Patent ID: 6776896
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of forming a high-resistance seal between a biological membrane and an electrode aperture in a partition separating an extracellular compartment from an intracellular compartment in a perfusion chamber, comprising the following steps:delivering an extracellular solution with a biological membrane into said extracellular compartment; withdrawing the extracellular solution from the extracellular compartment while preventing flow of extracellular solution into the intracellular compartment through the electrode aperture; directing the extracellular solution and the biological membrane toward the electrode aperture; monitoring the position of the biological membrane in relation to the electrode aperture; and, as the biological membrane approaches the electrode aperture, inducing fluid flow from the extracellular compartment into the intracellular compartment through the electrode aperture so as to attract the biological membrane to the electrode aperture and produce the formation of a seal between the biological membrane and the electrode aperture; wherein said step of directing the extracellular solution and the biological membrane toward the electrode aperture is carried out by passing the extracellular solution and the biological membrane through a funnel structure having an opening facing the electrode aperture.