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Valved, microwell cell-culture device and method

  • US 8,673,625 B2
  • Filed: 09/04/2012
  • Issued: 03/18/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A microarray culture system, comprising(a) a substrate,(b) formed in said substrate, a plurality of microfluidics passageways, each having (i) a well for receiving particles therein, (ii) an inlet channel segment, (iii) an outlet channel segment, (iv) a channel intersection segment having a first channel arm that communicates the inlet and outlet channel segments, and a second channel arm communicating the inlet channel segment with the interior of said well, where the first channel arm flows around a portion of the well, and (v) a porous barrier through which fluid, but not cells, in said well can perfuse from the well into said first arm,(c) associated with each passageway, a first valve disposed in said first channel arm for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet channel segment into the first channel arm, and a second valve disposed in said second channel arm for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet channel segment into the passageway well,(d) a microchannel well-distribution network adapted for supplying input fluid to each of a selected one or more of wells in the passageways, under the control of a plurality of valves associated with the network,(e) first and second microchannel valve-supply networks for supplying fluid pressure to first and second valves in said passageways, respectively,(f) a plurality of reservoirs, each in fluid communication with a channel in said well-distribution network or in said valve-supply network, and(g) a controller for supplying pressurized fluid to selected ones of said reservoirs, thereby to supply fluid to a selected one or more of said microfluidic passageways and to selected ones of said valves.

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