

Claim:
A method for controlling the flow of one or more fluids in an electrophoresis device, comprising the steps of: providing an electrophoresis device comprising: a loading channel in fluid communication with a first and second sample port, a separation channel connected to the loading channel to form a first intersection, an injection channel connected to the separation channel to form a second intersection and in fluid communication with a first reservoir, wherein the separation channel is in fluid communication with a second reservoir, wherein the injection channel is configured to receive and deliver a part of the sample from the loading channel to the first reservoir; and loading at least one of a buffer solution and a sieving matrix into the separation channel and the injection channel from one or more of the first and second sample ports and the first and second reservoirs; loading a sample into the loading channel from one of the first and second sample ports; applying a first potential electrically coupled to the first sample port and the first reservoir to move the sample into the loading channel towards the first reservoir and form a sample plug in the separation channel; and applying a second potential electrically coupled to the first sample port and the second reservoir to move the sample plug into the separation channel towards the second reservoir.