Abstract: A device for investigating activities of cell cultures in a liquid culture medium includes a receptacle for the culture medium, and one or more sensors for measurement of cell culture activities. An opening for adding and removing liquid culture medium is provided. A separating element can be placed close to the receptacle bottom, forming a partial space with a small volume relative to the entire volume. A flow channel that communicates with the small volume and the reservoir and/or the sensors are placed in the small volume partial space. By adjustment of the separating element distance from the receptacle bottom, a microreaction volume exactly fitting the current requirements is obtained. For regeneration of the cell culture solution in the small volume partial space, the separating element can be elevated and depressed, or liquid can be injected into the small volume by the through-flow channel, providing convective mixing of fresh and spent medium.

Abstract: A process is provided for the intracellular manipulation of a biological cell (3) which is positioned adhering to a support area (5) in a culture medium (2). Inside the support area (5) for the cell (3) an opening into the membrane of the cell (3) is created spaced from its support edge. The edge of the cell membrane surrounding the opening, adhering to the support area (5), thus seals off the cell fluid situated in the interior of the cell (3) from the culture medium (2) and insulates the cell fluid against the culture medium (2). The interior of the cell (3) is manipulated through the opening. An apparatus for implementing the process is also provided, including an object carrier (4) with a support area (5) for adhering the cell and a poration tool (6) for creating the opening in the cell membrane. The poration tool (6) may be any of various chemical, mechanical and/or electrical devices.

Abstract: A device (1) for the carrying out of investigations on cell cultures (2) which take place in a liquid culture medium (4). The device possesses at least a receptacle (3) to contain the culture medium (4) including the cell culture (2), wherein one or more sensors (6) for measurement of the cell culture activities is provided and wherein the receptacle (3) has at least an opening for the adding and the removal of liquid culture medium (4) and the like. A separating element (7) can be introduced into the open upper part of the receptacle (3) and can be brought within the said receptacle (3) in a position close to the bottom (5), in which the said separating element (7) makes a boundary forming a partial space (8) which has a small volume in relation to the entire volume of the receptacle (3). Further, a flow channel (9) is provided, which first, communicates with the small volume partial space (8), and second, communicates with the said reservoir (14).

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring a state variable of a biological cell (3) located in a nutrient medium (2) and supported on and adhering to a support area (5). Within the support area (5) for the cell (3) and at a distance from the support area edge, an opening is made in the membrane of the cell (3). The edge of the cell membrane that surrounds the opening and adheres to the support area (5) seals off the liquid found inside the cell (3) from the nutrient medium (2). Through the opening the state variable (2) is measured. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A process is provided for the intracellular manipulation of a biological cell (3) which is positioned adhering to a support area (5) in a culture medium (2). Inside the support area (5) for the cell (3) an opening into the membrane of the cell (3) is created spaced from its support edge. The edge of the cell membrane surrounding the opening, adhering to the support area (5), thus seals off the cell fluid situated in the interior of the cell (3) from the culture medium (2) and insulates the cell fluid against the culture medium (2). The interior of the cell (3) is manipulated through the opening. An apparatus for implementing the process is also provided, including an object carrier (4) with a support area (5) for adhering the cell and a poration tool (6) for creating the opening in the cell membrane. The poration tool (6) may be any of various chemical, mechanical and/or electrical devices.

Abstract: A process is provided for the intracellular manipulation of a biological cell (3) which is positioned adhering to a support area (5) in a culture medium (2). Inside the support area (5) for the cell (3) an opening into the membrane of the cell (3) is created spaced from its support edge. The edge of the cell membrane surrounding the opening, adhering to the support area (5), thus seals off the cell fluid situated in the interior of the cell (3) from the culture medium (2) and insulates the cell fluid against the culture medium (2). The interior of the cell (3) is manipulated through the opening. An apparatus for implementing the process is also provided, including an object carrier (4) with a support area (5) for adhering the cell and a poration tool (6) for creating the opening in the cell membrane. The poration tool (6) may be any of various chemical, mechanical and/or electrical devices.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring a state variable of a biological cell (3) located in a nutrient medium (2) and supported on and adhering to a support area (5). Within the support area (5) for the cell (3) and at a distance from the support area edge, an opening is made in the membrane of the cell (3). The edge of the cell membrane that surrounds the opening and adheres to the support area (5) seals off the liquid found inside the cell (3) from the nutrient medium (2). Through the opening the state variable (2) is measured. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring a state variable of a biological cell (3) located in a nutrient medium (2) and supported on and adhering to a support area (5). Within the support area (5) for the cell (3) and at a distance from the support area edge, an opening is made in the membrane of the cell (3). The edge of the cell membrane that surrounds the opening and adheres to the support area (5) seals off the liquid found inside the cell (3) from the nutrient medium (2). Through the opening the state variable (2) is measured. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.