Patent ID: 7807451

Claim:
A apparatus for detecting chemotaxis of cells which comprises: a cell-holding well having an opening for injecting cells; a specimen-holding well having an opening for injecting a specimen; a channel which connects said cell-holding well and specimen-holding well up with each other and has resistance to the passage of cells, and which detects chemotaxis of cells by observing a passage of cells in said channel from said cell-holding well to said specimen-holding well caused by a concentration gradient of said specimen formed in a stationary liquid in said channel; a means of transporting said liquid from said cell-holding well to said specimen-holding well by an injection or an aspiration discharge of said liquid and then stopping the transportation of said liquid after said injection or said aspiration discharge of said liquid in order to control a position of each cell in said cell-holding well; and a means of sealing said opening(s) in one or both of said cell-holding well and said specimen-holding well for preventing said liquid from an unexpected transportation thereof in said channel while detecting chemotaxis of cells, wherein said cell-holding well and said specimen-holding well are connected via an injection pipe joined to said cell-holding well, an aspiration discharge pipe joined to said specimen-holding well and said means of transporting a liquid, and a stopper to stop the transportation thereof between said pipes, to form a structure in which said liquid is circulated.