Methods for culturing and analyzing cells

Abstract

A system for analyzing a biological sample may include at least one sample acquisition stage comprising a sample acquisition device for acquiring the biological sample from a sample source; a droplet generator device for forming a droplet wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, wherein the wrapped droplet comprises at least the biological sample and a reagent, the droplet generator configured to receive the biological sample transferred from the sample acquisition device; a collection vessel for collecting the wrapped sample droplet from the droplet generator, the vessel configured to contain a carrier fluid for receiving and protecting the sample droplet; and an analysis system for analyzing the wrapped sample droplet and detecting products of a polymerase chain reaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for analyzing a biological sample, the system comprising:
 at least one sample acquisition stage comprising a sample acquisition device for acquiring the biological sample from a sample source;   a droplet generator device for forming a droplet wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, wherein the wrapped droplet comprises at least the biological sample and a reagent, the droplet generator configured to receive the biological sample transferred from the sample acquisition device;   a collection vessel for collecting the wrapped sample droplet from the droplet generator, the vessel configured to contain a carrier fluid for receiving and protecting the sample droplet; and   an analysis system for analyzing the wrapped sample droplet and detecting products of a polymerase chain reaction.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the droplet generator device is a liquid bridge. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a thermocycler. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample droplets are dispensed into separate wells of a well plate. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to dispense the sample droplets as discrete spots on a surface to form an array of droplets.