Optical cytometry
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for obtaining an image of a cell comprising:
- (a) microscope capable of measuring a feature of interest in a sample;
(b) a detector operatively coupled to the microscope;
(c) a sample assembly comprising an observation chamber adapted to contain the cell, wherein the observation chamber comprises at least one perfusion conduit adapted to circulate a cell media within the chamber;
(d) a reference assembly comprising;
a first optical window;
a first housing element adapted to hold the first optical window;
a second optical window;
a second housing element adapted to hold the second optical window; and
a plurality of spacer elements disposable between the first optical window and the second optical window and adapted to separate the first and second optical windows to a defined distance; and
(e) a plurality of reflective microparticles capable of adhering to the cell, wherein the average diameter of the reflective microparticles is between 0.5 μ
m and 30 μ
m.
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Abstract
The present invention provides optical systems and methods for determining a characteristic of a cell, such as cell type, cellular response to a biochemical event, biological state and the like. The methods typically involve using interferometry to observe membrane properties in a cell and then use this information to determine one or more characteristics of a cell. The methods of the invention are useful for applications such as drug screening as well as diagnostic techniques.
42 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for obtaining an image of a cell comprising:
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(a) microscope capable of measuring a feature of interest in a sample; (b) a detector operatively coupled to the microscope; (c) a sample assembly comprising an observation chamber adapted to contain the cell, wherein the observation chamber comprises at least one perfusion conduit adapted to circulate a cell media within the chamber; (d) a reference assembly comprising; a first optical window; a first housing element adapted to hold the first optical window; a second optical window; a second housing element adapted to hold the second optical window; and a plurality of spacer elements disposable between the first optical window and the second optical window and adapted to separate the first and second optical windows to a defined distance; and (e) a plurality of reflective microparticles capable of adhering to the cell, wherein the average diameter of the reflective microparticles is between 0.5 μ
m and 30 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for obtaining an image of a cell comprising:
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(a) a interference microscope capable of extracting information from interferometric fringes; (b) a detector operatively coupled to the interference microscope; (c) a sample assembly comprising an observation chamber adapted to contain the cell, wherein the observation chamber comprises at least one perfusion conduit adapted to circulate a cell media within the chamber; (d) a reference assembly adapted to substantially match an optical path length of the sample assembly, (e) a plurality of reflective microparticles capable of adhering to the cell, wherein the average diameter of the reflective microparticles is between 0.5 μ
m and 30 μ
m; anda magnet disposed below the observation chamber and oriented coaxially with an optical axis, wherein the magnet is operatively coupled to a motorized micrometer configured to allow the measurement of a z motion of the microparticle in a sample.
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13. A method for observing a property of a cell, the method comprising:
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(a) adhering a reflective magnetic microparticle to the cell; (b) placing the cell in a observation chamber of a interference microscope system capable of extracting information from interferometric fringes, wherein; the observation chamber comprises at least one perfusion conduit adapted to circulate a cell media within the chamber; and a magnet is disposed below the observation chamber and oriented coaxially with an optical axis, wherein the magnet is operatively coupled to a motorized micrometer configured to allow the measurement of a z motion of the microparticle in a sample; (c) exposing the cell coated with the microparticle to a magnetic field using the magnet disposed below the observation chamber; and (d) using the microscope to observe the movement of the microparticle adhered to the cell in response to the applied magnetic field, wherein the movement of the reflective microparticle adhered to the cell correlates to a property of the cell, so that a property of the cell is observed.
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14. A system for obtaining an image of a cell comprising:
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(a) a microscope capable of measuring a feature of interest in a sample; (b) a detector operatively coupled to the microscope; (c) a sample assembly comprising an observation chamber adapted to contain the cells wherein the observation chamber comprises at least one perfusion conduit adapted to circulate a cell media within the chamber; (d) a plurality of magnetic reflective microparticles capable of adhering to the cell, wherein the average diameter of the magnetic microparticles is between 0.5 btm and 30 btm; and (e) a magnet disposed below the observation chamber and oriented coaxially with an optical axis, wherein the magnet is operatively coupled to a motorized micrometer and adapted to exert a magnetic force of between 0 Newtons and 5 nanoNewtons on magnetic reflective microparticles adhered to the surface of the cell.
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Specification