Method and apparatus for cell isolation, growth, replication, manipulation, and analysis

An apparatus for isolation of cells from a liquid medium for cytometric analysis, comprising:

• a cell cage array that comprises a plurality of cell cages, each cell cage comprising a large opening that opens to a cell reservoir, a cell enclosure and at least one small opening adjacent and linking to an enclosed reservoir;
• a liquid medium pump configured to draw liquid medium, comprising a cell suspension, from said cell reservoir to thereby cause liquid to flow from said cell reservoir through cell cages of said cell cage array and to said enclosed reservoir;
• a mechanical element configured to push said cell cage array against a gel layer, thereby said gel layer forming a contiguous barrier to said large openings, to thereby isolate a cell contained in said cell enclosure;
• and
• wherein said large opening has dimensions large enough for a cell to enter said cell cage, and said at least one small opening has dimensions smaller than said cell, prohibiting said cell from exiting said cell cage into said enclosed reservoir.