Biosensor array comprising cell populations confined to microcavities
US6377721B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 2, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S436/805
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A biosensor, sensor array, sensing method and sensing apparatus are provided in which individual cells or randomly mixed populations of cells, having unique response characteristics to chemical and biological materials, are deployed in a plurality of discrete sites on a substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the discrete sites comprise microwells formed at the distal end of individual fibers within a fiber optic array. The biosensor array utilizes an optically interrogatable encoding scheme for determining the identity and location of each cell type in the array and provides for simultaneous measurements of large numbers of individual cell responses to target analytes. The sensing method utilizes the unique ability of cell populations to respond to biologically significant compounds in a characteristic and detectable manner. The biosensor array and measurement method may be employed in the study of biologically active materials, in situ environmental monitoring, monitoring of a variety of bioprocesses, and for high throughput screening of large combinatorial chemical libraries.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.