Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A device for adhering at least one cell in a specific and predetermined position comprising: a plate defining a surface, and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on said surface isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophilic islands are formed of a self-assembled monolayer and said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A device for adhering at least one cell in a specific and predetermined position comprising: a plate defining a surface, and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on said surface isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophilic islands are formed of a self-assembled monolayer and said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cytophobic regions are formed of a self-assembled monolayer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the islands are between 1 and 2,500 square microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the islands are between 1 and 500 square microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the islands are between 1 and 100 square microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the islands have a lateral dimension of between 0.2 and 10 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the islands are elongated.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
82 words
A device for adhering at least one cell in a specific and predetermined position comprising: a plate defining a surface, and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on said surface, isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere formed of a self-assembled monolayer contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
82 words
A device for adhering at least one cell in a specific and predetermined position comprising: a plate defining a surface, and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on said surface, isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere formed of a self-assembled monolayer contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the islands are between 1 and 2,500 square microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the islands are between 1 and 500 square microns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the islands are between 1 and 100 square microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the islands have a lateral dimension of between 0.2 and 10 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the islands are elongated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a method for culturing cells on a surface or in a medium on a surface, the improvement comprising: providing a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on the surface isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophilic islands are formed of a self-assembled monolayer and said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other; and culturing the cells on one or more of the cytophilic islands or in a medium on said one or more cytophilic islands.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a method for culturing cells on a surface or in a medium on a surface, the improvement comprising: providing a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on the surface isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophilic islands are formed of a self-assembled monolayer and said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other; and culturing the cells on one or more of the cytophilic islands or in a medium on said one or more cytophilic islands.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the cytophobic regions are formed of a self-assembled monolayer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a method for performing cytometry that includes assaying the numbers or ratios of different cell types in a sample, the improvement comprising: providing a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on the surface isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophilic islands are formed of a self-assembled monolayer and said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other; contacting a suspension of cells with the plate for a period of time sufficient to allow a cell to bind to one of said plurality of cytophilic islands; and detecting the cell bound to the cytophilic island.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a method for performing cytometry that includes assaying the numbers or ratios of different cell types in a sample, the improvement comprising: providing a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on the surface isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophilic islands are formed of a self-assembled monolayer and said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other; contacting a suspension of cells with the plate for a period of time sufficient to allow a cell to bind to one of said plurality of cytophilic islands; and detecting the cell bound to the cytophilic island.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the cytophobic regions are formed of a self-assembled monolayer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a method for immobilizing a cell at a surface, the improvement comprising: providing a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on the surface isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophilic islands are formed of a self-assembled monolayer and said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other; and exposing the plate to a cell for a period of time sufficient to allow the cell to bind to one of said plurality of cytophilic islands.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a method for immobilizing a cell at a surface, the improvement comprising: providing a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on the surface isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophilic islands are formed of a self-assembled monolayer and said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other; and exposing the plate to a cell for a period of time sufficient to allow the cell to bind to one of said plurality of cytophilic islands.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the cytophobic regions are formed of a self-assembled monolayer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as recited in claim 18, the improvement further comprising performing microinjection on the cell.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for controlling the shape of a cell, comprising: providing a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on the surface isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophilic islands are formed of a self-assembled monolayer and said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other; contacting one of said plurality of cytophilic islands with a cell for a period of time sufficient to allow the cell to adhere to the cytophilic island; and growing the cell on the cytophilic island while allowing the shape of the island to influence the shape of the cell.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for controlling the shape of a cell, comprising: providing a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on the surface isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophilic islands are formed of a self-assembled monolayer and said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other; contacting one of said plurality of cytophilic islands with a cell for a period of time sufficient to allow the cell to adhere to the cytophilic island; and growing the cell on the cytophilic island while allowing the shape of the island to influence the shape of the cell.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising influencing or observing differentiation of the cell.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the cytophobic regions are formed of a self-assembled monolayer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said one of said plurality of cytophilic islands is of a size sufficient to allow one cell only to adhere thereto.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said one of said plurality of cytophilic islands is of a predetermined shape, the method further comprising observing the effect on cell differentiation of adhering the cell to the cytophilic island of predetermined shape.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said one of said plurality of cytophilic islands is of a size sufficient to allow a plurality of cells to bind thereto.