Patent ID: 8603806

Claim:
A device for performing dynamic cellular assays utilizing a microplate reader, the device comprising: a plate having a plurality of vessels, each vessel having a bottom and at least one wall extending around said bottom to define a cavity operable to hold a fluid therein, the cavity having a first area and a second area, the first area and the second area lying on a common horizontal plane normal to a detected emission direction, and the second area is at least about three times larger than the first area; a plurality of cell support structures, each cell support structure having a porosity operable to permit transmission of at least one form of radiant energy therethrough, and having a thickness operable to allow three-dimensional cell growth therein and to allow amplification of the radiant energy through tunneling therethrough, wherein a cell support structure is anchored in the first area of the cavity of each vessel such that when the cavity is filled or substantially filled with a fluid, the fluid contacts the cell support structure in the first area of the cavity and the second area of the cavity is substantially occupied by the fluid; wherein an emission from cells in the cell support structure is intensified in and can be read from the first area of the cavity; wherein a noise signal resulting substantially from the fluid can be read from the second area of the cavity, the noise signal useful for performing noise correction of the emission read from the first area of the cavity.