Seng Enterprises Ltd.

Bar-ilan University

Mordechai Deutsch

Assaf Deutsch

Arye Weinreb

Reuven Tirosh

Max Herzberg

Richard E Gordon

Menachem Kaufman

Tamar Landau

A mulitwell plate having a plurality of picowells on the bottom of the wells of the plate as well as methods of producing the mulitwell plate are provided. Provided is also a method of handling living cells by providing an ordered array of living cells immobilized in a non-fluid matrix, contacting the living cells with a stimulus; and detecting a response to the stimulus. The present invention is also of a method of producing an ordered array of living cells.

Multiwell plate

A cell study device, comprising, a base layer, a planar conduit defining layer, including a conduit cut out of the layer; and a planar cover layer which defines a capillary flow channel in said conduit layer, said conduit layer and said cover layer acting as side walls for said capillary flow channel, wherein said layers are formed of materials that do not interfere with cell behavior over a period of at least 5 hours when loaded with aqueous solution.

Device for the study of living cells

A device for performing a cell study. The device comprises a plate having a plurality of wells, each configured for containing aqueous solution and having a well bottom with a plurality of picowells and a plurality of biosensors each configured for measuring at least one cell characteristic while being in contact with the aqueous solution in a respective the well. The position of each the biosensor in a respective the well is limited by at least one pin.

Described herein are embossing methods for forming pico liter well arrays (and other structures), arrangements of such pico liter well arrays, for example, in arrays of pico liter well areas, and methods of forming templates for such embossing. Also described as wells with a refractive index similar to that of an aqueous medium used for supporting cells in the wells.

Picoliter well holding device and method of making the same

A device for studying individual cells including a picowell array (such as an array of microwells, dimples, depressions, tubes or enclosures) and a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the picowells through channels is disclosed. Preferably, the device has a moveable lid that in one rest location allows loading of cells in the picowell array. Preferably the channels of the device are capillary channels. Also disclosed is a device for the automated study of cells including a picowell-bearing device having a picowell array with a moveable lid, a lid-moving component, at least one solution dispensing component and a control system functionally associated with the lid-moving component as well as with the solution dispensing component.

Device for studying individual cells

Disclosed is a method of studying floating living cell by confining the cells floating in an aqueous medium in picowells located on a bottom surface of a top wall of a chamber. Disclosed is also a picowell-bearing device for the study of cells comprising a chamber having at least one picowell on a bottom surface of the chamber. Also disclosed is a picowell-bearing device for the study of cells comprising a chamber having at least one picowell on an internal surface and at least one moveable wall, a force applicator configured to removeably apply a substantially uniformly distributed force around the periphery of the moveable wall in a direction to retain the moveable wall secured to the chamber.

Method for studying floating, living cells

The present invention broadly comprises a holding device for studying cells comprising at least one cavity adapted to receive cells in a medium consisting essentially of water, the cavity having a substrate and a generally inert wall, wherein the substrate includes a surface for receiving the medium, and wherein the surface includes a multiplicity of pico liter wells and is characterized in that the substrate is substantially translucent and has a refractive index equal to the refractive index of the medium. The invention further comprises a method of making the holding device comprising providing a carrier plate, applying an adhesive layer to the carrier plate, depositing a curable substrate on the adhesive layer, applying a second layer of adhesive to the substrate, attaching a wall structure to the second layer of adhesive, forming a multiplicity of pico liter wells in the substrate, curing the substrate, and removing the template.

Pico liter well holding device and method of making the same

The present invention broadly comprises a holding device for studying cells comprising at least one cavity adapted to receive cells in a medium consisting essentially of water, the cavity having a substrate and a generally inert wall, wherein the substrate includes a surface for receiving the medium, and wherein the surface includes a multiplicity of pico liter wells and is characterized in that the substrate is substantially translucent and has a refractive index equal to the refractive index of the medium The invention further comprises a method of making the holding device comprising providing a carrier plate, applying an adhesive layer to the carrier plate, depositing a curable substrate on the adhesive layer, applying a second layer of adhesive to the substrate, attaching a wall structure to the second layer of adhesive, forming a multiplicity of pico liter wells in the substrate, curing the substrate, and removing the template.

A method for individually moving small objects, such as cells, from one location to another as well as a device for implementing the method is disclosed. A small object such as a cell is isolated at some initial location and moved to some destination location by the movement of the small object through a succession of intermediate locations until the small object arrives at the destination location. Also disclosed are methods of manipulating cells made possible by the method and device of the present invention.

Method and device for manipulating individual small objects

A method for identifying images of wells in an image of a well-bearing object such as multiwell plates or picowell carriers is provided. An observation component, such as a camera, is used to approach focus of a focal point of a well-bottom. An image of the focal point is acquired. The image of the well-bottom focal point is then used as a reference point or used to define a reference point from which to identify the image of the well in the image of the well-bearing component and from which to delineate the borders of the well.

Method for identifying an image of a well in an image of a well-bearing component

An apertured cell carrier defines first and second outer surfaces and comprises an ordered array of holes therethrough, the holes being in identifiable positions on the carrier and sized to contain individual living cells, the cross sections of the holes at the first outer surface and at a level spaced from the first outer surface, as well as the height between the first outer surface and the level of the second cross section, being defined. Preferably, the ordered array comprises at least one sub-group of uniformly shaped holes sized to accommodate individual living cells of the same size. The carrier may contain entire living cells or substantially entire living cells, held within individual holes. The carrier may be supported on a holder, in which case the carrier is preferably constructed to include a device for aligning it with a complementary device on the holder, whereby the individual addresses of holes in the carrier are identifiable by a set of x and y coordinates. The carrier may be integral with the holder.

Apertured cell carrier

An apertured cell carrier has a configuration defining first and second outer surfaces and comprising an ordered array of holes therethrough, the positions on the carrier of the holes being identifiable and the holes being sized to have the ability to contain individual living cells having a generally spherical shape therewithin, one cell only per hole, in that the holes have (i) a first cross section at the first outer surface of the carrier of such dimensions that living cells can pass through the first cross section without suffering substantial damage, (ii) a second cross section at a level intermediate between said first and second outer surfaces and of such dimensions that said living cells cannot pass through the second cross section, and (iii) a height between the first outer surface and the level of the second cross section such that either such an entire living cell or substantially such an entire living cell is containable within the hole.

Growing community of inventors

Moshav Olesh, Israel

Mordechai Deutsch