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US 8,476,005 B2Granted
Microfluidic embedded polymer NEMS force sensors
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsBlake W. Axelrod, Michael L. Roukes, Jessica L. Arlett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of screening one or more cells is described; the method includes: (i) providing one or more cells to a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) force sensor; (ii) applying at least one reagent to the one or more cells; and (iii) observing a response of the one or more cells to the reagent with the force sensor, thereby screening the one or more cells.
Claims22
A method of screening one or more cells, comprising:
- providing one or more cells to a nanoelectromcchanical system (NEMS) force sensor that is encapsulated by a microfluidics channel that controls a fluidic environment around the force sensor, wherein the NEMS force sensor comprises a doubly clamped beam that is integrated with a strain sensor, and wherein the strain sensor converts a deformation of the doubly clamped beam into an electrical signal;
- applying at least one reagent to the one or more cells;
- and
- measuring a change in the electrical signal of the strain sensor caused by a lengthening of the strain sensor, thereby observing a response of the one or more cells to the reagent with the NEMS force sensor and screening the one or more cells.
1 more element
A method of evaluating effects of a drug reagent, comprising:
- providing one or more cells to a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) force sensor that is encapsulated by a microfluidics channel that controls a fluidic environment around the force sensor, wherein the NEMS force sensor comprises a doubly clamped beam that is integrated with a strain sensor, and wherein the strain sensor converts a deformation of the doubly clamped beam into an electrical signal;
- applying the drug reagent to the one or more cells;
- and
- measuring a change in the electrical signal of the strain sensor caused by a lengthening of the strain sensor, thereby observing a response of the one or more cells to the drug reagent with the NEMS force sensor.
1 more element
A method of screening one or more cells, comprising:
- providing one or more cells;
- providing a nanoelectromechiancal system (NEMS) force sensor that is encapsulated by a microfluidics channel that controls a fluidic environment around the force sensor, wherein the NEMS force sensor comprises a doubly clamped beam that is integrated with a strain sensor, and wherein the strain sensor converts a deformation of the doubly clamped beam into an electrical signal;
- disposing the one or more cells to a platform which is separate from but adjacent to the NEMS force sensor;
- applying at least one reagent to the one or more cells;
- and
- measuring a change in the electrical signal of the strain sensor caused by a lengthening of the strain sensor, thereby observing a response of the one or more cells to the reagent and effect of the response upon the NEMS force sensor and screening the one or more cells.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.