Patent ID: 8268260
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: B01L,F04B,F16K

Abstract:
1. A microfluidics system for determining and/or monitoring electrophysiological properties of ion channels in ion channel-containing structures comprising: a channel having an inlet and an outlet; a first membrane positioned between and spaced apart from both the inlet and outlet and comprising an aperture having a radius within the range 0.1 to 50 μm, the inlet and the outlet being in hydraulic communication with one another, such that a fluid can move along the channel from the inlet to the outlet; pressure means for creating a pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet, whereby, movement of a fluid within the channel will be halted at the first membrane, due to a surface tension created in the fluid at the aperture, until the pressure means creates a pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet that exceeds the surface tension created at the aperture, so that electrophysiological properties of ion channels in ion channel-containing structures can be determined and/or monitored, and a second membrane comprising an aperture having a radius within the range 0.1 to 50 μm, and being positioned between the inlet and the first volume, wherein the pressure means comprises a pumping device, the system further comprising an enclosed first volume positioned between the inlet and outlet, a second volume in hydraulic communication with the first volume; the pumping device being in hydraulic communication with the first and second volumes, for pumping fluid through the system or for exerting a hydraulic pressure difference between the first and second volume, the first membrane being positioned between the outlet and the first volume.