Method and apparatus for monitoring of proteins and cells

• US 6,830,931 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Automated Cell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Automated Cell, Inc.
• Inventors: Houck, Raymond K., Qian, Lei, Koebler, Douglas J., Sachsenmeier, Kris, Arthanassiou, Charalambos N., Bahnson, Alfred Blalock
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIEFKE, SAMUEL P
• Application Number:
  US10/032,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20030082818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 436/63, 436/10, 436/529, 436/530, 436/172, 435/24, 435/4, 435/29, 435/30, 435/7.1
• US Class Current: 436/63
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/02 Water baths; Sand baths; Air baths
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/00 Supporting devices; Holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/24 Methods of sampling, or inoculating or spreading a sample; Methods of physically isolating an intact microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1433 using image recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1443 Auxiliary imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1479 Using diffuse illumination or excitation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1497 Particle shape
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00574 Means for distributing beads
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/101666 Particle count or volume standard or control [e.g., platelet count standards, etc.]

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring proteins and cells. The apparatus includes a plate having wells in which cells are disposed. The apparatus includes means for analyzing the effect or proteins and other biological and chemical moieties on the cells. A method for monitoring of proteins and cells. A method for analyzing a cells. An apparatus for aligning light in a well of a plate for holding cells. A method for lighting a well. A method for determining a condition of a cell. An apparatus for indicating a condition of a cell. A method for establishing a focus profile of a plate having wells for holding cells. A method for manipulating cells. An apparatus for manipulating cells.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing 3D motion of cells comprising the steps of:

placing cells in a solution having a methyl cellulose concentration on a plate having between 6 and 9,600 wells with corresponding volumes of approximately 1 to 4% of the total volume of the solution; and

imaging a first well of the plate by visible light tracking;

taking pictures of a second well of the plate;

tracking a third well of the plate by fluorescence, and taking a focal stack of a fourth well of the plate to review 3D motion in the fourth well.

2. A method for analyzing cellular performance comprising the steps of:

imaging at least one cell in a solution in a first well of a plate having a methyl cellulose concentration of approximately 1 to 4% of the total volume of the solution with visible light to form a first image;

imaging the cell in the well by fluorescent light to form a second image; and

overlaying the first and second images.

3. A method as described in claim 2 including the step of taking successive fluorescent images over time and analyzing the successive images to determine cellular performance.

4. A method as described in claim 2 including the step of taking successive visible images over time and analyzing the successive images to determine cellular performance.

5. A method as described in claim 2 including the step of taking multiple visible and fluorescent images over time and overlaying them on one another and differences between successive overlaid images are analyzed to determine cellular performance.

6. A method as described in claim 3 including the steps of taking differences between the images and analyzing them to produce time related kinetic information on cellular performance.

7. A method as described in claim 6 wherein the kinetic information on cellular performance includes information on the effect of proteins and/or other biological or chemical moieties on cellular performance.

8. A method as described in claim 6 wherein the measurement of cellular performance is performed based upon a statistical analysis of time-related and kinetic parameters.