US 12,187,996 B2
Open-top microfluidic devices and methods for simulating a function of a tissue
Antonio Varone, Cambridge, MA (US); Norman Wen, Cambridge, MA (US); Daniel Levner, Cambridge, MA (US); Richard Novak, Cambridge, MA (US); Lori McPartlin, Cambridge, MA (US); Donald E. Ingber, Cambridge, MA (US); Youngjae Choe, Cambridge, MA (US); Lian Leng, Cambridge, MA (US); and Justin K. Nguyen, Cambridge, MA (US)
Assigned to President and Fellows of Harvard College, Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed by President and Fellows of Harvard College, Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/056,035.
Application 18/056,035 is a continuation of application No. 15/781,078, granted, now 11,505,773, previously published as PCT/US2016/064798, filed on Dec. 2, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/263,225, filed on Dec. 4, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0159872 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. C12M 3/06 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/12 (2006.01); C12M 1/34 (2006.01); C12M 3/00 (2006.01); C12M 3/04 (2006.01); C12N 5/071 (2010.01); C12N 5/077 (2010.01)
CPC C12M 23/16 (2013.01) [C12M 21/08 (2013.01); C12M 25/02 (2013.01); C12M 25/14 (2013.01); C12N 5/0629 (2013.01); C12N 5/0656 (2013.01); C12N 5/0679 (2013.01); C12N 5/069 (2013.01); B01L 3/5027 (2013.01); B01L 2300/069 (2013.01); C12M 3/04 (2013.01); C12M 29/10 (2013.01); C12M 41/46 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microfluidic device comprising:
a gel chamber with a gel matrix disposed therein, the gel chamber including an open top surface region;
a fluidic chamber wherein a first interface region is formed between the gel chamber and the fluidic chamber;
a membrane disposed at the first interface region, the membrane including a first side facing the gel chamber and a second side facing the fluidic chamber; and
a movable cover disposed on the gel chamber above the gel matrix, the movable cover configured to provide access to the gel chamber, wherein the movable cover defines an aperture having one end configured to align with the open top surface region of the gel chamber when the movable cover is disposed on the gel chamber such that a fluid material entering the aperture flows through the movable cover and into the open top surface region of the gel chamber.