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US 7,256,040 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for preparing monolayers of cells
AssigneeLeica Mikrosysteme GmbH
InventorHeinz Horstmann
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Abstract
The invention concerns an apparatus for preparing monolayers of cells. The apparatus comprises a container (6) for a cryosubstitution system and an insert (1) for the container, the insert (1) having a surface (1a) and a plurality of orifices (3). An SCS (2) together with a cellular monolayer (20) is insertable into each of the orifices (3). The SCS (2) is thus arranged perpendicular to the surface (1a) of the insert (1).
Claims4
A method for preparing monolayers of cells, comprising the following steps:
- culturing a cellular monolayer on at least one sapphire coverslip (SCS);
- cooling each SCS together with the cellular monolayer in such a way that the formation of ice crystals in the cells of the monolayer is avoided;
- substituting the cellular water in the cells of the monolayer with a suitable medium;
- embedding the cellular monolayer together with the SCS in such a way that the cells of the cellular monolayer on the SCS are surrounded by embedding material, and the SCS is substantially free of embedding material;
- curing the embedding material by irradiation with light of a suitable wavelength;
- cooling the cured embedding material together with the embedded cellular monolayer on the SCS;
- and,
- popping the SCS off from the embedding material.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.