Patent ID: 8058056

Claim:
A multiple cell trapping device comprising: a substrate comprising: a planar surface; a main channel defined in part by the planar surface, the main channel having a length dimension and a width dimension, wherein the length dimension of said main channel is in a plane roughly parallel to the plane of the planar surface of said substrate; a plurality of lateral openings in a side of said main channel, wherein the plurality of lateral openings are defined in part by the planar surface; wherein at least two lateral openings from said plurality of lateral openings are each operatively connected to respective lateral trapping channels, wherein the respective lateral trapping channels are defined in part by the planar surface, and wherein the lateral trapping channels intersect the main channel at respective ones of the at least two lateral openings; a microfluidic input for introducing cells in a fluid to said main channel; and one or more microfluidic trapping connections for applying negative pressure to said at least two lateral openings such that cells in said main channel can be immobilized at said at last two lateral openings, wherein said cells are immobilized at said at least two lateral openings solely by the pressure difference between the pressure in said main channel and said negative pressure applied by said one or more connections; and one or more electrical connections for applying an electric field to a cell at one of said plurality of lateral openings.