| US 7,452,726 B2 | ||
| Microfluidic particle-analysis systems | ||
| Hou-Pu Chou, Sunnyvale, Calif. (US); Antoine Daridon, Belmont, Calif. (US); Kevin Farrell, San Francisco, Calif. (US); Brian Fowler, Foster City, Calif. (US); Yish-Hann Liau, San Jose, Calif. (US); Ian D. Manger, San Francisco, Calif. (US); Hany Ramez Nassef, San Mateo, Calif. (US); and William Throndset, San Francisco, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Fluidigm Corporation, San Francisco, Calif. (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 11, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/734,963. | ||
| Application 10/734963 is a division of application No. 10/405953, filed on Apr. 01, 2003, granted, now 7,312,085. | ||
| Application 10/405953 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/405092, filed on Mar. 31, 2003. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/378464, filed on May 06, 2002. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/369538, filed on Apr. 01, 2002. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0224380 A1, Nov. 11, 2004 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 33/48 (2006.01); G01N 1/10 (2006.01); G01N 15/06 (2006.01); G01N 33/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 436—63 [422/50; 422/68.1; 422/81; 422/82; 422/100; 422/101; 422/102; 422/103; 422/104; 436/43; 436/63; 436/180; 435/4; 435/325; 435/382; 435/383; 435/384; 435/404; 435/405] | 10 Claims |
| 1. A method for perfusing cells with a reagent comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a microfluidic device having
(i) a cell growth chamber,
a cell inlet in communication with said chamber, said cell inlet having an inlet valve in operable communication therewith
to control fluid flow through said cell inlet into said chamber, wherein said cells can pass through said cell inlet into
said chamber when said inlet valve is open, but cannot pass through said cell inlet when said inlet valve is closed; and,
(ii) a reagent inlet for inputting said reagent into said chamber, said reagent inlet having a reagent valve in operable communication
with said reagent inlet for controlling fluid flow through said reagent inlet into said chamber, said cell inlet and/or said
chamber having a retention mechanism for retaining said cells in said chamber while permitting flow of said reagent into said
chamber when said reagent valve is open;
wherein when said cells are loaded into said chamber, and said inlet valve is closed, said cells are retained in said chamber
by the retention mechanism while said reagent valve is open and closed;
(b) opening said cell inlet valve and introducing said cells into said chamber;
(c) closing said cell inlet valve;
(d) opening said reagent valve to introduce said reagent into said chamber; and,
(e) introducing said reagent into said chamber while retaining said cells inside of said chamber thereby perfusing said cells
with said reagent.
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