Isolation of Cellular Material Under Microscopic Visualization
Description of Invention:
This Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) invention is a method for directly extracting cellular material from a tissue sample using a laser beam to focally activate a special transfer film that bonds specifically to cells identified and targeted by microscopy within the tissue section. The transfer film with the bonded cells is then lifted off the thin tissue section, leaving all unwanted cells (which would contaminate the molecular purity of subsequent analysis) behind. The transparent transfer film is applied to the surface of the tissue section. Under the microscope, the diagnostic pathologist or researcher views the thin tissue section through the glass slide on which it is mounted and chooses microscopic clusters of cells to study. When the cells of choice are in the center of the field of view, the operator pushes a button, which activates a near IR laser diode integral with the microscope optics. The pulsed laser beam activates a precise spot on the transfer film immediately above the cells of interest. At this precise location the film melts and fuses with the underlying cells of choice. When the film is removed, the chosen cell(s) are tightly held within the focally expanded polymer, while the rest of the tissue is left behind. This allows multiple homogeneous samples within the tissue section or cytological preparation to be targeted and pooled for extraction of molecules and analysis.
Inventors:
Liotta et al. (NCI)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-035-1994/1 --
U.S. Patent 5,843,644 issued 01 Dec 1998
DHHS Reference No. E-035-1994/2 --
U.S. Patent 5,843,657 issued 01 Dec 1998
U.S. Patent 6,010,888 issued 04 Jan 2000
U.S. Patent 6,204,030 issued 20 Mar 2001
U.S. Patent 6,569,639 issued 27 May 2003
Licensing Status: This technology is available for licensing on a non-exclusive basis.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Michael Shmilovich J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5019
Email: shmilovm@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
