DEVICE FOR THE STUDY OF LIVING CELLS

• US 20110034348A1
• Filed: 12/25/2008
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seng Enterprises Limited
• Original Assignee: Seng Enterprises Limited
• Inventors: Deutsch, Mordechai, Deutsch, Assaf
• Granted Patent: US 9,975,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 506/14
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/041 Connecting closures to device or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0822 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0893 having a very large number of wells, microfabricated wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/12 Well or multiwell plates C12M25/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/22 Transparent or translucent parts glassware for laboratory use B01L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A cell study device, comprising, a base layer, a planar conduit defining layer, including a conduit cut out of the layer; and a planar cover layer which defines a capillary flow channel in said conduit layer, said conduit layer and said cover layer acting as side walls for said capillary flow channel, wherein said layers are formed of materials that do not interfere with cell behavior over a period of at least 5 hours when loaded with aqueous solution.

Claims

1. A cell study device, comprising:

a base layer;

a planar conduit defining layer, separate from said base layer, including a channel open at the top and bottom therein;

a planar cover layer, separate from said base and conduit defining layers, which, together with the walls of said channel and said base layer, forms an enclosed capillary flow channel in said conduit layer; and

a cell holding area on said base layer in fluid contact with said capillary flow channel,

said cell holding area being sized and configured to accommodate and immobilize a single cell or a number of cells for exposure to a sequence of liquid aliquots, thereby permitting study of cells individually,

said layers being formed of materials that do not interfere with cell behavior over a period of at least 5 hours when loaded with aqueous solution.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said cell holding area is formed by a well in said base layer.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said cell holding area includes at least one orientation mark visible under microscopy.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said cell holding area is masked by a masking layer underlying said conduit layer.

5. A device according to claim 1 including a plurality of cell holding areas in fluid communication with said capillary flow channel.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said cover layer includes one or more air holes in communication with the respective cell holding areas for air release from said cell holding areas.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said capillary flow channel terminates at a distal end thereof in a substantially sealed waste reservoir with no fluid exit.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said capillary flow channel terminates at a distal end thereof in a substantially sealed waste reservoir with an absorbent material as a fluid exit.

9. A device according to claim 1, further including a fluid inlet area for said capillary flow conduit formed in said cover.

10. A device according to claim 1, packaged in vacuum.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein said conduit layer is permanently adhesive to said cover layer.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said device is provided with a removable non-stick layer intermediate most of said cover layer and said conduit layer.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein said conduit layer is temporarily adhesive to said cover layer.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device is formed essentially of layered planar layers.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein said conduit layer is adhesive on both its faces.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein said layers are selected of dissimilar materials with dissimilar contact angles with fluids.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device has the form factor of a standard microscope slide.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device has the form factor of a standard microtitter plate.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein said materials do not interfere for at least 24 hours.

20. A device according to claim 1, wherein said cover layer is openable for access to each of said cell holding areas and removal of cells therefrom.

35. A cell study device according to claim 1 comprising:

at least one array of cell holders; and

a double sided adhesive layer masking some of said cell holders, wherein said conduit defining layer is mounted on said adhesive layer.

36. A device according to claim 35, wherein said device comprises a plurality of fluidicly disconnected cell holder arrays.

37. A device according to claim 36 wherein each array includes one or more capillary flow channels separate from capillary flow channels associated with the other arrays.

38. A device according to claim 35 wherein said adhesive layer is apertured.

39. A device according to claim 35, wherein said walls are at least 2 mm high.

60. A cell study device according to claim 1, wherein said cover layer is transparent.

61. A cell study device according to claim 1, wherein said cover layer is flexible.

62. A cell study device according to claim 1, wherein said cover layer is partially adherent to said conduit layer.

63. A cell study device according to claim 1, wherein said array is defined by a plurality of closely packed pits in the surface of said base layer.

64. A cell study device according to claim 1, wherein said channel walls are at least 2 mm high.

21. A kit, comprising:

(a) a cell study device including a capillary flow conduit and a cell holding area; and

(b) at least an indication of one or both of a capillary flow rate and a cell dislocation rate therein.

22. A kit according to claim 21, comprising a plurality of different cell study devices, each with different sets of flow rate and dislocation rate.

23. A kit according to claim 21, wherein said indication is per one or both of fluid property and cell type.

24. A kit according to claim 21, wherein said indication comprises a machine input indication.

25. A kit according to claim 21, wherein said indication comprises a human readable indication.

26. A kit according to claim 21, including instructions explaining said indications.

27. A kit according to claim 21, including software on a computer readable media for using said indications.

28. A pre-assembled and packaged cell study device including:

a capillary flow conduit;

a cell holding area; and

at least one non-adhesive layer, designed for removal and interfering with adhesion of at least two parts of said device, said interfering inactivating said capillary flow conduit.

29. A device according to claim 28, wherein said adhesion is permanent, when said non-adhesive interfering layer is removed.

30. A method of assembling a cell study device, comprising:

(a) selecting desired device characteristics;

(b) selecting device components from a set of pre-manufactured components, said selected components selected to interact to provide said characteristics; and

(c) assembling said components to provide said device with said desired characteristics.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said set includes components of difference wettability.

32. A method according to claim 30, wherein said set includes components defining different capillary flow conduit geometries.

33. A method according to claim 30, wherein said set includes components defining different cell holding area geometries.

34. (canceled)

40-59. -59. (canceled)