US 5,506,141 AGranted

Apertured cell carrier

AssigneeBar-Ilan University

InventorsArye Weinreb, Mordechai Deutsch

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Abstract

An apertured cell carrier defines first and second outer surfaces and comprises an ordered array of holes therethrough, the holes being in identifiable positions on the carrier and sized to contain individual living cells, the cross sections of the holes at the first outer surface and at a level spaced from the first outer surface, as well as the height between the first outer surface and the level of the second cross section, being defined. Preferably, the ordered array comprises at least one sub-group of uniformly shaped holes sized to accommodate individual living cells of the same size. The carrier may contain entire living cells or substantially entire living cells, held within individual holes. The carrier may be supported on a holder, in which case the carrier is preferably constructed to include a device for aligning it with a complementary device on the holder, whereby the individual addresses of holes in the carrier are identifiable by a set of x and y coordinates. The carrier may be integral with the holder.

Claims21

Dependent claims

Apparatus for holding living cells at identifiable locations comprising:

an apertured cell carrier which comprises a body that (a) defines first and second outer surfaces, and (b) has an ordered array of holes therethrough, each hole extending from the first outer surface to the second outer surface,
wherein:
the positions on the carrier of the holes are identifiable, and
each hole is sized to have the ability to contain an individual living cell having a generally spherical shape therewithin, one living cell only per hole, in that each hole has:
(i) a first cross section at the first outer surface of such dimensions that the individual living cell can pass through the first cross section without suffering substantial damage,
(ii) a second cross section at a level intermediate between the first and second outer surfaces of such dimensions that the individual living cell cannot pass through the second cross section, and
(iii) a height between the first outer surface and the level of the second cross section such that either the entire individual living cell or substantially the entire individual living cell is containable within the hole, but two of said individual living cells are not containable within the hole.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/239,885Filed 9 May 1994 · continuation
Priority: CH 2897/8210 May 1982
Granted: 9 Apr 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G01N 15/10
Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials: investigating individual…
C12M 23/12
Form or structure of the vessel: well or multiwell plates
C12M 45/22
Means for pre-treatment of biological substances: means for packing or storing viable microorganisms
C12Q 1/24
Involving viable microorganisms: methods of sampling, or inoculating or spreading a sample; Methods of physically isolating an intact microorganisms

Family

Serial489,605Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 May 1983
Serial550,233Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Nov 1983
Serial165,070Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Mar 1988
Serial737,920Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Jul 1991
US 5,310,674 AParent of this continuation
US 4,729,949 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,506,141 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.