Patent DE-102005061811-A1 (DE)
Title: Sample chamber for admission of liquid or liquid-containing biological samples, comprises two chamber walls spaced from each other, a sample area, an observation area, media connection connected to the sample area, and tempering equipment
Inventor: GOROSHKOV ALEXANDER
IPC: C12M3/00
Filed: 2005-12-23
Abstract: The sample chamber for admission of liquid or liquid-containing biological samples, comprises two chamber walls spaced from each other, a sample area limited by the chamber walls, an observation area (30), a media connection (13, 14) connected to the sample area and arranged for the introduction of a liquid medium in the area, and a tempering equipment. In the sample area, a sample is accessible in the observation area for analysis. One of the chamber walls is formed in the observation area from optically transparent material. The sample chamber for admission of liquid or liquid-containing biological samples, comprises two chamber walls spaced from each other, a sample area limited by the chamber walls, an observation area (30), a media connection (13, 14) connected to the sample area and arranged for the introduction of a liquid medium in the area, and a tempering equipment. In the sample area, a sample is accessible in the observation area for analysis. One of the chamber walls is formed in the observation area from optically transparent material. Capillary force gradients are formed between the chamber walls and the media connection. One of the capillary force gradients is formed between the media connection and a liquid tube and is applied to the observation area of a capillary force vector. A maximum capillary force is pressed in the observation area between the chamber walls of the fluid medium. A capillary force gradient is formed along the liquid tube by a surface that increases hydrophilic characteristics and/or decreases hydrophobic characteristics. The capillary force gradient is formed along the liquid tube through spacer gradients, which distinguish a reduction of the light width of the sample area between the media connection and the observation area. One of the chamber walls is formed along the spacer gradients by high liquid-attracting surface and/or low liquid-repulsing surface. The media connection is formed adjacently to the spacer gradient and to the observation area. A capillary force gradient is adjusted spatially and/or temporally changeable. One of the chamber walls is formed in the observation area from glass or plastic and/or carries a scaling. The chamber wall possess a thickness of less than 200 mu m. One the chamber walls possesses a maximum wettability at the observation area. The media connection is arranged relative to the observation area on different sides of the sample chamber. The liquid tube is formed between the observation area and each medium connection. The sample chamber exhibits a gas connection (15) for gas supply or gas removal and/or for pressure balance. Spacers are arranged between the chamber walls. The liquid tube is limited on single-piece of an inner wall and extends between the chamber walls. The spacers are formed through the inner wall, which is porous or partially permeable. The inner wall exhibits a liquid attractive and/or liquid repulsive surface. The width and/or form of the liquid tube changes between the media connections and the observation area. A gel surface is intended for admission of gel in the sample area. The liquid tube exhibits the maximum capillary force in the gel surface and a part of the fluid tube flows through the gel surface, which is limited on single-piece of the inner wall. The inner wall size is equal to the size of a standard-cover glass for the microscopy. The chamber wall possesses different large surfaces, where the larger chamber wall completely covers the smaller chamber wall and projects on an edge with contact area. The media connection is arranged at one of the chamber walls and flows to the contact area. An elastic material covering device (20) is intended and is laterally locked with the sample area. The covering device exhibits a stair profile (21), which is laterally laid on the chamber wall. A plastic transparent chamber body exhibits a holder for the chamber wall and is formed as single-piece. The chamber body exhibits a continuous opening in which the stair profile is formed at the internal edge of the opening. The opening of the chamber body exhibits a one-sided conical enlargement for the approximation of an optical measuring instrument at the sample area. The chamber body contains a liquid- and gas media line, which flows into the sample area at the media connection. The media connection is arranged in a wall of the chamber body and exhibits a funnel-shaped recess for forming spacer gradients. The media lines are arranged coaxially in lockable manner and exhibit an elastic material locking device. The sample chamber is equipped with an injection device, which is importable in the sample area and is equipped with an electrode mechanism. The injection device exhibits a hollow injection channel, which exhibits a point at a free end and a lateral outlet opening. The electrode mechanism comprises electrodes, which are arranged on one of the chamber walls and projects through openings in one of the chamber walls in the sample area. The chamber body is formed as multi-way chamber body and is made of plastic, titanium, glass or stainless steel through autoclaving or UV-irradiation. Independent claims are included for: (1) an injection channel; and (2) a method for admission of liquid medium in a sample chamber.