Scratch wound assay device
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
InventorsKatherine M. Malinda, Alan O. Kusakabe, Annette B. Wysocki, James V. Sullivan
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Abstract
An apparatus having at least one template opening for causing a substantially reproducible injury to a cell, organ or tissue layer. The apparatus is useful in determining the effects of cell growth and migration agents in model wounds produced in the cell, organ or tissue layer. Also provided are methods of using the apparatus including juxtapositioning the apparatus to cells on a cell growth substrate and disrupting cells thereon.
Claims21
A method of disrupting cells, comprising:
- positioning a device including a template opening in proximity to a cell growth substrate having cells thereon;
- exposing the cells to a disruption medium through the template opening;
- and
- disrupting the exposed cells by contacting such cells with the disruption medium.
An apparatus for use with a disruption medium for disrupting cells, the apparatus comprising a template opening to guide the disruption medium and thereby limit disruption of the cells, wherein the apparatus is designed to be placed in proximity to cells on a growth substrate.
An apparatus for guiding a scratch stick device during disruption of a cell, organ or tissue layer, the apparatus comprising:
- a template opening sized to receive the scratch device and guide a tip thereof protruding from said template opening during disruption of a cell, organ or tissue layer,
- wherein the apparatus is designed to be placed in proximity to cells on a growth substrate.
A tray, comprising:
- a) at least one well having an opening at the top and bottom and defining a first predetermined volume, and
- b) a template opening defining the bottom of the well, wherein a scratch stick device may be inserted through the template opening, wherein the tray is designed to be placed in proximity to cells on a growth substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.