Patent ID: 8129179

Claim:
A bioreactor comprising: (a) a substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a channel therein; (b) a plurality of chambers formed in the substrate, wherein each of the plurality of chambers is adapted for receiving and culturing at least one predetermined type of cells in a liquid medium and formed with an open end, an opposite closed end and side walls, the open end and the closed end defining a depth, d, therebetween for the corresponding chamber, the sidewalls defining a width, w, therebetween for the corresponding chamber, and the chamber being in fluid communication with the channel through the open end; (c) means adapted for electrochemical measurements of the cells responsive to the liquid medium in at least one of the chambers; and (d) a barrier for at least one of the chambers, wherein the barrier: (i) is positioned at the open end of the corresponding chamber and proximate to the intersection of the channel and the corresponding chamber; and (ii) has a porosity to allow the corresponding chamber and the channel to be in fluid communication, and to allow at least one predetermined type of cells to permeate between the corresponding chamber and the channel and at least another predetermined type of cells not to permeate between the corresponding chamber and the channel, wherein the corresponding chamber defined between the open end and opposite closed end is formed substantially perpendicular to the channel and configured not to allow a liquid medium to pass through the open end and opposite closed end through the channel, and wherein the means for electrochemical measurements comprises a plurality of electrically individually addressable working electrodes arranged along the corresponding chamber between the open end and opposite closed end such that none of the electrodes are arranged along the channel.