Device for the study of living cells
First Claim
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1. A cell study device, comprising:
- a base layer wherein said base layer comprises a socket;
a planar conduit defining layer, separate from said base layer, including an aperture forming side walls of a channel therein;
a planar cover layer, separate from said base and conduit defining layer, which, together with the side walls of said channel and said base layer, forms an enclosed capillary flow channel in said conduit layer in parallel to said base layer and above said base layer, wherein the cross-section of said capillary flow channel is generally perpendicular to said base layer and is sized such that capillary fluid flow results from the attachment of said cover layer to said conduit layer,wherein fluid flow in said capillary flow channel is capillary fluid flow resulting solely from capillary forces within said capillary flow channel;
anda cell holding area positioned within said socket comprising an array of cell-holding picowells on said base layer in fluid contact with said capillary flow channel, said picowells being sized and configured to accommodate and immobilize a single cell or a predetermined number of cells for exposure to a sequence of liquid aliquots delivered by the capillary flow channel, thereby permitting study of cells individually, wherein said capillary fluid flow in said capillary flow channel is horizontal and above said picowells and wherein said cover layer is movable to permit access to said cell holding area.
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Abstract
A cell study device, comprising, a base layer, a planar conduit defining layer, including a conduit cut out of the layer; and a planar cover layer which defines a capillary flow channel in said conduit layer, said conduit layer and said cover layer acting as side walls for said capillary flow channel, wherein said layers are formed of materials that do not interfere with cell behavior over a period of at least 5 hours when loaded with aqueous solution.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1. A cell study device, comprising:
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a base layer wherein said base layer comprises a socket; a planar conduit defining layer, separate from said base layer, including an aperture forming side walls of a channel therein; a planar cover layer, separate from said base and conduit defining layer, which, together with the side walls of said channel and said base layer, forms an enclosed capillary flow channel in said conduit layer in parallel to said base layer and above said base layer, wherein the cross-section of said capillary flow channel is generally perpendicular to said base layer and is sized such that capillary fluid flow results from the attachment of said cover layer to said conduit layer, wherein fluid flow in said capillary flow channel is capillary fluid flow resulting solely from capillary forces within said capillary flow channel; and a cell holding area positioned within said socket comprising an array of cell-holding picowells on said base layer in fluid contact with said capillary flow channel, said picowells being sized and configured to accommodate and immobilize a single cell or a predetermined number of cells for exposure to a sequence of liquid aliquots delivered by the capillary flow channel, thereby permitting study of cells individually, wherein said capillary fluid flow in said capillary flow channel is horizontal and above said picowells and wherein said cover layer is movable to permit access to said cell holding area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A cell study device comprising:
a unitary structure including a base layer, wherein said base layer comprises a socket; the base layer including a cell holding area positioned within said socket, wherein said cell holding area comprising an array of picowells in which the picowells are sized and configured to accommodate and immobilize a single cell or a predetermined number of cells; a second layer permanently adhered to the base layer including an aperture that defines a barrier on the base layer and provides fluid access to the picowell array; and a further layer forming an upwardly extending wall permanently attached to the second layer surrounding the picowell array; the device further including a cover that is separate from or part of the unitary structure, which together with said unitary structure forms an enclosed capillary flow channel in parallel to said base layer, wherein the cross-section of said capillary flow channel is generally perpendicular to said base layer and is sized such that capillary fluid flow in said capillary flow channel is-in parallel to said base layer, and above and in parallel to said picowells results from the attachment of said cover layer to said unitary structure, and wherein said cover is moveable to allow access to said picowell array. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
Specification