ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR THE ON-LINE DETECTION AND MONITORING OF THE GROWTH / DEATH OF CELLS IN A CULTURE

摘要

The present invention discloses a device for measuring and monitoring on-line the evolution over time or the reaction to a change in the environment of living cells present in an environment using the change in the electric field resulting from any type of change which results in the culture changing the existing outer electric field. The device comprises one or more electrodes made from any conductive material and placed at a distance around the receptacle. It also comprises, in any arrangement that may be tested, an electrode (or a number of electrodes) and an electrode referred to as a reference electrode. These electrodes maintain a uniform electric field which is generated by an electric field sensor. The electrical components which carry the signal in the present invention do not have direct contact with the culture, that is there is no invasive element which could cause an alteration in cellular growth. The data acquisition and processing system in the present invention consists of three interdependent components: i) an electronics board which comprises all the components needed to generate, capture and process the signals coming from and being sent to the cellular culture; ii) an arrangement of electrodes that is used to maintain the electric field about the recipient holding the specimen; and iii) a non-conductive recipient for holding the specimen, in which the culture being monitored and analysed remains. The signal from the electrode or electrodes is sent to the acquisition system, where it is processed and then sent via a USB key or wirelessly to a computer or mobile system where it can be viewed and analysed in real time.