Capillary electrophoresis system

Abstract

The invention is an improved multiplex capillary electrophoresis instrument or module with at least four and preferably six user-accessible vertically stacked drawers. An x-z stage moves samples from the user accessible drawers to the capillary array for analysis. A computer program allows users to add capillary electrophoresis jobs to a queue corresponding to the analysis of rows or plates of samples without stopping or interrupting runs in progress.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrophoresis console to enhance workflow, comprising;
 a console housing an operable multiplexed capillary electrophoresis system;   a plurality of externally accessible drawers for holding sample plates or buffer plates in said console; and   a motion control system built within said console to move said sample plates or buffer plates from said drawers to an injection position of said capillary electrophoresis system.   
     
     
         2 . The console of  claim 1  wherein the motion control system is a rotational encoder. 
     
     
         3 . The console of  claim 1  wherein the motion control system is a liner encoder. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which includes as the externally accessible drawers at least four vertically stacked drawers. 
     
     
         5 . The electrophoresis console according to  claim 1  which includes as the externally accessible drawers at least six vertically stacked drawers. 
     
     
         6 . The electrophoresis console of  claim 1 , wherein samples can be placed into at least some of said drawers while the instrument is running and collecting electrophoresis data. 
     
     
         7 . The electrophoresis console of  claim 1 , which includes an operative computer program that enables multiple users to load multiple samples into said drawers, and to run said multiple samples sequentially while the system is performing electrophoresis. 
     
     
         8 . In a multiplex capillary electrophoresis device, the improvement comprising;
 in combination with said electrophoresis device; a sample loader; and   a sample transporter to allow loading and transporting while the device is performing electrophoresis.   
     
     
         9 . The multiplex capillary electrophoresis device of  claim 8 , further comprising a computer controller. 
     
     
         10 . In an electrophoresis console which includes a capillary array with a plurality of capillaries that can be filled with an electrophoresis medium; and a fluid handling system for injecting said capillaries with said electrophoresis medium or other fluids, the improvement comprising:
 a plurality of externally accessible vertically stacked drawers for holding sample plates or buffer plates in said electrophoresis console; and   a motion control system built into the console that moves said sample plates or said buffer plates from said drawers to an injection position of said capillary array.   
     
     
         11 . The console of  claim 10  wherein the motion control system is a rotational encoder. 
     
     
         12 . The console of  claim 10  wherein the motion control system is a liner encoder.