Patent ID: 7419575
Filing Date: 2008-09-02
Classification: B01L,C12N,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of releasing the intracellular contents of at least one cell of a cell-containing fluid sample for analysis, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a substrate having a microchannel structure which includes at least one microchannel intersection therein; b. generating an electric field from a source of electric potential, said electric field being applied in a spatially defined region of said at least one microchannel intersection, comprising a cell lysis region, and having sufficient strength to induce cell lysis; and c. causing said cell-containing fluid sample to flow through said cell lysis region, exposing said at least one cell of said flowing fluid sample to said electric filed for a time sufficient to release said intracellular contents of said at least one cell into said fluid sample, thereby providing a volume of analyte in said at least one microchannel intersection, and analyzing said volume of analyte in said microchannel structure.