Method and apparatus for monitoring of proteins and cells
First Claim
1. An apparatus for manipulating cells comprising:
- a plate having wells which hold cells;
a controller; and
a pipette means for aspirating a well and controlled by the controller which guides the pipette means to a predetermined position in a well of the plate having a predetermined cell to aspirate the cell with the pipette from the well and place it at another location.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for monitoring proteins and cells. The apparatus includes a plate having wells in which cells are disposed. The apparatus includes means for analyzing the effect or proteins and other biological and chemical moieties on the cells. A method for monitoring of proteins and cells. A method for analyzing a cells. An apparatus for aligning light in a well of a plate for holding cells. A method for lighting a well. A method for determining a condition of a cell. An apparatus for indicating a condition of a cell. A method for establishing a focus profile of a plate having wells for holding cells. A method for manipulating cells. An apparatus for manipulating cells.
103 Citations
59 Claims
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1. An apparatus for manipulating cells comprising:
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a plate having wells which hold cells;
a controller; and
a pipette means for aspirating a well and controlled by the controller which guides the pipette means to a predetermined position in a well of the plate having a predetermined cell to aspirate the cell with the pipette from the well and place it at another location. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for analyzing cells comprising the steps of:
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placing cells in a solution having a methyl cellulose concentration on a plate having between 6 and 9,600 wells with corresponding volumes of approximately 1 to 4% of the total volume of the solution; and
imaging a first well of the plate by visible light tracking;
taking pictures of a second well of the plate;
tracking a third well of the plate by fluorescence, and taking a focal stack of a fourth well of the plate to review 3D motion in the fourth well.
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4. A method for analyzing cells comprising the steps of:
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imaging at least one cell in a first well of a plate with viable light to form a first image;
imaging the cell in the well by fluorescent light to form a second image; and
overlaying the first and second images. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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12. An apparatus for housing cells comprising:
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a container having a plate with a plurality of wells in which cells reside;
means for maintaining a desired humidity in the wells, the maintaining means in contact with the plate and disposed over the wells; and
means for transferring fluid to each well while the maintaining means is in contact with and disposed over the wells.
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17. An apparatus for housing cells comprising:
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a container having a plate with a plurality of wells in which cells reside; and
means for introducing to and removing fluids from each well, the introducing means includes a syringe to introduce liquids into and out of a well, vials which hold desired liquids, and a valve to direct fluids to the vials and paths the cells in the wells. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for aligning light in a well of a plate or holding cells comprising:
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a top portion that is adapted to hold to the plate; and
a bottom portion connected to the top portion that is adapted to extend into the well below a meniscus in the well, the top and bottom portions made of a transparent material which lets light pass through it and be distributed evenly throughout the bottom of the well. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method for determining a condition of a cell comprising the steps of:
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placing a bead coated with a first material in a well of a plate; and
identifying a second material released by a cell in the well by the second material reacting with the first material. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for indicating a condition of a cell comprising:
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a bead; and
a layer of a first material that reacts with a second material that is released from the cell when it is the condition, the layer coating the bead.
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32. A method for lighting a well comprising the steps of:
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placing a top portion of a light alignment apparatus onto a plate having wells so a bottom portion of the light alignment apparatus extends into a well and below a meniscus in the well; and
directing light onto the top portion that is evenly distributed by the bottom portion to the bottom of the well.
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33. A method for establishing a focus profile of a plate having wells for holding cells comprising the steps of:
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taking images at focal points above a current setting and below the current setting; and
applying an image processing sequence to arrive at a focus for the plate. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for manipulating cells comprising the steps of:
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guiding a pipette with a controller to a predefined position in a well of a plate having a predetermined cell;
aspirating the cell with the pipette from the well; and
placing the cell at another location with the pipette at the guidance of the controller. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. A method for monitoring cells comprising the steps of:
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loading one cell in each well of a plurality of wells of a plate; and
causing each cell to move to a corner of each well. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 51, 52)
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48. A method for locating a cell in a well of a plate comprising the steps of:
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placing a bead in each well of the plate; and
focusing a microscope on the bead in each well to facilitate the focus of the microscope on the cell in each well. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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53. An apparatus for monitoring cells comprising:
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a plate having wells in which cells are disposed; and
means for causing each cell to move to a corner of each well, the causing means connected to the plate. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification