An agarose gel electrophoresis assisted spotter

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of agarose gel electrophoresis auxiliary spot applicator, including electrophoresis tank, glue tank and spot auxiliary plate, electrophoresis tank is the rectangular groove structure of opening in upper end, there is a glue tank in electrophoresis tank and is placed in position, a layer of agarose gel is laid in glue tank, and spot tank is prefabricated on agarose gel;Spot auxiliary plate is placed on the upper end of glue tank, and a plurality of spot holes are provided on spot auxiliary plate, and the position of spot hole and spot tank one-to-one correspondence.The utility model uses the spot applicator with spot auxiliary plate, so that spot tank and spot hole one-to-one correspondence, can ensure that every time sample is added at the same depth, avoid to pierce gel, or wrong to add to gel outside, effectively improve the qualified rate and spot efficiency of spot.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of laboratory equipment and relates to molecular biology experiments, specifically an agarose gel electrophoresis auxiliary sample applicator. Background Technology

[0002] Agarose gel electrophoresis is a commonly used instrument for separating and identifying mixtures of DNA and RNA molecules. In agarose gel electrophoresis experiments, agarose gel is prepared using a gel casting tank. Then, the sample comb used for gel casting is removed, and the gel and casting tank are placed together into the electrophoresis tank. The electrophoresis buffer in the electrophoresis tank completely covers the agarose gel. Samples are then placed onto the gel using a sample pipette through the sample wells. Currently, during gel preparation, a sample comb is used to leave a 4.5mm x 1mm deep (2.5~3.5)mm sample well during gel formation. After the gel solidifies, electrophoresis buffer is added to the electrophoresis tank. During sample placement using a pipette, the tip of the pipette (hereinafter referred to as the pipette tip) must be inserted into the sample well for sample addition. The pipette tip must not be inserted into the bottom of the gel to puncture it. Similarly, the pipette tip should not be used for sample placement outside the sample well.

[0003] Therefore, this spotting operation requires repeated and lengthy practice by the operator. During the spotting process, without using a spotting plate, precise hand movements are required, and pressing the pipette tip can easily cause it to pierce the bottom of the gel, resulting in an improper operation. Even after becoming proficient in spotting, each spotting operation still requires careful and slow operation, resulting in low overall spotting efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention proposes an agarose gel electrophoresis-assisted spotting device, which improves the spotting qualification rate and spotting efficiency.

[0005] The technical problem solved by this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0006] An agarose gel electrophoresis auxiliary spotting device is characterized by comprising an electrophoresis tank, a gel preparation tank, and a spotting auxiliary plate. A gel preparation tank is placed within the electrophoresis tank, and a layer of agarose gel is laid in the gel preparation tank. Spotting slots are pre-formed on the agarose gel. A spotting auxiliary plate is placed at the upper end of the gel preparation tank, and the spotting auxiliary plate is provided with multiple spotting holes, the positions of which correspond one-to-one with the spotting slots.

[0007] Furthermore, the spotting auxiliary plate is provided with multiple spotting holes at even intervals on one side. The spotting holes are tapered through holes with a large diameter at the top and a small diameter at the bottom.

[0008] Furthermore, the upper ends of the two side walls of the glue-making tank are provided with grooves, and the two sides of the spotting auxiliary plate are provided with protrusions, which can be embedded into the corresponding grooves.

[0009] Moreover, the grooves are multiple sets evenly spaced.

[0010] Furthermore, a window is provided on the spotting auxiliary plate, which is located in the middle of the spotting auxiliary plate near the spotting hole.

[0011] Furthermore, the spotting auxiliary plate is equipped with spotting hole numbering labels.

[0012] Moreover, the electrophoresis tank is a rectangular tank structure with an open top. The four sides of the top of the electrophoresis tank are provided with straight outer edges. The electrophoresis tank is symmetrically arranged on both sides in the width direction. The upper ends of the two side walls of the gel casting tank are provided with side wings extending outward, and the side wings are limited and supported on the outer edge of the electrophoresis tank.

