Microstructures for cell proliferation assays and semen analysis

A apparatus for assessing the motility of cells in a sample, the apparatus comprising a unitary body having a surface with depressed portions that define

• a) an inlet region for receiving the sample;
• b) an outlet region for containing a fluid medium;
• c) a microscale channel fluidly connecting the inlet and outlet regions, for facilitating movement of cells between the inlet and outlet regions;
• and
• d) a non-microscale channel fluidly connecting the inlet and outlet regions for facilitating bulk fluid movement.

A method of assessing cell motility in a sample containing cells, the method comprising

• 1) applying the sample to the inlet region of an apparatus comprising
• a) a base defining a void which contains a liquid medium, the void having the inlet region, an outlet region, and a differentiating region interposed between the inlet and outlet regions;
• b) at least two obstacles connected to the base, the obstacles defining
• i) a microscale flow path between the inlet and outlet regions in the differentiating region of the void and
• ii) a non-microscale flow path between the inlet and outlet regions;
• and
• c) a cover connected to the obstacles;
• and
• 2) assessing movement of cells from the inlet region to the outlet region by way of the microscale flow path.

A method of separating more motile cells from less motile cells in a sample, the method comprising

• 1) applying the sample to the inlet region of an apparatus comprising
• a) a base defining a void which contains a liquid medium, the void having the inlet region, an outlet region, and a differentiating region interposed between the inlet and outlet regions;
• b) at least two obstacles connected to the base, the obstacles defining
• i) a microscale flow path between the inlet and outlet regions in the differentiating region of the void and
• ii) a non-microscale flow path between the inlet and outlet regions, wherein the volume of the non-microscale flow path is at least 10 times the volume of the microscale flow path;
• and
• c) a cover connected to the obstacles, whereby more motile cells are more likely than less motile cells to move from the inlet region to the outlet region;
• and
• 2) collecting more motile cells from the outlet region.

A method of assessing proliferation of cells in a sample, the method comprising

• 1) applying the sample to the inlet region of an apparatus comprising
• a) a base defining a void which contains a liquid medium, the void having the inlet region, an outlet region, and a differentiating region interposed between the inlet and outlet regions;
• b) at least two obstacles connected to the base, the obstacles defining
• i) a microscale flow path between the inlet and outlet regions in the differentiating region of the void and
• ii) a non-microscale flow path between the inlet and outlet regions;
• and
• c) a cover connected to the obstacles, whereby cells in the inlet region can proliferate and give rise to cells which are generated along the microscale flow path;
• and
• 2) assessing the presence of cells along the microscale flow path.

A method of assessing motile cells in a sample obtained from the blood of an animal, the method comprising

• 1) applying the sample to the inlet region of an apparatus comprising
• a) a base defining a void which contains a liquid medium, the void having the inlet region, an outlet region, and a differentiating region interposed between the inlet and outlet regions;
• b) at least two obstacles connected to the base, the obstacles defining
• i) a microscale flow path between the inlet and outlet regions in the differentiating region of the void and
• ii) a non-microscale flow path between the inlet and outlet regions;
• and
• c) a cover connected to the obstacles, whereby motile cells in the sample move along the microscale flow path;
• and
• 2) assessing the presence of cells along the microscale flow path.