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US 11,229,910 B2Granted
Microfluidic devices and systems for cell culture and/or assay
AssigneesPresident and Fellows of Harvard College, Tufts University
InventorsRichard Novak, Donald E. Ingber, Michael Levin, Rachelle Prantil-Baun
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are microfluidic devices and systems for high density cell culture and/or high throughput cell assays. Methods of using the same are also provided herein. In some embodiments, the microfluidic devices and systems described herein provide rapid and automated trapping of single embryos in ordered arrays.
Claims16
A microfluidic device comprising:
- a main channel system having an inlet, an outlet, a central portion located between the inlet and the outlet, and a plurality of first chambers, the first chambers extending transversely to a first channel segment within the central portion, each of the first chambers having a channel opening that fluidly communicates with the first channel segment and a medium opening located away from the channel opening, each of the first chambers being sized to receive a single target biological specimen from the first channel segment, each of the first chambers being in an upright position and extending transversely only on a lower side of the first channel segment, the channel opening of each of the first chambers being located below the first channel segment in the direction of gravity;
- and
- a medium-manifold system having a medium inlet for receiving a culture medium and a plurality of first connecting channels, each of the first connecting channels distributing the culture medium to a corresponding first chamber of the plurality of first chambers through the medium opening of the corresponding first chamber, each of the first connecting channels being in fluid communication with the medium opening of the corresponding first chamber;
- and
- wherein each of the first connecting channels is configured such that the culture medium exposed to the biological specimen received in the corresponding first chamber does not contact another biological specimen received in another first chamber.
2 more elements
A microfluidic device comprising:
- a main channel system having an inlet, an outlet, a central portion located between the inlet and the outlet, and a plurality of first chambers, the first chambers extending transversely to a first channel segment within the central portion, each of the first chambers having a channel opening that fluidly communicates with the first channel segment and a medium opening located away from the channel opening, each of the first chambers being in an upright position and extending transversely only on a lower side of the first channel segment, the channel opening of each of the first chambers being located below the first channel in the direction of gravity;
- and
- a medium-manifold system that includes a medium inlet for receiving a culture medium and a plurality of first connecting channels, each of the first connecting channels distributing the medium to a corresponding first chamber of the plurality of first chambers through the medium opening of the corresponding first chamber, each of the first connecting channels being in fluid communication with the medium opening of the corresponding first chamber;
- wherein each of the first connecting channels is configured such that the culture medium exposed to the biological specimen received in the corresponding first chamber does not contact another biological specimen received in another first chamber;
- and
- wherein each of the first chambers is sized in a manner such that when the main channel system passes a seeding fluid containing a plurality of target biological specimens through the first channel segment, a first portion of the seeding fluid initially undergoes at a first flow rate through a first receiving chamber of the plurality of chambers and exits through the medium opening, and a second portion of the fluid undergoes at a second flow rate through the first receiving chamber after one of the target biological specimens becomes lodged with the first receiving chamber, wherein the second flow rate is substantially less than the first flow rate so as to reduce the likelihood of a second target biological specimen entering the first receiving chamber.
3 more elements
A microfluidic device comprising:
- a main channel system having an inlet, an outlet, a central portion located between the inlet and the outlet, and a plurality of first chambers, the first chambers extending transversely to a first channel segment within the central portion, each of the first chambers having a channel opening that fluidly communicates with the first channel segment and a medium opening located away from the channel opening, each of the first chambers being in an upright position and extending transversely only on a lower side of the first channel segment, the channel opening of each of the first chambers being located below the first channel in the direction of gravity;
- a medium-manifold system having a medium inlet for receiving a culture medium and a plurality of first connecting channels, each of the first connecting channels distributing the culture medium to a corresponding first chamber of the plurality of first chambers through the medium opening of the corresponding first chamber, each of the first connecting channels being in fluid communication with the medium opening of the corresponding first chamber;
- and
- wherein a seeding fluid comprising a plurality of target biological specimens flows from the inlet, through the first channel segment in a first direction to populate the first chambers with target biological specimens, to the outlet,
- and upon the first chambers being populated with target biological specimens, the culture medium flows past the target biological specimens in the first chambers toward the first channel segment and then within the first channel segment in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.