US 11,933,759 B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods for capillary electrophoresis
Tom W. Yang, Cupertino, CA (US); and David John Roach, Los Gatos, CA (US)
Assigned to ProteinSimple, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by ProteinSimple, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 18, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/707,600.
Application 15/707,600 is a continuation of application No. 14/039,995, filed on Sep. 27, 2013, granted, now 9,766,206.
Prior Publication US 2018/0106758 A1, Apr. 19, 2018
Int. Cl. G01N 27/447 (2006.01); C07K 1/26 (2006.01); C07K 1/28 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 27/44782 (2013.01) [G01N 27/44704 (2013.01); C07K 1/26 (2013.01); C07K 1/285 (2013.01); G01N 27/44726 (2013.01); G01N 27/44791 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a capillary, the capillary being vertically oriented such that a second end of the capillary is disposed directly above a first end of the capillary that is configured to be disposed in a sample well;
a body portion defining a reservoir having a first portion that is disposed above the first end of the capillary and a second portion separated from the first portion by a weir, a bottom surface of the reservoir being horizontally oriented when the capillary is vertically oriented, the reservoir configured to be partially filled with a liquid when the bottom surface of the reservoir is oriented horizontally,
an opening in a top surface of the body portion in fluid communication with the reservoir and the second end of the capillary such that a negative pressure applied to a headspace of the reservoir and the capillary via the opening causes (1) the liquid from the capillary to be drawn into and partially fill the reservoir and (2) a sample to be drawn from the sample well into the capillary when the first end of the capillary is disposed in the sample well;
an absorbent material disposed in the second portion of the reservoir; and
a contact liquid level sensor protruding into the first portion of the reservoir, the contact liquid level sensor being electrically conductive such that when the liquid within the reservoir contacts the contact liquid level sensor, a signal indicative of a quantity of the liquid within the reservoir and above the capillary is produced.