Methods and systems for releasing intracellular material from cells within microfluidic samples of fluids
First Claim
1. A microfluidic device for processing a cell-containing microdroplet, comprising:
- a lysing zone, a lysing mechanism to release intracellular material from cells within the lysing zone, and a positioning element to position the cell-containing microdroplet in a lysing position with respect to the lysing zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a microfluidic system for processing a cell-containing liquid. The system includes a lysing zone to receive the cell-containing sample and a positioning element to position the cell-containing sample in a lysing position in the vicinity of a lysing mechanism. The lysing mechanism releases intracellular material, such as DNA or RNA, from the cells. In one embodiment, the lysing mechanism includes electrodes for generating an electric field sufficient to release intracellular contents from the cells. Alternatively, the lysing mechanism may lyse the cells using chemical, heat and/or ultrasonic techniques or any combination of these techniques.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A microfluidic device for processing a cell-containing microdroplet, comprising:
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a lysing zone, a lysing mechanism to release intracellular material from cells within the lysing zone, and a positioning element to position the cell-containing microdroplet in a lysing position with respect to the lysing zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 37)
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16. A microfluidic device for processing a cell-containing fluid, comprising:
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a lysing zone, a lysing mechanism to release intracellular contents from cells within the lysing zone; and
a gas actuator to provide a gas pressure sufficient to prepare a microdroplet comprising intracellular contents released from cells of the cell-containing fluid within the lysing zone.
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27. A microfluidic method for processing a cell-containing microdroplet, comprising:
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positioning the cell-containing microdroplet in a lysing position with respect to a lysing mechanism of a microfluidic device; and
actuating a lysing mechanism to release intracellular material from cells of the cell-containing microdroplet.
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33. A microfluidic method for processing a cell-containing fluid, comprising:
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providing the cell-containing fluid to a lysing zone of a microfluidic device;
actuating the lysing mechanism to release intracellular contents from cells of the cell-containing fluid within the lysing zone;
providing a gas pressure sufficient to prepare a microdroplet comprising intracellular contents released from cells of the cell-containing fluid within the lysing zone. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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38. A microfluidic substrate for processing fluids comprising:
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a lysing module for releasing intracellular material from cells within the sample to thereby forming a lysed sample, a microdroplet formation module for forming a first microdroplet of fluid from the lysed sample, a mixing module for mixing said first microdroplet with a second microdroplet comprising a reagent to form a third microdroplet, and an amplification module for amplifying intercellular material within said third microdroplet.
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Specification