Patent ID: 6495340
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: B01L,C12M

Abstract:
A cell carrier grid containing and retaining individual living cells in an array of predefined discrete locations, the cell carrier grid comprising;(a) a body that defines a first and a second outer surface, said body having an ordered array of holes therethrough, each of said holes communicating between said first outer surface and said second outer surface; (b) an organizational plan, said plan being applied to the positioning of said holes on said body such that a position of each of the holes is identifiable so that the holes form the array of predefined discrete locations; (c) wherein each of said holes is sized to contain at least a portion of an individual living cell therewithin, in that each hole has: (i) a first cross section at said first outer surface of such dimensions that at least a portion of said individual living cell can pass through said first cross section without suffering substantial damage; (ii) a second cross section at a level intermediate between said first and said second outer surfaces of such dimensions that the individual living cell cannot pass through the second cross section; (iii) a height between said first outer surface and the level of the second cross section such that at least a portion of said individual living cell is containable within said hole, and said individual cell is retained therein; wherein said body is designed and constructed such that said individual cells contained within said holes reside substantially in a single focal plane during analysis; and wherein accuracy of data collected from said individual cells within said holes is increased because said cells reside substantially in a single focal plane.