JPH0220684Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Field of the Invention This invention relates to an electrophoresis device, and in particular, to improvements in an electrophoresis device used for analysis of biological macromolecules such as serum proteins.

Explanation of the prior art Cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis has the following advantages: it has low adsorption of samples and dyes, it can be analyzed with a very small amount of sample, it can perform clear analysis with little migration tailing, and it can process a large number of samples at the same time. Because of its many advantages, including the ability to use liquids such as decalin or liquid paraffin that can almost make cellulose acetate membranes transparent, it has been widely used in clinical testing to analyze serum proteins.

Regarding cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis, in 1965 the Japan Electrophoretic Society announced a standard operating method centered on serum protein fractionation, and the various conditions set forth in this method have little effect on the analytical results. The setting is wide enough to not cause any damage. However, changes in the PH or ionic strength of the buffer used have a very large effect on the analysis results of cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis, so it is necessary to minimize these changes.

Traditionally, buffer solutions are used for a certain period of time (usually about a week)
I left it in the tank and used it while switching the polarity for each electrophoresis. However, even in this case, the PH and ionic strength of the buffer solution are greatly affected by the generation of Joule heat during electrophoresis and the dissolution of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere into the buffer solution. As a result, the analysis results also varied greatly. In addition, when draining the buffer solution such as exchanging the buffer solution or cleaning the electrode tank, whether it is a pumped electrode tank or a circulating type electrode tank using a pump, the buffer solution may spill or the pipes may be connected or removed. The work itself was difficult. Furthermore, in cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis, a barbital (veronal) buffer is often used as the buffer, but this reagent itself is not very favorable to the human body, so it is preferable to avoid contact with it as much as possible.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the main objective of the invention is to provide an electrophoresis device that can eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and facilitate operations such as buffer exchange or drainage.

Structure and effect of the invention To summarize this invention, an electrode tank and a reserve tank are connected by a drain pipe, and an auxiliary pipe is arranged in relation to the drain pipe, and usually the lower end of the auxiliary pipe and the drain pipe are connected. The upper end of the tube is connected to form an overflow tube, and the buffer solution is discharged into the reserve tank through this overflow tube, and the connection between the auxiliary tube and the drain tube is removed to remove dirt and sediment that have accumulated at the bottom of the electrode tank. By doing so, the water is discharged to the reserve tank only through the drain pipe.

Therefore, according to this invention, the buffer solution is constantly circulated to suppress the effects of pH changes and temperature changes on the buffer solution, which prevents deterioration of the buffer solution and reduces the impact on specimen processing. Negative effects can be minimized. In addition, the life of the buffer solution is extended, making it economical. Furthermore, by disconnecting the lower end of the auxiliary pipe and the upper end of the drain pipe, dirt and sediment accumulated at the bottom of the electrode tank can be discharged and removed through the drain pipe, making cleaning inside the electrode tank extremely easy. can be done. In addition, it becomes easy to replace the buffer solution. Furthermore, since the overflow pipe can be formed by adding an auxiliary pipe to the drain pipe, there is no need to provide an overflow pipe separately from the drain pipe, and the structure of the apparatus can be made simple and inexpensive.

This invention will be described in more detail below along with embodiments shown in the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of the auxiliary pipe 26.

In FIG. 1, the electrophoresis apparatus is composed of a main body of a migration tank 1 whose top surface is open, and an upper lid 2 which is detachably provided on the top surface of the migration tank 1.
Inside the migration tank 1, there are a pair of left and right electrode tanks 3, 4 provided with electrodes (not shown), support conveyor belts 5, 6 disposed between the electrode tanks 3, 4, and electrode tanks 3, 4. A support for sandwiching the support 11 between the slip sheets 9 and 10 on which the energizing slip sheets 7 and 8 are placed and lifted by a lift means (not shown) when energized, and the slip sheets 9 and 10. Body press plates 12, 13
and is provided.

The above-mentioned upper lid 2 has a nozzle 2 for supplying the buffer solution.
3 is provided. Each electrode tank 3, 4 has auxiliary pipes 25, 26 and a drain pipe for keeping the liquid level of the buffer solution constant and discharging excess buffer solution to a water receiving tray 24 provided below the migration tank 1. 27 and 28 are provided. Furthermore, the water receiving tray 24 includes an auxiliary pipe 25,
26 and a pipe 29 for returning the buffer solution discharged from the drain pipes 27 and 28 to the reserve tank 20.
will be provided. The buffer solution stored in the reserve tank 20 is supplied to the above-mentioned supply nozzle 23 from the pipe 19 via the blow-up pump 18.

Here, with reference to FIG. 2, the auxiliary pipes 25, 26 and the drain pipes 27, 28, which are the features of this invention, will be described.
will be explained in detail. A rectangular flange 261 is formed at the lower end side of the auxiliary pipe 26 .
This flange 261 is supported by a fixed shaft 262 attached to the bottom of the electrode vessels 3 and 4, and is rotatable around this fixed shaft 262. Note that the distance between the fixed shaft 262 and the auxiliary pipe 26 is
The distance is selected to be approximately equal to the distance between the fixed shaft 262 and the drain pipe 28. Therefore,
When the auxiliary pipe 26 is rotated to a predetermined position, the lower end of the auxiliary pipe 26 and the upper end of the drain pipe 28 are connected. In FIG. 2, this connected state, that is, the first state, is shown by a dotted line,
The state in which the connection is released is shown by a solid line.

