DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH BIOLOGICAL CELLS SUSPENDED IN A FLUID

摘要

The invention relates to a device for making electrical contact with biological cells (11), suspended in a fluid (14), comprising a substrate with at least one opening and a means of immobilising a cell (11) on the opening. Furthermore, an electrode for making electrical contact with the immobilised cell (11) is provided. A contact unit with a contact point (23) is arranged at the opening, the upper end of which extends into the opening, such that the said end contacts the cell membrane of an immobilised cell (11). The contact point (23) comprises a contact channel opening at the upper end thereof, by means of which a hydrodynamic vacuum may be played on the cell membrane and the electrode is in electrical contact with the contact channel. The invention further relates to a method for making electrical contact with biological cells suspended in a fluid, whereby a cell is immobilised above an opening in a substrate and the cell contacted by at least one electrode. In order to make contact with the immobilised cell (11), a contact point (23), extending through the opening, produces a hydrodynamic vacuum on the cell membrane of the cell (11), whereby the electrode makes electrical contact with the cell (11) by means of the contact point (23).