Filter support with a phase-changing medium

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for processing isolated cells, in particular rare cells such as circulating tumor cells, to render them suitable for optical imaging, comprising the steps of (a) depositing filter material comprising captured cells on a phase-change medium; (b) melting said phase-change medium until the medium is spread out below said filter material; and (c) lowering the temperature of said phase-change medium until the medium solidifies, resulting in an optically flat filter comprising said cells at a fixed position. The method may additionally comprise an initial step of capturing a cell on a filter material. The phase-change medium, preferably paraffin wax, may comprise a porous, or mesh-like structure allowing the passage of a fluid through the medium. The phase-change medium may further be mounted on a carrier such as a glass carrier or a polymer material carrier. The present invention further relates to processed filter material comprising isolated cells suitable for optical imaging, which is obtainable by the method; the use of such filter material for diagnostic, histological, microbiological, biochemical, oncologic, or hematologic analysis, as well as a device for isolating cells or processing cells to render them suitable for optical imaging.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a method for processing isolated cells, especially rare cells such as circulating tumor cells, to make them suitable for optical imaging, comprising the steps of: (a) depositing on a phase change medium a filter material comprising captured cells; (b) melting the phase change medium until the medium is dispersed beneath the filter material; and (c) reducing the temperature of the phase change medium until the medium solidifies , forming an optical flat filter comprising said cells at a fixed position. The method may additionally comprise an initial step of capturing cells on the filter material. The phase change medium, preferably paraffin, may comprise a porous or network structure that allows fluid passing through the medium. The phase change medium may also be mounted on a support, such as a glass support or a polymeric material support. The invention also relates to a treated filter material comprising isolated cel...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

During these subsequent steps, the filter material is often difficult to handle, becomes thin, brittle, and breaks easily

[0006] Additionally, filters are often wrinkled and not optically flat, thereby complicating the optical imaging process of cells

Although existing techniques offer ways to overcome this problem, for example, by using immunomagnetic beads and magnets to pull cells against the microscope cover, these methods are complex, time-consuming, or require specialized equipment

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