Microelement device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microelement device comprising:
- a substrate having a plurality of cavities for receiving a liquid containing biological cells;
a plurality of microelements each of which is arranged at a bottom of one of said cavities, each said microelement having a contact surface facing upwardly for electrically contacting one of said biological cells;
a plurality of channels, each extending within said substrate and being in fluid communication with one of said microelements; and
a negative pressure source in fluid communication with each said channel for attracting said cells toward said microelements.
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Abstract
A microelement device has a plurality of microelements, which may be configured as microelectrodes, arranged on a substrate and adapted for making contact to cells present in a liquid environment. The cells are guided onto the microelectrodes, are isolated or are mechanically attracted to the microelectrodes. A negative-pressure force or a hydrodynamic force may be applied on the cells. Also described are a method for making contact to the cells, and a method for manufacturing the microelement device is disclosed.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A microelement device comprising:
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a substrate having a plurality of cavities for receiving a liquid containing biological cells;
a plurality of microelements each of which is arranged at a bottom of one of said cavities, each said microelement having a contact surface facing upwardly for electrically contacting one of said biological cells;
a plurality of channels, each extending within said substrate and being in fluid communication with one of said microelements; and
a negative pressure source in fluid communication with each said channel for attracting said cells toward said microelements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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- 14. The device as defined in 9, wherein the base plate comprises at least a lower signal processing plate and an element plate located thereabove.
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20. A microelement device comprising
a substrate having a plurality of cavities for receiving a liquid containing biological cells; -
a plurality of electrical microelements each of which is arranged at a bottom of one of said cavities, each said microelement having a contact surface facing upwardly for electrically contacting one of said biological cells and being electrically connected to a voltage source establishing an electric field directed for electrostatically attracting one of said cells toward said microelement, and a reference electrode for contacting liquid contained in said cavities. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A microelement device comprising
a substrate comprising a plurality of cavities for receiving a liquid containing biological cells; -
a plurality of electrical microelements each of which is arranged at a bottom of one of said cavities, each said microelement having a contact surface facing upwardly for electrically contacting one of said biological cells;
a plurality of channels, each extending within said substrate and being in fluid communication with one of said cavities; and
an electroosmotic pump means cooperating with each said channel for attracting one of said cells toward one of said microelements. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification