Rotating Microfluidic Array Chips
AssigneeZellchip Technologies Inc.
InventorsPaul Chi Hang Li, Hong Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microfluidic chip for carrying out live cell assays and showing observable color change is provided. The microfluidic chip has at least one fluid channel and a plurality of holes punched in a first side of the chip in fluid communication with the at least one fluid channel. Gelled medium containing live cells may be applied to the holes without obstructing the at least one fluid channel. A plain disk is applied to a second side of the chip to seal the fluid channels. Liquid to be distributed to the cells in the holes may be flowed through the at least one fluid channel by spinning the chip. The gelled medium may alternatively contain a reagent to be assayed by producing an observable change upon interaction with a second reagent when the chip is spun.
Claims16
A micro fluidic chip having:
- at least one fluid channel;
- and
- a plurality of holes punched in a first side of the chip in fluid communication with one of the at least one fluid channels.
A method of assaying live cells on a chip, the method comprising:
- applying the cells suspended in medium to holes formed on a first side of the chip, the holes being in fluid communication with sealed fluid channels formed on a second side of the chip;
- permitting the medium to gel in the holes without entering the fluid channels;
- placing a liquid to be applied to the cells in an inlet reservoir of the fluid channels;
- and
- spinning the chip to distribute the liquid through the fluid channels.
A method of assaying observable changes on a chip, the method comprising the steps of:
- applying a medium optionally containing a first reagent to holes formed on a first side of the chip, the holes being in fluid communication with sealed fluid channels formed on a second side of the chip;
- permitting the medium to gel in the holes without entering the fluid channels;
- placing a liquid to be applied to the cells in an inlet reservoir of the fluid channels, the liquid optionally containing a second reagent;
- and
- spinning the chip to distribute the liquid through the fluid channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.