[0013] The advantages and positive effects of this utility model are:

[0014] 1. This invention improves upon the instability of manual sample loading during agarose gel DNA electrophoresis experiments. Using the sample loading assist plate, the pipette tip easily passes through the conical groove on the plate, and the tip position is limited by the conical groove, preventing the tip from piercing the gel or failing to enter the loading groove. This effectively reduces the difficulty of the sample loading operation.

[0015] 2. This invention improves the proficiency of users, enabling even those with basic experimental experience to perform the experiment, significantly lowering the barrier to entry. The use of the sample dispensing auxiliary plate ensures the accuracy of each dispensing. For commonly used adhesive combs, the dispensing success rate can reach over 90%. The proficiency requirement for personnel is only less than 5 minutes of instruction, greatly reducing the skill level required.

[0016] 3. Use a sampler with a sample application auxiliary plate to ensure that the sample application slots and application holes correspond one-to-one. This ensures that the sample is applied to the same depth each time, avoiding puncturing the gel or applying the sample outside the gel, and effectively improving the pass rate and efficiency of sample application. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of this sampler.

[0019] Figure 2 yes Figure 1Enlarged view of part A in the image.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the sample auxiliary plate.

[0021] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A partial sectional view along the DD direction in the diagram.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the specific use of this device.

[0023] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Enlarged view of section B in the middle.

[0024] The markings in the diagram represent: 1. Electrophoresis tank; 11. Groove; 2. Sample dispensing auxiliary plate; 21. Auxiliary plate body; 22. Window; 23. Sample dispensing hole; 24. Protrusion; 3. Gel casting tank; 4. Foot screw; 5. Sample dispensing gun tip; 6. Gel; 7. Sample dispensing groove. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the structure and advantages of this utility model clearer, the structure of this utility model will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] In this embodiment, the vertical direction, horizontal direction, front, back, left, right, etc. are all relative position descriptions and do not limit the actual orientation of the product.

[0027] An agarose gel electrophoresis-assisted sample applicator, see attached document. Figure 1 As shown, the system includes an electrophoresis tank 1, a gel casting tank 3, and a sample application auxiliary plate 2. The electrophoresis tank 1 is a rectangular tank structure with an open top. The four sides of the top of the electrophoresis tank 1 are provided with straight outer edges. The width of the electrophoresis tank 1 is symmetrically arranged on both sides.

[0028] An electrophoresis tank 1 contains a gel casting tank 3. The gel casting tank 3 has side walls on both sides. The upper ends of the side walls of the gel casting tank 3 are provided with outward-extending side wings, which are limited and supported on the outer edge of the electrophoresis tank 1. A layer of agarose gel 6 is laid in the gel casting tank 3, and a sample slot 7 is pre-made on the agarose gel 6.

[0029] A sample dispensing auxiliary plate 2 is placed on the upper end of the glue preparation tank 3. The sample dispensing auxiliary plate 2 is provided with multiple sample dispensing holes 23, and the positions of the sample dispensing holes 23 correspond one-to-one with those of the sample dispensing tank 7.

[0030] Each of the four corners of the lower end of the electrophoresis tank 1 is equipped with a foot screw 4. The height of the foot screw 4 can be adjusted by rotating it, thereby adjusting the level of the electrophoresis tank 1.

[0031] See appendix Figure 2As shown, in order to ensure the positional accuracy of the sample dispensing auxiliary plate 2, multiple grooves 11 are evenly spaced on the upper side wings of the two side walls of the glue preparation tank 3. In addition, protrusions 24 are provided on both sides of the sample dispensing auxiliary plate 2. The protrusions 24 can be embedded in the grooves 11, so that the position of the sample dispensing hole 23 is accurately matched with the sample dispensing tank 7.

[0032] The sample dispensing slots 7 are arranged in multiple sets at intervals. The grooves 11 on the gel casting tank 3 are also arranged in multiple sets at intervals. During the experiment, the protrusions are usually fixed in the grooves closest to the sample dispensing position so as to fix themselves and ensure that the sample dispensing plate does not move during the sample dispensing. The sample dispensing auxiliary plate 2 can move on the electrophoresis tank 1 and is positioned by embedding in different grooves 11.

