Patent ID: 6900021

Claim:
A method of observing the effect of one or more candidate compounds on cells in a microfluidic device comprising: (a) providing a microfluidic device comprising a main flow path, an outlet, at least two inlet flow paths and a detection zone, wherein at least one inlet flow path intersects and merges with the main flow path at the detection zone; (b) applying at least one cell which is capable of flowing in the microfluidic device to a first of the at least two inlet flow paths and a candidate compound to a second of the at least two inlet flow paths; (c) inducing flow of the at least one cell and the candidate compound toward the detection zone without mixing; (d) stopping the flow of the at least one cell and the candidate compound when the at least one cell and the candidate compound are in the detection zone; (e) allowing the at least one cell to mix with the candidate compound in the detection zone; and (f) observing the effect of the candidate compound on the at least one cell in the detection zone at the time at least one cell mixes with the candidate compound in the detection zone.