A Concomitant Ejection Method

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A Method for Concomitant Ejection and Suction of Perfusate using the Microfluidic Device - CESOP CESOP is a microfluidic device that enables focal application and clearance of drugs/compounds to nuclei or regions within acute brain slices submerged in artificial cerebrospinal fluid or other bathing media under non-laminar/turbulent flow conditions. The CESOP technique has distinct advantages over either both perfusion or local perfusion for studying how drug application to one region of the brain affects a neighboring/juxtaposed region. The CESOP device/method enables rapid focal application of drugs/compounds while restricting their spillover to neighboring regions. Turbulent/non-laminar flow conditions that manifest in slice recording chambers exacerbate spillover thereby hindering electrophysiological recording s and the study of region-specific drug effects. CESOP solves this problem through concomitant ejection and suction of perfusate, even under moderately turbulent conditions. CESOP is a gravity-fed device/method comprising of a specially fabricated microfluidic tip with two tapered manifolds that piggy-back on each other make a fine application tip. The smaller diameter manifold is connected to the perfusate cistern and is under positive pressure while the larger diameter manifold constitutes a return/suction line, which when primed and guided below the recording chamber generates a partial vacuum for concomitant suction of the perfusate. Advantages: Rapid and focal delivery of drugs/compounds to regions of interest within the tissue with minimal or no spillover Fine control of application area Mobility within the restricted environs of the recording chamber/scope Savings in precious drug volumes while assaying drug effects Feasibility for assaying reversibility of drug effects Cost-effective