A patch-clamp device with cell sorting and positioning functions

A patch-clamp (PC) microchip with cell sorting and positioning functions is reported, showing promise for an automated PC microsystem, which can potentially help avoid drawbacks of random cell selection or positioning for a PC microchip. The cell sorting and positioning are enabled by air bubble (AB) actuators. AB actuators are pneumatic actuators, in which air pressure is generated by microheaters within sealed microchambers. The sorting, positioning and capturing of 3T3 cells with a prototype device have been demonstrated successfully. Measurements found that the electrode impedance is 1.8 MOmega; the average seal resistance is 22 MOmega with a captured cell.