[0033] See appendix Figure 3 , 4 As shown, multiple spotting holes 23 are evenly spaced on one side of the spotting auxiliary plate 2. The spotting holes 23 are tapered through holes with a large diameter at the top and a small diameter at the bottom. The diameter of the spotting holes 23 matches the tip of the spotting gun, limiting the depth of the tip into the groove and the position of the tip, ensuring that the tip smoothly enters the middle position inside the spotting groove 7, and greatly improving the accuracy of the spotting operation.

[0034] A window 22 is provided on the sampling auxiliary plate 2. The window 22 is located in the middle of the sampling auxiliary plate 2 near the sampling hole 23. The window 22 allows for effective observation of the sampling groove 7, ensuring that no mis-sampling or incorrect sampling occurs during the sampling process. In this embodiment, the sampling auxiliary plate 2 is made of a plastic plate with a smooth outer surface.

[0035] The sampling auxiliary plate 2 is equipped with a numbered label for the sampling hole 23 to help operators record the sampling data of the sampling hole 23.

[0036] See appendix Figure 5 , 6 The following are the specific steps for using this device:

[0037] 1. During operation, place the electrophoresis tank on a horizontal workbench, and place a substrate plate inside the electrophoresis tank. The substrate plate contains solidified agarose gel. Place the spotting auxiliary plate on the electrophoresis tank and the substrate plate, securing it in the grooves on the substrate plate and inside the electrophoresis tank at the front, back, left, and right sides to ensure the spotting auxiliary plate is firmly fixed in place.

[0038] 2. After installing the pipette tip, insert it all the way into the conical hole at the corresponding position on the spotting aid plate. The pipette tip position is now the spotting position. Push the pipette handle to complete the spotting.

[0039] The above description is merely an embodiment of this utility model and is not intended to limit this utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An agarose gel electrophoresis auxiliary sample applicator, characterized in that... The system includes an electrophoresis tank, a gel casting tank, and a sample spotting auxiliary plate. A gel casting tank is placed inside the electrophoresis tank, and a layer of agarose gel is laid inside the gel casting tank. Sample spotting slots are pre-made on the agarose gel. A sample spotting auxiliary plate is placed on the upper end of the gel casting tank. The sample spotting auxiliary plate is equipped with multiple sample spotting holes, and the positions of the sample spotting holes correspond one-to-one with the positions of the sample spotting slots.

2. The agarose gel electrophoresis auxiliary sample applicator according to claim 1, characterized in that... The spotting auxiliary plate has multiple spotting holes evenly spaced on one side. The spotting holes are tapered through holes with a larger diameter at the top and a smaller diameter at the bottom.

3. The agarose gel electrophoresis auxiliary sample applicator according to claim 1, characterized in that... The upper ends of the two side walls of the glue-making tank are provided with grooves, and the two sides of the sample-dispensing auxiliary plate are provided with protrusions, which can be embedded into the corresponding grooves.

4. The agarose gel electrophoresis auxiliary sample applicator according to claim 3, characterized in that... The grooves are multiple sets evenly spaced.

5. The agarose gel electrophoresis auxiliary sample applicator according to claim 1, characterized in that... A window is provided on the spotting auxiliary plate, and the window is located in the middle of the spotting auxiliary plate near the spotting hole.

6. The agarose gel electrophoresis auxiliary sample applicator according to claim 1, characterized in that... The spotting auxiliary plate is equipped with spotting hole numbering labels.

7. The agarose gel electrophoresis auxiliary sample applicator according to claim 1, characterized in that... The electrophoresis tank is a rectangular tank structure with an open top. The top four sides of the electrophoresis tank are provided with straight outer edges. The electrophoresis tank is symmetrically arranged on both sides in the width direction. The upper ends of the two side walls of the gel casting tank are provided with side wings extending outwards, and the side wings are limited and supported on the outer edge of the electrophoresis tank.

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