Methods and devices related to a regulated flow electroporation chamber

• US 7,771,984 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxcyte, Inc. (Entremed, Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Maxcyte, Inc. (Entremed, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Li, Linhong, Chopas, Nicholas, Dzekunov, Sergey
• Primary Examiner(s): Beisner; William H
• Application Number:
  US11/127,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20050282200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 435/173.6, 435/285.2
• US Class Current: 435/285.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• 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: C12M 35/02 Electrical or electromagnetic means, e.g. for electroporation or for cell fusion
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/00 Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation controlling or regulating chemical, physical or physicochemical processes B01J19/0006; heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00; electro optical investigation of individual particles, flow cytometers G01N15/14; automatic analysis G01N35/00; controlling or regulating in general G06N

Abstract

The electroporation chamber and its related devices combine the features of an electroporation chamber that acts as a manifold for regulation of sample flow with those of a flow electroporation device to form a regulated flow electroporation device. The invention further comprises a novel regulated flow electroporation chamber that enables conditions in which a sample is uniformly processed in individual fractions or volumes in a fully closed (sterile) system.

Claims

1. A flow electroporation device comprising:

(a) an electroporation chamber having a top and bottom portion containing at least two parallel electrodes, the chamber being formed between the two electrodes and having two chamber ports in the bottom portion of the electroporation chamber and two chamber ports in the top portion of the electroporation chamber;

(b) at least one sample container that is in fluid communication with the electroporation chamber through a first chamber port in the bottom portion of the chamber and the electroporation chamber is in fluid communication with the sample container through a separate second chamber port in the top portion of the chamber, forming a first fluid path; and

(c) at least one product container that is in fluid communication with the electroporation chamber through a separate third chamber port in the bottom portion of the chamber and the electroporation chamber is in fluid communication with the product container through a separate fourth chamber port in the top portion of the chamber, forming a second fluid path

wherein at least one fluid path is an aseptic fluid path.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the product container is also used as a non-sample gas reservoir.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sample container is also used as a non-sample gas reservoir.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one pump operatively coupled to at least one fluid path.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sample container is collapsible, expandable or fixed volume.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the product container is collapsible, expandable or fixed volume.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein fluid flow in the device is directed by the opening or closing of one or more fluid paths of the device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second fluid path are alternatively open and closed.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein fluid flow is modulated by one or more pumping means.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the pumping means is a pump.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the peristaltic pump is a full compression peristaltic pump.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein fluid flow is modulated by valves.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein fluid flow is modulated by a pumping means.