US3807604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Frozen gel slicing method and apparatus
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1972-02-24
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Granted: 1974-04-30
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Expires: 1992-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for obtaining highly uniform slices of gel containing bands of RNA by freezing the gel in a cylindrical tube and then introducing the frozen cylindrical gel into a cylindrical sample handling mechanism and a gel slicing apparatus. The gel slicing apparatus has a sub-zero brine bath that surrounds the sample handling mechanism to maintain the frozen gel in a frozen state. The gel slicing apparatus includes a crank, drive screw and plunger positioned to drive the frozen sample. The crank is turned one revolution which forces part of the frozen sample out of the sample handling mechanism a predetermined amount. The extended sample is sliced off and then subjected to analysis. The process is then repeated until all of the frozen sample has been sliced.
Inventors
- 👤 F Schaffer
- 👤 M Soergel
- 👤 D Straube
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:07
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/08; B26D7/10; G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N27/44704; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0405; Y10T83/041; Y10T83/647; Y10T83/6656; Y10T83/6657; Y10T83/666
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for slicing frozen gel comprising: a. a container; b. a sample handling mechanism including an open tube having first and second ends and first and second sealing means; c. said sample handling mechanism being mounted in said container wherein said first end extends through the wall of said container and said second end extends through another part of the wall of said container; d. points intermediate of said first and second ends of said tube are respectively sealed to said container wall by said first and second sealing means; e. an elongated plunger for being inserted into and withdrawn from said one end of said tube; f. means for moving said plunger into said tube by sequential and uniform increments and g. said container contains brine at a sub-zero temperature.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for slicing frozen gel comprising: a. a container; b. a sample handling mechanism including an open tube having first and second ends and first and second sealing means; c. said sample handling mechanism being mounted in said container wherein said first end extends through the wall of said container and said second end extends through another part of the wall of said container; d. points intermediate of said first and second ends of said tube are respectively sealed to said container wall by said first and second sealing means; e. an elongated plunger for being inserted into and withdrawn from said one end of said tube; f. means for moving said plunger into said tube by sequential and uniform increments and g. said container contains brine at a sub-zero temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including: a. a frozen sample positioned in said tube of said handling mechanism and being kept in a frozen state by said brine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: a. said second end of said tube is flat; and b. said means moves said plunger and said plunger moves said sample out through said second end of said tube by sequential and uniform amounts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. one end of said plunger has connected thereto a rubber end piece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 4 including: a. a base; b. said container removably mounted at one end of said base; c. said means includes an elongated drive screw rotatably mounted at the other end of said base; and d. the other end of said plunger being removably connected to one end of said drive screw.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 5 including: a. a support member mounted on said base; b. said support member comprising a pair of elongated flared out pins for receiving one end of said tube of said sample handling mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-29 | 1977-10-29 | 1978-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-29 | 1981-10-29 | 1982-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-29 | 1985-10-29 | 1986-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |