Patent ID: 8357530
Filing Date: 2013-01-22
Classification: B01L,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. A microfluidic device capable of capturing animal cells contained in a sample at one-cell level by a plastic micromesh, comprising sequentially an upper substrate consisting of a plastic flat plate wherein a sample-supply opening and a sample-discharge opening are formed on a surface and a groove for forming a microchannel communicating the sample-supply opening and the sample-discharge opening is provided on a lower surface; a plastic upper flat plate forming the microchannel by cooperating with the upper substrate, the plastic upper flat plate being provided with an aperture for a plastic micromesh at a position corresponding to a part of the microchannel; a micromesh-holding flat plate consisting of the plastic micromesh having a plurality of micro through-pores for capturing cells at a position corresponding to a downward side of the aperture of the plastic upper flat plate, and a holding plate holding the plastic micromesh; a plastic lower flat plate provided with an aperture for suctioning at a position corresponding to a downward side of the plastic micromesh of the micromesh-holding flat plate; and a lower substrate consisting of a plastic flat plate wherein a suction opening is formed on a surface and a groove for forming a suction channel which communicates the aperture for suctioning and the suction opening by cooperating with the plastic lower flat plate is provided on an upper surface; wherein the micro through-pores for capturing cells of the plastic micromesh have an inverted mortar-like shape or a cylindrical shape, the plastic upper flat plate is constituted by a softer plastic as compared to the upper substrate, and the upper substrate and the plastic upper flat plate, or the plastic upper flat plate and the micromesh-holding flat plate are mountably and dismountably constructed.