Apparatus for microscopic observation of long-term culture of single cell
First Claim
1. (Amended) An apparatus for the microscopic observation of long-term culture of a single cell, which enables the isolation, long-term culture and observation of a particular cell of aim, comprising a cell culture container comprising a cell culture region consisting of a hole with a diameter larger than or equal to 1 μ
- m and smaller than or equal to 1 mm and a depth less than or equal to 100 μ
m created on a substrate, said cell culture region comprising a means for trapping and mowing one cell for isolating a particular cell, a semi-permeable membrane with a molecular weight of 10,000 of more and a pore size of 0.2 μ
m or smaller covering the cell culture region, and a culture medium exchange region on top of the semi-permeable membrane;
a means for supplying culture medium to the cell culture container; and
an optical microscopic means for long-term microscopic observation of a cell within the cell culture region.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Novel technical means is provided with a cell culture container having a cell culture region made of a hole formed on a substrate, a semi-permeable membrane covering a top plane of the cell culture region and a culture medium replacement part provided over the semi-permeable membrane, means for supplying a cell culture medium into the cell culture container, and microscopic optical means for enabling long-term observation of the cell within the cell culture region. The novel technical means makes it possible to culture a cell group originating from a particular single cell, to perform culture and observation, while identifying cells to be subjected to interaction during the process of culturing cells, to spray a substance which interacts with cells, for example, a drug such as a signal substance onto only a particular cell in a cell group which is being cultured so that cells are cultured at a constant cell density, and observe a difference in variation between the particular cell and other calls. There is also provided novel means which makes it possible to collect only a cell assuming a particular state and perform analysis or biochemical measurement of a gene of the cell, an expressed mRNA and the like.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. (Amended) An apparatus for the microscopic observation of long-term culture of a single cell, which enables the isolation, long-term culture and observation of a particular cell of aim, comprising
a cell culture container comprising a cell culture region consisting of a hole with a diameter larger than or equal to 1 μ - m and smaller than or equal to 1 mm and a depth less than or equal to 100 μ
m created on a substrate, said cell culture region comprising a means for trapping and mowing one cell for isolating a particular cell, a semi-permeable membrane with a molecular weight of 10,000 of more and a pore size of 0.2 μ
m or smaller covering the cell culture region, and a culture medium exchange region on top of the semi-permeable membrane;
a means for supplying culture medium to the cell culture container; and
an optical microscopic means for long-term microscopic observation of a cell within the cell culture region. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- m and smaller than or equal to 1 mm and a depth less than or equal to 100 μ
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2. (Cancelled)
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5. (Cancelled)
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6. (Cancelled)
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11. (Cancelled)
Specification