| abstract |
An injection device injects small amounts of injectate into each of a plurality of cells (20). A first plate (12), which may be made from a silicon chip, includes a large number of evenly spaced cell wells (14), in a regular array. Each well includes a through hole (16) in the chip. A top plate (22), also formed from a silicon chip, includes a plurality of injection needles (24), arranged in a regular array corresponding to the position of the cell wells (14). A suspension of cells is washed over the first plate (12) and individual cells (20) are retained by the individual wells (14). A vacuum may be applied to the cell wells (14) through a manifold (32) beneath the first plate (12), thus to retain the cells (20) in place. Excess cells (20) and suspension are removed by washing the plate (12). The second plate (22), including the injection needles (24), is positioned on the first plate (12) so that the needles (24) pierce the plurality of cells (20) retained in the wells (14), thus simultaneously introducing the injectate into a large number of individual cells (20). |