Patent ID: 8372629

Claim:
A device for individually analysing cells of interest, comprising: a plurality of channels, each of which is for receiving the contents of a cell of interest, wherein each channel has an input end and an output end; and a cell trapping site in proximity to the input end of each channel, wherein: the cell trapping site of each channel is arranged to allow a single cell of interest to be individually trapped; the input end of each channel is adapted such that an intact cell of interest cannot enter the channel; each channel contains a sequence of analytical component(s) arranged in discrete patches along the channel for analysing the contents of the cell of interest; the discrete patches of analytical components are discrete patches of immobilised binding reagents; and the contents of the cell of interest can be moved along the channels, in a direction from the input end towards the output end, and wherein: (i) the cross-sectional area and/or the cross-sectional shape of each channel; and (ii) the dimensions and arrangement of the patches of immobilised binding reagents along each channel, are configured to permit analysis of the contents of a single cell.