Handheld device for electrophysiological analysis
First Claim
1. A disposable pipette tip for a handheld device for analysis of electrophysiological properties of a cellular membrane ion channel in an ion channel containing lipid cellular membrane, said handheld device comprising a handheld body with a housing including a pump and an electronic controller, the disposable pipette tip comprising a pathway for fluid, said pathway connecting an open end of the pipette tip to an analysis substrate adapted to transmit an electrical current through the ion channel in said ion channel-containing lipid cellular membrane, when said lipid cellular membrane is held at a predetermined site of the substrate;
- the disposable pipette tip being configured to be releasably attached to the body of said handheld device, with the open end of the pipette tip being exposed to an exterior environment, and to provide a hydraulic connection between the pump of the handheld body and said pathway, and to provide an electric connection between the electronic controller and at least one electrode of the substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld device for analysis of electrophysiological properties of a cellular membrane ion channel in an ion channel containing lipid cellular membrane includes a handheld body with a pump, an electronic controller, and a disposable pipette tip including a pathway for fluid. The pathway connects an open end of the pipette tip to an analysis substrate in the pipette tip. The substrate is adapted to transmit an electrical current through the ion channel. The handheld body and the disposable pipette tip are configured to releasably attach the pipette tip to the body, to provide a hydraulic connection between the pump and the pathway, and to provide an electric connection between the electronic controller and at least one of the electrodes of the substrate. The electronic controller of the handheld body is configured to operate the assembled device for microfluidic analysis of aspirated fluid.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A disposable pipette tip for a handheld device for analysis of electrophysiological properties of a cellular membrane ion channel in an ion channel containing lipid cellular membrane, said handheld device comprising a handheld body with a housing including a pump and an electronic controller, the disposable pipette tip comprising a pathway for fluid, said pathway connecting an open end of the pipette tip to an analysis substrate adapted to transmit an electrical current through the ion channel in said ion channel-containing lipid cellular membrane, when said lipid cellular membrane is held at a predetermined site of the substrate;
- the disposable pipette tip being configured to be releasably attached to the body of said handheld device, with the open end of the pipette tip being exposed to an exterior environment, and to provide a hydraulic connection between the pump of the handheld body and said pathway, and to provide an electric connection between the electronic controller and at least one electrode of the substrate.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for analysis of electrophysiological properties of a cellular membrane ion channel in an ion channel containing lipid cellular membrane, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a handheld body, the body comprising a housing including a pump and an electronic controller; providing a disposable pipette tip separate from the body, the pipette tip comprising a pathway for fluid, said pathway connecting an open end of the pipette tip to an analysis substrate adapted to transmit an electrical current through the ion channel in said ion channel-containing lipid cellular membrane, when said lipid cellular membrane is held at a predetermined site of the substrate; releasably attaching the pipette tip to the body with the open end of the pipette tip being exposed to an exterior environment, the pump of the handheld body hydraulically connected to said pathway, and the electronic controller electrically connected to at least one of said electrodes of the substrate; operating the pump to aspirate one or more fluids including said ion channel containing lipid cellular membrane into the fluid pathway and substrate of the pipette tip; determining the electrophysiological properties of the cellular membrane ion channel, while the ion channel containing lipid cellular membrane makes contact with at least one of said electrodes of the substrate, and while the electronic controller records current from one of said electrodes; and causing the controller to output data representative of the recorded current. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification