Method and apparatus for monitoring of proteins and cells

An apparatus for housing cells comprising:

• a container having a plate with a plurality of wells in which cells reside;
• and
• means for introducing to and removing fluids from each well, the introducing means includes a syringe to introduce liquids into and out of a well, vials which hold desired liquids, and a valve to direct fluids to the vials and paths the cells in the wells.

An apparatus for aligning light in a well of a plate or holding cells comprising:

• a top portion that is adapted to hold to the plate;
• and
• a bottom portion connected to the top portion that is adapted to extend into the well below a meniscus in the well, the top and bottom portions made of a transparent material which lets light pass through it and be distributed evenly throughout the bottom of the well.

A method for determining a condition of a cell comprising the steps of:

• placing a bead coated with a first material in a well of a plate;
• and
• identifying a second material released by a cell in the well by the second material reacting with the first material.

An apparatus for indicating a condition of a cell comprising:

• a bead;
• and
• a layer of a first material that reacts with a second material that is released from the cell when it is the condition, the layer coating the bead.

A method for lighting a well comprising the steps of:

• placing a top portion of a light alignment apparatus onto a plate having wells so a bottom portion of the light alignment apparatus extends into a well and below a meniscus in the well;
• and
• directing light onto the top portion that is evenly distributed by the bottom portion to the bottom of the well.

A method for establishing a focus profile of a plate having wells for holding cells comprising the steps of:

• taking images at focal points above a current setting and below the current setting;
• and
• applying an image processing sequence to arrive at a focus for the plate.

A method for monitoring cells comprising the steps of:

• loading one cell in each well of a plurality of wells of a plate;
• and
• causing each cell to move to a corner of each well.

A method for locating a cell in a well of a plate comprising the steps of:

• placing a bead in each well of the plate;
• and
• focusing a microscope on the bead in each well to facilitate the focus of the microscope on the cell in each well.

An apparatus for monitoring cells comprising:

• a plate having wells in which cells are disposed;
• and
• means for causing each cell to move to a corner of each well, the causing means connected to the plate.