Microfabricated instrument for tissue biopsy and analysis

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:872664

Krulevitch, Peter A ^[1]; Lee, Abraham P ^[2]; Northrup, M Allen ^[3]; Benett, William J ^[4]

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1. Pleasanton, CA
2. Walnut Creek, CA
3. Berkeley, CA
4. Livermore, CA

A microfabricated biopsy/histology instrument which has several advantages over the conventional procedures, including minimal specimen handling, smooth cutting edges with atomic sharpness capable of slicing very thin specimens (approximately 2 .mu.m or greater), micro-liter volumes of chemicals for treating the specimens, low cost, disposable, fabrication process which renders sterile parts, and ease of use. The cutter is a "cheese-grater" style design comprising a block or substrate of silicon and which uses anisotropic etching of the silicon to form extremely sharp and precise cutting edges. As a specimen is cut, it passes through the silicon cutter and lies flat on a piece of glass which is bonded to the cutter. Microchannels are etched into the glass or silicon substrates for delivering small volumes of chemicals for treating the specimen. After treatment, the specimens can be examined through the glass substrate. For automation purposes, microvalves and micropumps may be incorporated. Also, specimens in parallel may be cut and treated with identical or varied chemicals. The instrument is disposable due to its low cost and thus could replace current expensive microtome and histology equipment.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5985217
• OSTI ID: 872664
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

microfabricated
instrument
tissue
biopsy
analysis
histology
advantages
conventional
procedures
including
minimal
specimen
handling
smooth
cutting
edges
atomic
sharpness
capable
slicing
specimens
approximately
micro-liter
volumes
chemicals
treating
cost
disposable
fabrication
process
renders
sterile
ease
cutter
cheese-grater
style
design
comprising
block
substrate
silicon
anisotropic
etching
form
extremely
sharp
precise
cut
passes
lies
flat
piece
glass
bonded
microchannels
etched
substrates
delivering
treatment
examined
automation
purposes
microvalves
micropumps
incorporated
parallel
treated
identical
varied
due
replace
current
expensive
microtome
equipment
silicon substrates
cutting edge
silicon substrate
glass substrate
fabrication process
anisotropic etching
cutting edges
tissue biopsy
/422/83/