Microfluidic device, system and methods thereof for measuring and recording electrical signals from a pool of multiple nematodes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11477967-B2
Application number	US-201916449438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2019
Priority date	Jun 22, 2018
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device and system for measuring a composite electropharyngeogram (EPG) signal from a pool of multiple nematodes, wherein the composite EPG signal is measured from the pool of nematodes present in a single recording channel connected to two or more integrated electrodes. The microfluidic device includes an inlet port and outlet port directly connected to a single recording channel and two or more electrodes directly connected to the recording channel. The recording channel is configured to hold 10 to 10,000 nematodes.

First claim

What I claim is:

1. A microfluidic system for recording a composite electropharyngeogram (EPG) signal from a pool of multiple nematodes comprising:
a) an inlet port and outlet port directly connected to a holding reservoir;
b) a single recording channel, configured to hold 10 to 10,000 nematodes, connected in series to the holding reservoir;
c) two or more integrated electrodes directly connected to the recording channel; and,
d) at least one differential amplifier or at least one voltage-clamp amplifier, wherein the amplifier is connected to an output from the two or more integrated electrodes.

2. A method for recording a composite electropharyngeogram (EPG) signal from a pool of multiple nematodes comprising:
a) introducing the pool of multiple nematodes into the holding reservoir through the inlet port of the microfluidic system of claim 1 , wherein the pool of multiple nematodes is present in an aqueous buffer solution;
b) moving the pool of multiple nematodes into the single recording channel;
c) measuring electrophysiological signals from the pool of multiple nematodes; and,
d) recording the electrophysiological signals as a single composite EPG.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the buffer solution comprises serotonin, food, or other stimulant to cause pharyngeal pumping.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the pool of nematodes comprises transgenic nematodes or transgenic nematodes comprising a gene variant.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the moving the pool of multiple nematodes into the single recording channel comprises applying a vacuum, positive pressure, or centrifugal force to the system.

6. A microfluidic device for measuring a composite electropharyngeogram (EPG) signal from a pool of multiple nematodes comprising:
a) an inlet port and outlet port directly connected to a single recording channel;
b) the single recording channel, configured to hold 10 to 10,000 nematodes;
c) a tube placed in each of the inlet port and outlet port, wherein the tube placed in the outlet port comprises a filter to retain nematodes in the single recording channel; and,
c) two or more electrodes connected to the recording channel.

7. A microfluidic system for recording a composite electropharyngeogram (EPG) signal from a pool of multiple nematodes comprising the microfluidic device of claim 6 , the system comprising:
a) an inlet port and outlet port directly connected to a single recording channel;
b) the single recording channel, configured to hold 10 to 10,000 nematodes;
c) a tube placed in each of the inlet port and outlet port, wherein the tube placed in the outlet port comprises a filter to retain nematodes in the single recording channel;
d) two or more electrodes connected to the recording channel; and,
e) at least one differential amplifier or at least one voltage-clamp amplifier, wherein the amplifier is connected to an output from the two or more electrodes.

8. A method for recording a composite electropharyngeogram (EPG) signal from a pool of multiple nematodes comprising:
a) introducing the pool of multiple nematodes into the single recording channel through the inlet port of the microfluidic system of claim 7 , wherein the pool of multiple nematodes is present in an aqueous buffer solution;
b) measuring electrophysiological signals from the pool of multiple nematodes; and,
c) recording the electrophysiological signals as a single composite EPG.

Assignees

• Nemametrix Inc
• Univ Oregon

Inventors

• Lockery Shawn

Classifications

• A61D3/00

  Arrangements for supporting or fettering animals for veterinary purposes · CPC title

• A01K29/005 Primary

  Monitoring or measuring activity · CPC title

• A61B2503/40

  Animals · CPC title

• C12M23/16 Primary

  Microfluidic devices; Capillary tubes (integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; microreactors B01J19/0093) · CPC title

• A61B5/0004

  characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted · CPC title