Neuro Probe Incorporated

Vance Products Inc.

Richard H Goodwin, Jr

Stephen W Dejter, Jr

Apparatus and methods for determining whether a test compound induces cell activity, changes cell activity, prevents cell activity, or inhibits cell activity. An embodiment comprises placing a test compound solution in contact with a cell suspension media containing cells, diffusing the test compound solution into the cell suspension from one or more sides, and detecting activity in the cells with respect to their distance from the side from which the test compound is diffusing. Embodiments may provide an apparatus that allows a side source, a point source, or both, from which a test compound solution diffuses into a cell suspension media and contacts cells. Detecting cell activity may involve detecting activity in a first cell group proximate to the side from which the test compound is diffusing, and detecting activity in a second cell group farther than the first cell group from the side from which the test compound is diffusing.

Assay apparatus and methods

Apparatuses and methods for determining whether a test compound solution induces cell activity, an embodiment of the method of the present invention comprising placing a test compound solution in contact with a cell suspension media containing cells, diffusing the test compound solution into the cell suspension from a point source, and detecting activity in the cells with respect to their distance from the point source. Detecting activity in the cells can involve detecting activity in a first group of the cells proximate to the point source, and detecting activity in a second group of the cells farther from the point source than the first group.

Point source diffusion cell activity assay apparatus

A crystal forming apparatus and method for using the apparatus, the method including depositing a precipitant solution in a site, incubating the site, during which time volatile vapor evaporates from the precipitant solution and accumulates in the site, and pumping the accumulated volatile vapor away from the site. An exemplary apparatus includes a sealed site except for a vent on the sealed site. In one embodiment, the vent is a passive vent that inhibits vapor diffusion out of the site. In another embodiment, the vent is an active vent that opens in response to a pressure differential. The present invention accelerates and controls the crystal growth process by pumping volatile vapor away from the sealed site.

Crystal forming apparatus and method for using same

Point source diffusion cell activity assay

A crystal forming apparatus and method for using the apparatus, the apparatus including a plate and a film. The plate has a site adapted to hold a screening solution. The film is adjacent to the plate. The film seals the site and is adapted to contain a precipitant solution inside the site with an air gap between the screening solution and the precipitant solution. In a preferred embodiment, the film is transparent. In another preferred embodiment, the plate comprises a second transparent film supported by a lattice structure and the precipitant solution is sandwiched between the two films.

A cell activity assay apparatus (&ldquo;CAAA&rdquo;) and method using electromagnetic radiation detection beams to measure the cell activity, e.g, chemotactic response, includes an opaque membrane having a plurality of off-axis pores which prevent experimentally significant amounts of the electromagnetic radiation from traversing the membrane. The membrane is fabricated from opaque films that have been either ablated with substantially off axis excimer laser electromagnetic radiation to form pores, or bombarded by substantially off-axis charged particles and then etched to form pores.

Cell activity assay apparatus

A cell activity assay apparatus (&ldquo;CAAA&rdquo;) and method using electromagnetic radiation detection beams to measure the cell activity, e.g., chemotactic response, includes an opaque membrane having a plurality of off-axis pores which prevent experimentally significant amounts of the electromagnetic radiation from traversing the membrane. The membrane is fabricated from opaque films that have been either ablated with substantially off axis excimer laser electromagnetic radiation to form pores, or bombarded by substantially off-axis charged particles and then etched to form pores.

Cell activity assay apparatus and methods for making and using same

A cell activity assay apparatus (&ldquo;CAAA&rdquo;) and method using electromagnetic radiation detection beams to measure the activity, e.g., chemotactic response, includes an opaque membrane having a plurality of off-axis pores which prevent experimentally significant amounts of the electromagnetic radiation from traversing the membrane. The membrane is fabricated from opaque films that have been either ablated with substantially off axis excimer laser electromagnetic radiation to form pores, or bombarded by substantially off-axis charged particles and then etched to form pores.

Method for using a cell activity assay apparatus

The present invention is a single site or multiple site chemotaxis test apparatus or chemotaxis chamber for measuring the effect of concentration gradients of diffusible chemicals upon the directional response of biological cells. The chemotactic test apparatus of the present invention comprise two compartments separated by a thin passage. The dimensions of the thin passage are selected such that cells cannot flow through the thin passage, but must deform themselves by flattening out and then 'crawl' or migrate through the passage. These chambers can be used to study the migration or orientation of mobile adherent or non-adherent cells.

Chemotactic test apparatus and method

A simple chemotactic apparatus and method wherein surface tension is used to hold cell suspensions, chemotactic factors, and control fluids in place on membrane filters. In some embodiments, chemotaxis factors and controls are placed on one side of a membrane filter, and cell suspensions are placed on the other. Gravitational flow is limited by the effect of surface tension on the fluids. In some of the preferred embodiments, grids, sheets, or occluding materials are used to further limit the gravitational fluid flow.

Multiple-site chemotactic test apparatus and method

Apparatus and methods for performing fine-needle aspiration biopsies are disclosed. Each method and apparatus includes a needle having an opening which can be occluded during both the penetration and withdrawal stages of the aspiration cycle. After penetration of the target area, the needle is reciprocated a predetermined number of times determined by the desired cytological sample yield. The needle is unoccluded during the reciprocation phase of the cycle. Both manual and automatic apparatus for performing the fine-needle aspiration biopsy procedures in accordance with the disclosed method are disclosed. Numerous sheath configurations for various biopsy applications are illustrated, including those applicable to prostate and breast or other soft tissue biopsies and for use in conjunction with ultrasonic transducers. Alternative needle configurations are disclosed to improve sample yield, reduce coring and minimize needle fouling.

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Bethesda, MD, United States of America

Richard H Goodwin, Jr