Method and device for the manipulation of microcarriers for an identification purpose

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for the manipulation for an identification purpose of a microcarrier comprising the steps of: (a) an identification purpose step of the microcarrier; and (b) a positioning and orientation step prior to or during the identification purpose step. Also disclosed is an apparatus for the manipulation for identification purposes of a microcarrier comprising means for identification purposes such as a microscope or labelling means such as a high spatial resolution light source, and means for the positioning and orientation of the microcarriers.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for the manipulation for an identification purpose of a microcarrier comprising the steps of:
 (a) an identification purpose step of the microcarrier; and   (b) a positioning and orientation step prior to or during the identification purpose step.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the identification purpose step is a detection step for the detection of an identifiable or encoded microcarrier. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the identification purpose step is a labelling step resulting in an identifiable or encoded microcarrier. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , for the manipulation for identification purposes of a population of microcarriers, whereby the positioning and orientation step further comprises:
 (b. 1) the distribution of the population of microcarriers in a one-layer system; and   (b. 2) restricting the rotational movement of the microcarriers.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , whereby the distribution of step (b. I) results in a plane configuration having two dimensions (X, Y), or in a line configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the distribution step is caused by a transportation of the microcarriers preferably according to a laminar flow pattern in a liquid, gaseous or semi-solid environment. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the laminar flow pattern is provided in a capillary tube. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the labelling step is an encoding step which is performed using a process selected from the group comprising photochroming, chemical etching, material deposition, photobleaching, or exposing said microcarrier to a high spatial resolution light source. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the positioning and orientation step results from a physical, mechanical, chemical or biological interaction on or near said microcarrier. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the positioning and orientation step restricts the rotational movement of the microcarrier as a result of a magnetic field imposed on the microcarrier or as a result of electrical field imposed on the microcarrier. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the positioning and orientation step results from the non-spherical configuration of the microcarrier, and more in particular by the ellipsoidal or cylindrical configuration of the microcarrier. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the positioning and orientation step occurs in a flow cell. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the identification purpose step is performed using an optical identification means. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the labelling step is an encoding step which comprises the writing of a code on a microcarrier whereby the code is generated by a spatial modulation created inside the microcarrier or on its outer surface. 
     
     
         34 . A method for the manipulation for an identification purpose of a microcarrier, comprising the steps of
 a) positioning and orienting said microcarrier,   b) encoding said microcarrier by writing a code thereon,   c) allowing a target-analyte reaction on or in said microcarrier,   d) positioning and orienting said microcarrier and   e) identifying said microcarrier;   whereby step (c) may also preceed step (a).   
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the encoding step b) is performed using a process selected from the group comprising photochroming, chemical etching, material deposition, photobleaching, or exposing said microcarrier to a high spatial resolution light source. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the positioning and orientation step a) results from a physical, mechanical, chemical or biological interaction on or near said microcarrier. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 34 , whereby the positioning and orientation step a) restricts the rotational movement of the microcarrier as a result of a magnetic field imposed on the microcarrier or as a result of electrical field imposed on the microcarrier. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 34 , whereby the positioning and orientation step a) results from the non-spherical configuration of the microcarrier, and more in particular by the ellipsoidal or cylindrical configuration of the microcarrier. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the positioning and orientation step a) occurs in a flow cell. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the identification step e) is performed using an optical identification means. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the encoding comprises the writing of a code on a microcarrier whereby the code is generated by a spatial modulation created inside the microcarrier or on its outer surface. 
     
     
         42 . An apparatus for the manipulation for identification purposes of a microcarrier comprising means for identification purposes such as a microscope or labelling means such as a high spatial resolution light source, and means for the positioning and orientation of the microcarriers. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus according to  claim 42 , whereby the means for positioning and orientation of the microcarriers comprises a solid support comprising a number of wells each suitable for housing at least one microcarrier and rotation restriction means, said rotation restriction means are provided via a magnetic and/or electrical field. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus according to  claim 42 , further comprising a reservoir suitable for containing a population of microcarriers, which reservoir is connectable to a capillary tube and pressure differential means for providing a laminar flow pattern in the capillary tube and further comprising a magnetic and/or electrical field is provided for the restriction of the rotation of the microcarriers. 
     
     
         45 . A microcarrier suitable for use in a method according to  claim 20 , characterized in that the microcarrier is encoded by a code written on the microcarrier, wherein the microcarrier comprises a net electrical charge, an electrical dipole momentum or a magnetic dipole momentum or wherein the microcarrier is ferro-, ferri- or paramagnetic as such, has an anisotropy in its shape, an anisotropy in its mass distribution or wherein the microcarrier has a combination of these features. 
     
     
         46 . A microcarrier suitable for use in a method according to  claim 34 , characterized in that the microcarrier is encoded by a code written on the microcarrier, wherein the microcarrier comprises a net electrical charge, an electrical dipole momentum or a magnetic dipole momentum or wherein the microcarrier is ferro-, ferri- or paramagnetic as such, has an anisotropy in its shape, an anisotropy in its mass distribution or wherein the microcarrier has a combination of these features.