Mechanical cell wounder device and related method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9533301-B2
Application number	US-88870607-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2007
Priority date	Aug 2, 2007
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

Disclosed is a device and related method for biological manipulation. With greater particularity, disclosed is a novel device and method for uniform cellular manipulation with economies of scale and operational uniformity. The device and related method utilize a cellular wounder ( 101 ) to uniformly remove portions of a cell monolayer in a multi-well plate ( 303 ) to create uniform cell samples with reduced time and expense to the user. The multi-channel mechanical wounder is a useful tool for performing cellular wounding by providing consistent and even denudation of a defined area of monolayer of cells in standard culture plates. This easy-to-assemble and user friendly device is most applicable for high throughput screening of samples such as in the manipulation of cells for cell migration or wound healing assay preparation.

First claim

We claim:

1. A device for uniform cellular manipulation comprising
a handle,
a pin holder,
a plurality of pins, and
a first adjustable guiding bar having a first end and an opposite second end, and connected onto a first side of the pin holder at its first end with a first adjustable screw such that the first guiding bar is orthogonal to the pin holder's length, and
a second adjustable guiding bar having a first end and an opposite second end, and connected onto a second side of the pin holder at its first end with a second adjustable screw such that the second guiding bar is orthogonal to the pin holder's length, wherein the second side of the pin holder being opposite to the first side of the pin holder;
wherein each of the guiding bars is rotationally adjustable with full rotation about at its first end independent of the other guiding bar by adjusting each of the screws such that each of the guiding bars having an independent working angle; and
wherein said guiding bars are separated by a distance corresponding approximately to a width of a well plate and configured to hold onto the well plate by the second ends of the guiding bars with lateral force pressing against two opposing sides of the well plate.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said pin holder additionally comprises length adjustable screws for varying the length of said pins.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said pin holder additionally comprises width adjustable screws for adapting 96-well plate from different brands.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said pins are adapted to receive standard disposable pipette tips.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is made of stainless steel.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said device contains eight pins spaced for use with a 96-well plate.

7. A single piece device for cellular wounding comprising
a handle,
a pin holder,
a plurality of length adjustable pins, and
a first adjustable guiding bar having a first end and an opposite second end, and connected onto a first side of the pin holder at its first end with a first adjustable screw such that the first guiding bar is orthogonal to the pin holder's length, and
a second adjustable guiding bar having a first end and an opposite second end, and connected onto a second side of the pin holder at its first end with a second adjustable screw such that the second guiding bar is orthogonal to the pin holder's length, wherein the second side being opposite to the first side of the pin holder;
wherein each of the guiding bars is rotationally adjustable with full rotation about at its first end independent of the other guiding bar by adjusting each of the screws such that each of the guiding bars having an independent working angle; and
wherein said guiding bars are separated by a distance corresponding approximately to a width of a well plate and configured to hold onto the well plate by the second ends of the guiding bars with lateral force pressing against two opposing sides of the well plate.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said device is made of a material which is capable of withstanding heat sterilization.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said device is made of stainless steel.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein tightness of the device to hold on the well plate is accomplished by adjusting the screws.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein the adjustment of each of the guiding bars wherein tightness of the device to hold on the well plate is accomplished by adjusting the screws.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said guiding bars are separated by a distance corresponding approximately to a width of a 96-well plate and configured to hold onto the 96-well plate.

13. The device of claim 7 wherein said guiding bars are separated by a distance corresponding approximately to a width of a 96-well plate and configured to hold onto the 96-well plate.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said guiding bars is rotated at its first end to ensure each of the pins is located at a central line of a well held by the well plate.

15. The device of claim 7 wherein each of said guiding bars is rotated at its first end to ensure each of the pins is located at a central line of a well held by the well plate.

Assignees

• Yue Ying Kit
• Leung Pui Yin
• Mak Nai Ki
• Wong Ricky Ngok Shun
• Univ Hong Kong Baptist Univ

Inventors

• Yue Ying Kit
• Leung Pui Yin
• Mak Nai Ki
• Wong Ricky Ngok Shun

Classifications

• B01L3/0244 Primary

  using pins · CPC title

• B01L2300/0829

  Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates · CPC title

• B01L9/54

  Supports specially adapted for pipettes and burettes · CPC title

• B01L2200/022

  Variable spacings · CPC title

• B01L2200/023

  adapted for different sizes of tubes, tips or container · CPC title