Multiple-site chemotactic test apparatus and method
AssigneeNeuro Probe Incorporated
InventorRichard H. Goodwin, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A simple chemotactic apparatus and method wherein surface tension is used to hold cell suspensions, chemotactic factors, and control fluids in place on membrane filters. In some embodiments, chemotaxis factors and controls are placed on one side of a membrane filter, and cell suspensions are placed on the other. Gravitational flow is limited by the effect of surface tension on the fluids. In some of the preferred embodiments, grids, sheets, or occluding materials are used to further limit the gravitational fluid flow.
Claims43
A method for performing chemotactic tests comprising:
- (a) providing at least one membrane filter having a top and bottom side;
- (b) placing drops of chemotactic factor at a first set of preselected locations on the top side of said at least one membrane filter;
- (c) placing drops of controls at a second set of preselected locations on the top side of said at least one membrane filter;
- (d) turning said at least one membrane filter over such that the top side of said at least one membrane filter is now considered the bottom side of the at least one membrane filter wherein the chemotactic factors and controls are now on the bottom side of said at least one membrane filter;
- (e) placing drops of cell suspensions on the top side of said at least one membrane filter, said drops of cell suspensions being placed opposite to the drops of chemotactic factors and controls;
- (f) waiting an amount of time sufficient to allow the surface tension forces to equal the gravitational forces, thus stabilizing the chemotactic factors, controls, and cell suspensions and allowing a concentration gradient of the chemotactic factor to form;
- (g) incubating said at least one membrane filter;
- and
- (h) determining the response of the cell suspensions to the chemotactic factor concentration gradients and the controls.
A chemotactic apparatus comprising:
- (a) at least one membrane filter having a top and bottom side and further having a pattern on the surfaces of the at least one filter defining the positions of a first and second set of preselected locations;
- (b) drops of chemotactic factor located at the first set of preselected locations on the top side of said at least one membrane filter;
- (c) drops of controls located at the second set of preselected locations on the top side of said at least one membrane filter;
- and
- (d) drops of cell suspensions located on a side of said at least one membrane filter opposite to the side having the chemotactic factors and controls, said drops of cell suspensions being juxtaposed to the drops of chemotactic factors and controls.
A chemotactic apparatus comprising:
- (a) at least one membrane filter having a top and a bottom surface;
- (b) a grid having holes, said grid being attached to either one of the top surface and the bottom surface of each of said at least one membrane filter;
- (c) drops of chemotactic factor located on said at least one membrane filter inside a first preselected set of holes in said grid;
- (d) drops of controls located on said at least one membrane filter inside a second preselected set of holes in said grid;
- and
- (e) drops of cell suspensions located on a side of said at least one membrane filter opposite to the side having the chemotactic factors and controls, said drops of cell suspensions being located opposite to the drops of chemotactic factors and controls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.