US 9,126,199 B2Granted

Hanging drop plate

AssigneeUniversitat Zurich Prorektorat Forschung

InventorsWolfgang Moritz, Jens Kelm, Pierre-Alain Clavien, Simon Philip Hoerstrup

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Abstract

A hanging drop plate and a method of cultivating cells or of producing molecular aggregates in at least one liquid volume that adheres to a drop contact area of such a hanging drop plate. The hanging drop plate has a body with a first surface and a second surface that is essentially coplanar to the first surface. The second surface has a drop contact area for adherently receiving a liquid volume. The drop contact area is distinguished from a surrounding area by a relief structure that prevents spreading of the liquid volume on the second surface of the body. The body has at least one conduit that mouths into the drop contact area from the direction of the first surface of the body. A liquid volume is applied to the drop contact area through a communicating conduit. Cells and/or molecules can be introduced into this liquid volume.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A set for cultivating cells or for producing molecular aggregates, the set comprising a hanging drop plate;

wherein the hanging drop plate comprises a body with a first surface and a second surface that is essentially coplanar to the first surface and that comprises at least one drop contact area for adherently receiving a liquid volume for cultivating cells or for producing molecular aggregates therein, the at least one drop contact area being distinguished from a surrounding area by a relief structure that prevents spreading of the liquid volume on the second surface of the body, wherein the body further comprises at least one conduit that leads into the at least one drop contact area from the direction of the first surface of the body, the conduit comprising a culture compartment that is situated close to the second surface of the body and that comprises at least a part of the drop contact area,
wherein the culture compartment comprises a widened portion of the conduit, and
wherein the culture compartment has a shape consisting of a truncated cone,
the conduit comprises the culture compartment, a second truncated cone oriented such that a larger diameter opening of the second truncated cone is proximate the first surface of the body, and a capillary portion in communication with a smaller diameter opening of the truncated cone and a smaller diameter opening of the second truncated cone.

1 more element

A method of cultivating cells or of producing molecular aggregates in at least one liquid volume that adheres to a drop contact area of a hanging drop plate;

wherein the hanging drop plate comprises a body with a first surface and a second surface that is essentially coplanar to the first surface and that comprises at least one drop contact area for adherently receiving a liquid volume for cultivating cells or for producing molecular aggregates therein, the at least one drop contact area being distinguished from a surrounding area by a relief structure that prevents spreading of the liquid volume on the second surface of the body, wherein the body further comprises at least one conduit that mouths into the at least one drop contact area from the direction of the first surface of the body, and wherein a liquid volume is applied to a drop contact area through a conduit that leads into the drop contact area from the direction of the first surface of the body, the conduit comprising a culture compartment that is situated close to the second surface of the body and that comprises at least a part of the drop contact area,
wherein the culture compartment comprises a widened portion of the conduit, and
wherein the culture compartment has a shape consisting of at least one of:
a first truncated cone oriented such that a larger diameter opening of the first truncated cone is arranged at the second surface of the body;
and
½ of a hyperboloid, wherein the shape comprises a divergent part of the hyperboloid.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/120,215Filed 22 Sep 2008
Published: US 2011/0306122 A115 Dec 2011
Granted: 8 Sep 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B01L 3/5085
Rigid containers without fluid transport within: for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
C12M 25/01
Means for supporting, enclosing or fixing the microorganisms, e.g. immunocoatings: drops
B01L 2300/0829
Rectangular shaped: multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
B01L 2300/0858
Specific forms of parts of containers: side walls