System for locating cells and for cellular analysis
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsRobin Miles, Jackie Crawford, Allen Christian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for locating a cell for analysis. A capture structure is provided with a flow channel in the capture structure and a capture well in the flow channel. A fluid flows along the fluid flow channel and through the capture well. The cell flows with the fluid along the flow channel into the capture well but no further. In one embodiment a capture structure is provided and a flow channel and capture well are located in the capture structure. A fluid carrying the cell flows along the fluid flow channel and into the capture well. The cell flows into the capture well but no further.
Claims21
An apparatus for capturing a cell for analysis, comprising:
- a capture structure,
- a flow channel in said capture structure,
- a capture well in said capture structure that is operatively connected to said flow channel,
- a fluid operatively located in said flow channel and said capture well,
- a small hole in said capture well that is large enough for said fluid to flow through said capture well but smaller than the cell so that the cell is captured and located in said capture well for analysis, and
- a system for applying suction to said, wherein said fluid carries the cell so that the cell is captured in said capture well for analysis.
An apparatus for locating a cell for analysis, comprising:
- a chip,
- a capture well extending through said chip,
- a system for applying suction to said capture well,
- a fluid,
- a fluid flow channel in said chip leading to said capture well, and
- a small hole in said capture well that is large enough for said fluid to flow through said capture well but smaller than the cell so that the cell is captured and located in said capture well for analysis.
An apparatus for locating a cell for analysis, comprising:
- a chip,
- capture well means extending through said chip,
- means for applying suction to said capture well,
- a fluid, and
- a fluid flow channel leading to said capture well,
- wherein said capture well means includes a small hole large enough for said fluid to flow through said capture well but smaller than the cell so that the cell is captured and located in said capture well for analysis.
A method of locating a cell for analysis, comprising the steps of:
- providing a chip, a capture well extending through said chip that includes a small hole large enough for said fluid to flow through said capture well but smaller than the cell, a fluid, and a fluid flow channel leading to said capture well;
- and
- providing fluid flow along said fluid flow channel and through said capture well in said chip, wherein the cell flows with the fluid along said flow channel into the capture well but no further.
A method of locating a cell for analysis, comprising the steps of:
- providing a capture structure, a flow channel in said capture structure,
- a capture well in said flow channel, and a fluid;
- and
- providing fluid flow along said fluid flow channel and through said capture well, wherein the cell flows with the fluid along said flow channel into the capture well but no further.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.