Micro-fluidic cell manipulation and holding device

• Main Authors: GILIAM, KIM, JOHN, JUNGER, MICHAEL, CARL, PATEN, KATIE, L, THOMPSON, JEREMY, O'BRIEN, DAVID SEAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 06.04.2011
• Subjects: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE; CHEMISTRY; ENZYMOLOGY; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; SPIRITS; TRANSPORTING; VINEGAR; WINE

A micro-fluidic manipulation device is formed using a plastic material or glass. There is at least one well in the device. The well has a base and a side wall and is dimensioned to receive a cell. There is at least one base fluid port in the base of the well and side fluid ports in the side wall. Each of the base fluid port and the side fluid ports are of a cross sectional area to prevent a cell passing therethrough. Selected flow of fluid through the base port in use assists in supporting a cell in the well and selected flow of fluid through the base port and the side ports in use assists in rotating the cell in the well. The well can have a retention section and a loading section, the loading section being above and larger than the retention section. The loading section can have a loading channel extending to it or alternatively an access hatch. The side fluid ports open into a lower region of the loading section.