Next, the operation during normal use will be explained. In this case, the auxiliary pipe 26 is rotated to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, and its lower end is connected to the upper end of the drain pipe 28. With this, drain pipe 2
8 with an auxiliary pipe 26 added. Also,
At this time, the pump 18 is operating, and the buffer solution stored in the reserve tank 20 is forcibly fed into the electrode tanks 3 and 4. This increases the liquid level of the buffer solution 3 in the electrode tanks 3 and 4.
However, the height of the buffer solution 3 is higher than that of the auxiliary tube 2.
When the buffer solution 3 reaches the upper end of 5, 26, it flows into the auxiliary tube 2.
5, 26, and is discharged into the reserve tank 20 via drain pipes 27, 28. Therefore, at this time, the auxiliary pipes 25 and 26 serve as overflow pipes for keeping the level of the buffer solution 3 constant.

Next, the method of electrophoresis will be explained. After a support 11 such as a cellulose acetate membrane of a predetermined size is appropriately moistened by a bufferization roller (not shown), it is carried into an electrophoresis apparatus by a bufferization roller and conveyor belts 5 and 6. Ru. Next, when the tip of the support body 11 is detected by a detection means (not shown), the feeding by the buffering roller and the conveyor belts 5, 6 is stopped, and the support body 11 is set at a predetermined position on the electrode tanks 3, 4. Ru. Thereafter, a sample is applied onto the support 11 through a window (not shown) in the upper lid 2. Then, the slippers 9 and 10 are lifted up by the lift means, and the support 11 is simultaneously lifted from the conveyor belts 5 and 6 and held between the slippers 9 and 10 and the support pressing plates 12 and 13. Ru. Thereafter, when electricity is applied, migration is performed by the support 11. After the electrophoresis is completed,
The slip plates 9 and 10 are lowered, and the support 11 is again placed on the conveyor belts 5 and 6 and sent out of the electrophoresis apparatus.

In this way, electrophoresis is performed, and in one embodiment of this invention, the electrode tanks 3 and 4 are
The buffer solution inside is replaced. That is, when the electrophoresis is completed, the pump 18 is started, and the buffer solution in the reserve tank 20 is injected into the electrode tanks 3 and 4 from the nozzle 23 through the pipe 19. The injected buffer solution is discharged from the electrode tanks 3 and 4 to the water receiving tray 24 through the auxiliary pipes 25 and 26 and the drain pipes 27 and 28.
Furthermore, it is returned to the reserve tank 20 through the pipe 29. Here, if the pump 18 is operated for a certain period of time, the buffer solution in the electrode tanks 3 and 4 is always replaced with a new circulating solution. Also, if the buffer solution itself deteriorates, it will be necessary to replace it, but the auxiliary tube 2
5 and 26 to the positions indicated by the solid lines as shown in FIG. Fresh buffer can be supplied by exchanging the buffer.

3 and 4 are sectional views showing other embodiments of this invention, particularly FIG. 3 shows the auxiliary tube 30 in use, and FIG. 4 shows the auxiliary tube 30 removed.

Next, another embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 differs from that shown in FIGS. This is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG.
That is, the feature of this embodiment is that the drain pipe 29
This is because an auxiliary tube 30 is provided which is detachable from the auxiliary tube 30. This auxiliary pipe 30 has its lower end connected to the drain pipe 2.
By inserting it into the upper end of 9, it serves as an overflow pipe. Further, when cleaning the electrode tanks 3 and 4 or replacing the buffer solution, the auxiliary pipe 30 may be removed from the drain pipe 29 as shown in FIG. 4.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of essential parts of the auxiliary pipe and drain pipe shown in FIG. 1. 3 and 4 are sectional views of main parts of other embodiments of this invention. In the figure, 1 is a migration tank, 2 is an upper lid, 3 and 4 are electrode tanks, 18 is a pump, 19 is a tube, 20 is a reserve tank, 25, 26, 30 are auxiliary tubes, 27, 2
8 and 29 indicate drain pipes.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) A reserve tank for storing a buffer solution used in electrophoresis to separate samples such as serum proteins coated on a support such as a cellulose astate membrane by electrophoresis; an electrode tank provided with a pair of electrodes; a liquid feeding means for feeding a buffer solution from the reserve tank to the electrode tank; a liquid level adjusting means for keeping the liquid level of the buffer solution in the electrode tank constant; In an electrophoresis apparatus having a drain means for discharging the buffer solution into the reserve tank, the liquid level adjusting means drains the buffer solution in the electrode tank from the bottom of the electrode tank through the drain means, and drains the buffer solution into the reserve tank. A drain pipe for discharging into a tank, and either a first state in which the lower end thereof and the upper end of the drain pipe are connected, or a second state in which the lower end and the upper end of the drain pipe are disconnected. an auxiliary tube provided so as to be able to select either one of the auxiliary tubes, and the auxiliary tube has an overflow for maintaining the level of the buffer solution in the electrode tank at the level of the auxiliary tube state when the auxiliary tube is in the first state. An electrophoresis device characterized by forming a tube. (2) The electrophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary tube is rotatably supported by a shaft fixed to the bottom of the electrode tank. (3) The electrophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary pipe is detachably attached to the drain pipe.