Apparatus and method for cell disruption

• US 20060030038A1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chpheid
• Original Assignee: Chpheid
• Inventors: Chang, Ronald, Belgrader, Phillip, McMillan, William A., Pourahmadi, Farzad, Ching, Jesus, Taylor, Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,268,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/306.100
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/14 Means for pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 47/06 Hydrolysis; Cell lysis; Extraction of intracellular or cell wall material lysis of microorganisms C12N1/06; extracting or separating nucleic acids from biological samples C12N15/1003

Abstract

An apparatus for disrupting cells or viruses comprises a container having a chamber for holding the cells or viruses. The container includes at least one flexible wall defining the chamber. The apparatus also includes a transducer for impacting an external surface of the flexible wall to generate pressure waves in the chamber. The apparatus also includes a pressure source for increasing the pressure in the chamber. The pressurization of the chamber ensures effective coupling between the transducer and the flexible wall. The apparatus may also include beads in the chamber for rupturing the cells or viruses.

Claims

1. An apparatus for disrupting cells or viruses, the apparatus comprising:

a) a container having a chamber for holding the cells or viruses, wherein the container includes at least one flexible wall defining the chamber;

b) a transducer for impacting an external surface of the flexible wall; and

c) a pressure source for increasing the pressure in the chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure source is sufficient to increase the pressure in the chamber to at least 5 psi above the ambient pressure external to the container.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure source is sufficient to increase the pressure in the chamber to at least 15 psi above the ambient pressure external to the container.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible wall comprises a sheet or film of polymeric material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the wall has a thickness in the range 0.025 to 0.1 mm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible wall comprises an elastomer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises an ultrasonic horn.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising beads in the chamber for rupturing the cells or viruses.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the beads have a binding affinity for the cells or viruses to be disrupted.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the beads have a binding affinity for the intracellular material released from the disrupted cells or viruses.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first set of beads in the chamber for binding the cells or viruses and a second set of beads in the chamber for rupturing the cells or viruses.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber has at least two ports positioned to permit flow of a fluid sample through the chamber, and wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one filter in the chamber for capturing the cells or viruses as the sample flows through the chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising beads in the chamber.

14. A method for disrupting cells or viruses, the method comprising the steps of:

a) placing in the chamber of a container;

i) the cells or viruses to be disrupted; and

ii) a liquid;

wherein the container includes at least one flexible wall defining the chamber;

b) placing a transducer against an external surface of the flexible wall;

c) increasing the static pressure in the chamber; and

d) impacting the flexible wall with the transducer to generate pressure pulses in the chamber.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of agitating beads in the chamber to rupture the cells or viruses.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the static pressure in the chamber is increased to at least 5 psi above the ambient pressure external to the container.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the static pressure in the chamber is increased to at least 15 psi above the ambient pressure external to the container.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the transducer comprises an ultrasonic horn.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of placing the cells or viruses in the chamber comprises capturing the cells or viruses on at least one filter positioned in the chamber by forcing a fluid sample containing the cells or viruses to flow through the chamber.

20-82. -82. (canceled)