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US 8,797,644 B2Granted
Capillary-based cell and tissue acquisition system (CTAS)
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsStanislav L. Karsten, Anatol Bragin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a capillary-based cell and tissue acquisition system that integrates the capillary approach with a microscope manipulator to collect and sort cells of interest. Cells of interest are determined by using a laser beam focus to identify the initial contact between the capillary and the cells.
Claims21
An apparatus for the microscopic collection of a biological sample comprising:
- a microscope stage;
- a capillary tube having a first end comprising a collection orifice adapted to collect a material in the biological sample and a second end adapted to connect to a vacuum source;
- a capillary tube holder operably coupled to the capillary tube;
- a micromanipulator operably coupled to:
- the capillary tube holder;
- or
- the microscope stage;
- a light source adapted to direct a beam of light to the first end of the capillary tube;
- wherein the light source directs the beam of light along the longitudinal axis of the capillary tube to the collection orifice at the first end of the capillary tube so that light is localized at the first end of the capillary tube so as to form an area of illumination at the first end of the capillary tube consisting essentially of light emitted by the light source which indicates the site of capillary tube collection of the material in the biological sample.
6 more elements
A method of collecting a material in a biological sample comprising:
- projecting a beam of light from a light source along the longitudinal axis of a capillary tube having a first end comprising a collection orifice adapted to collect a material in the biological sample, wherein the beam of light is localized to the collection orifice at the first end of the capillary tube so as to illuminate the collection site for a material in the biological sample by forming an area of illumination on the collection orifice, wherein the area of illumination consists essentially of light emitted by the light source;
- visualizing the illuminated collection orifice of the capillary tube via a microscope,
- moving the capillary tube relative to the biological sample via a micromanipulator so as to dispose the collection orifice at a material collection site in the biological sample, and
- aspirating said material into the capillary tube so that the material in the biological sample is collected.
1 more element
A system for the microscopic collection of a biological sample comprising:
- a microscope stage;
- a capillary tube having a first end comprising a collection orifice adapted to collect a material in the biological sample and a second end adapted to connect to a vacuum source;
- a vacuum pump operably coupled to the second end of the capillary tube and having a pneumatic controller that controls the amount of suction applied to the second end of the capillary tube;
- a capillary tube holder operably coupled to the capillary tube;
- a micromanipulator operably coupled to:
- the capillary tube holder;
- or
- the microscope stage;
- and
- a fiber optic cable that directs a beam of red or green light from a light source along the longitudinal axis of the capillary tube so that the beam of red or green light is localized to the collection orifice at the first end of the capillary tube thereby forming an area of illumination on the collection orifice, wherein the area of illumination consists essentially of the red or green light emitted by the light source and indicates a site of capillary tube contact with the material in the biological sample.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.