Electrochemical noise measurement to assess cellular behavior and metabolic activity
US6010889A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 23, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 4, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N33/4833
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus is presented for analyzing directly obtained electrochemical noise measurements at cellular surfaces to assess cellular behavior and metabolic activity. The apparatus comprises a container (1) into which culture medium containing the cells to be assessed (2) has been introduced. Located within the container and partially submerged by the culture medium is a main electrode (3) which is a chemically inert electrically conductive surface such as gold film. This electrically conductive surface supports the adherent, viable cells to be assessed, and which may have been previously grown on the electrode to near confluence. The container is closed by a lid (4) which is penetrated by a tube (5) filled with an electrochemically conducting medium that is in electrochemical contact with a reference electrode. The end of the tube (5) is immersed in the culture medium. A further tube is provided through which test factors such as stimulants or suppressants can be injected into the container as indicated by the arrow. The directly measured electrochemical noise reflects metabolic activity of the cell at the cell surface. Fluctuations in the electrochemical noise are analyz…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.