Christopher A Mathes

US Patent:

20020098575, Jul 25, 2002

Filed:

Jan 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/769609

Inventors:

Christopher Mathes - Foster City CA, US
Gregory Hamersly - Atascadero CA, US

International Classification:

C12M003/00

US Classification:

435/287300, 435/286200, 435/029000, 435/288700

Abstract:

An automated mechanism for guiding a microelectrode toward an oocyte placed in a perfusion chamber consists of a movable guide tube holding the electrode and a fixed guide collar in fixed relation to the target oocyte. Because the guide tube and guide collar are independently mounted, the alignment of the tip of the microelectrode is effected by its placement within the precisely aligned guide collar, irrespective of any fine misalignment of the guide tube. Accordingly, a change of microelectrode in the guide tube does not affect its final alignment toward the oocyte so long as the calibration of the guide collar is not disturbed, thereby providing a mechanism for maintaining the alignment of different microelectrodes successively mounted in the system without requiring recalibration.