Apparatus and method for cell disruption

• US 9,073,053 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cepheid (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cepheid (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Taylor, Michael T., Belgrader, Phillip, Pourahmadi, Farzad, McMillan, William A., Chang, Ronald, Sakai, Stanley H., Ching, Jesus
• Primary Examiner(s): HOBBS, MICHAEL L
• Application Number:
  US11/233,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20060027686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,575 Days
• Field of Search: 241/2, 435/306.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch 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: 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. A method for disrupting cells or viruses, the method comprising the steps of:

a) forcing a fluid sample containing the cells or viruses to flow through a chamber having a filter stack positioned therein, thereby capturing the cells or viruses on the filter stack, wherein the filter stack comprises at least two filters having different average pore sizes;

b) generating pressure waves or pressure pulses in the chamber by contacting a flexible wall of the chamber with a vibrating transducer, wherein said generating is performed under increased static pressure in the chamber, and wherein the increased static pressure is provided by a pressure source and enhances coupling of the flexible wall to the transducer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises an ultrasonic horn.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of beads are disposed between at least two of the filters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the filters in the filter stack are separated by a gasket.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of agitating the beads between the filters.