US 4,907,158 A · Method for performing work on cells of a cell culture and apparatus therefor

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method for performing work on cells of a cell culture which includes microinjecting cells in the cell culture or drawing liquid from an individual cell or withdrawing whole cells with the aid of suction from the cell culture. The system is computer-supported and a marker movable in the image on a monitor is superposed on a television image of the cell culture. The marker is positioned in the television image on the cell to be injected by the operator by means of a relative movement of the marker with respect to the image. The coordinates of the cells marked in this way are stored by the computer which thereafter advances the capillary point automatically to the selected cells and penetrates the latter. Pursuant to a feature of an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the computer guides the penetration movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the capillary by means of a superposed movement (k) of the object stage and through a superposed movement of the drive for the elevation displacement (z) of the capillary on the micromanipulator.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of performing work on cells of a cell culture with the aid of a capillary, the work on the cells including any one of the following:

microinjecting the cells or drawing substances out of cells with the aid of suction or drawing entire cells out of the cell culture with the aid of suction;
the cells being mounted on the stage of a microscope for observing the cells, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a capillary in the region of the cells of the cell culture;
observing a television image of the cells on a television monitor obtained from the microscope to which a television camera is connected;
superposing a marking on the television image;
positioning the marking in the television image on the cells selected to be worked upon by means of a relative movement between the latter and said marking and storing the image coordinates of the marked cells in a computer;
converting the image coordinates into object coordinates of a positioning system for positioning the capillary and the stage;
and,
performing the required work on the selected cells by a computer-controlled positioning of the capillary relative to the selected cells and to the object coordinates.

6 more elements

An apparatus for performing work on cells of a cell culture, the work on the cells including any one of the following:

microinjecting the cells or drawing substances out of cells with the aid of suction or drawing entire cells out of the cell culture with the aid of suction;
the apparatus comprising:
a microscope for forming a microscope image of the cells, the microscope defining an optical axis and including:
an object stage movable in at least two directions and adapted for receiving the cell culture thereon;
and, stage positioning means for positioning said stage in said directions;
capillary means for performing the work on selected cells of the cell culture;
a television arrangement including a television monitor for showing said microscope image thereon;
a computer having a graphics capability;
a memory connected to said computer;
graphic means for providing graphic symbols and a graphic marker;
said graphic means including superposing means for superposing the graphic symbols on said monitor;
said graphic means also including interface means for placing a graphic marker on said monitor;
micromanipulator means for accommodating said capillary means;
micromanipulator positioning means for positioning said micromanipulator in at least one direction;
and,
computer program means for converting image coordinates determined by said graphic means into object coordinates and for controlling said stage positioning means and said micromanipulator positioning means via said computer.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for performing work on cells of a cell culture and apparatus therefor

Life of this patent

Method for performing work on cells of a cell culture and apparatus therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16