PURPOSE: To improve the accuracy and speed of a cell fusion process, and to enable the automation of the process, by applying an electric potential between electrode pairs, thereby moving a fine particle positioned therebetween, stopping the motion of individual particle, and controlling the distance between the particles.
CONSTITUTION: The apparatus is composed of a vessel 31 furnished with an inlet and an outlet of a liquid, plural electrodes 41W44 attached to the side wall of the vessel 31, the electric potential generation means 45 to apply electrophoretic potential to the electrodes, and a change-over switch 46 to connect the output of the means 45 to an arbitrary pair of the above electrodes. An electrical potential is applied to the electrode pair between which the objective fine particle is positioned by selecting the switch 46 to start the motion of the fine particle, and the motion is stopped or the distance between particles is controlled by the switch. Since a one-dimensional flow of the fine particles can be formed by this process, the accuracy of a particle counter, flow cytometry, cell sorter, etc., can be improved, and a hybrid cell can be produced exclusively and surely by cell fusion.
YUASA MITSUYOSHI
TAKATSUJI MASAKI
