Methods and systems for sampling, screening, and diagnosis
First Claim
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1. A system for characterizing cells present in an environment, the system comprising:
- a) a collection device having a plurality of capillary microcosms for collecting or maintaining cells in the environment;
b) a sampling device for sampling cells present in the capillary microcosms; and
c) a characterizing device for characterizing the cells from the capillary microcosms;
wherein the sampling device is adapted to provide a plurality of samples to the characterizing device.
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Abstract
Apparatus, systems, and methods for detecting, screening and sampling of cells are disclosed.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A system for characterizing cells present in an environment, the system comprising:
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a) a collection device having a plurality of capillary microcosms for collecting or maintaining cells in the environment;
b) a sampling device for sampling cells present in the capillary microcosms; and
c) a characterizing device for characterizing the cells from the capillary microcosms;
wherein the sampling device is adapted to provide a plurality of samples to the characterizing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for characterizing cells in an environment, the method comprising:
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a) placing a collecting device in the environment to collect microorganisms, the collecting device comprising;
i) an array of capillary microcosms for trapping cells; and
ii) a housing surrounding the array and having an opening to controllably permit cells from the environment to access the array;
b) retrieving the collecting device from the environment;
c) sampling at least one of the capillary microcosms to obtain at least one sample;
d) analyzing the at least one sample to characterize the cells in the environment. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for optimizing medical treatment for a patient, the method comprising:
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a) providing a device comprising a housing and an array of capillary microcosms, each of the capillary microcosms being in fluid communication with a fluid manifold, and each of the capillary chambers containing either i) a case sample associated with a disease state of the patient or ii) a control sample;
b) subjecting each of said case and control samples to a treatment condition;
c) determining the effect of the treatment condition on each sample; and
d) selecting an optimized medical treatment for the patient. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for screening medical treatments for a patient, the method comprising:
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a) providing a device comprising a housing and an array of test chambers, each of the test chambers being in fluid communication with a fluid manifold, and each of the test chambers containing either i) a candidate pharmaceutical agent or ii) a control;
b) exposing each of said test chambers to a biological fluid of the patient; and
c) determining the effect of the candidate pharmaceutical agent on the biological fluid. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for diagnosing an infectious or parasitic disease condition, the method comprising:
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a) providing a device comprising a housing and an array of test chambers, each of the test chambers being in fluid communication with a fluid manifold and being configured to trap an infectious microorganism or parasite;
b) exposing each of said test chambers to a biological fluid of the patient;
c) identifying a microorganism or parasite trapped in a test chamber. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for testing an agent to determine an effect of the agent on a living organism, the method comprising:
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a) providing a device comprising a housing and an array of capillary microcosms, each of the capillary microcosms being in fluid communication with a fluid manifold, and each of the capillary chambers containing either i) the agent to be tested or ii) a control;
b) subjecting each of said agent and control samples to a fluid environment representative of a living organism; and
c) determining the effect of the agent on the fluid environment.
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39. A method for detecting in a sample a microorganism having a pre-determined phenotype, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) selecting a biomarker for the pre-determined phenotype;
b) providing a sample for testing;
c) detecting by mass spectroscopy the presence or absence of the biomarker diagnostic of a microorganism having the pre-determined phenotype in the sample. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification