Tissue crushing device

By designing a tissue disruption device with intermittent stirring blades and grinding teeth, the problems of complex devices and cell damage in existing technologies have been solved, achieving efficient and gentle tissue disruption and improving the activity of single-cell suspensions and experimental efficiency.

CN223535092UActive Publication Date: 2025-11-11HANGZHOU ALLSHENG INSTR
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202422908284.6
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-11-27
Publication Date
2025-11-11
Estimated Expiration
2034-11-27

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing tissue disruption devices are complex in design and costly. Furthermore, direct cutting and grinding methods can easily damage cells, resulting in low activity of single-cell suspensions and affecting the accuracy and reliability of experiments.

Method used

The design incorporates a stirring and grinding unit within a test tube, with a gap between the stirring blades and the grinding teeth. This allows for the gentle physical breaking down of tissues, reducing cell damage, and also simplifies the structure, thus lowering production and maintenance costs.

Benefits of technology

It increased the yield and activity of single-cell suspensions, simplified the operation process, reduced production and maintenance costs, and improved experimental efficiency and safety.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The utility model provides a tissue crushing device, and relates to the technical field of laboratory tissue preparation, the tissue crushing device comprises: a test tube having a closed end and an open end; the test tube cover is connected with the open end; the stirring unit is rotatably arranged on the test tube cover; a grinding unit is arranged in the test tube, and at least one row of grinding teeth is arranged on the inner wall of the grinding unit; the stirring unit comprises at least one stirring blade, the outer edge of the stirring blade is consistent with the shape of the grinding teeth, and a gap exists between the grinding teeth and the stirring blade. The device is simple in structure and convenient to operate, efficient and mild tissue breaking is achieved, and the single-cell suspension with high activity is obtained.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of laboratory tissue preparation technology, and in particular to a tissue disruption device. Background Technology

[0002] In single-cell sequencing technology, obtaining high-quality single-cell suspensions is crucial for experimental success. However, the complexity and diversity of different biological tissue types present challenges to the preparation of single-cell suspensions. Existing tissue disruption devices have complex component designs, high mold costs, and stringent requirements for the fit between parts, which increases production costs and operational difficulty. Moreover, existing technologies often obtain biological samples through direct cutting and grinding, which can easily damage cells during disruption, resulting in single-cell suspensions with low activity, thus affecting the accuracy and reliability of subsequent experiments. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides a tissue disruption device with a simple structure and convenient operation, which can achieve efficient and gentle tissue disruption to obtain a highly active single-cell suspension.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solutions adopted in the embodiments of this application are as follows:

[0005] This application provides a tissue disruption device, comprising: a test tube having a closed end and an open end; a test tube cap connected to the open end; a stirring unit rotatably disposed on the test tube cap; a grinding unit disposed inside the test tube, the inner wall of the grinding unit having at least one row of grinding teeth; the stirring unit including at least one stirring blade, the outer edge of the stirring blade being consistent with the shape of the grinding teeth, and a gap existing between the grinding teeth and the stirring blade.

[0006] In an optional embodiment, the grinding unit is a hollow tubular shape with openings at the top and bottom.

[0007] In an optional embodiment, the grinding teeth are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the inner wall of the grinding unit to form multiple rows of teeth.

[0008] In an optional embodiment, the test tube and the grinding unit are fixed by an interference fit.

[0009] In an optional embodiment, a first stop assembly is provided on the inner wall of the test tube, and a second stop assembly is provided on the outer wall of the grinding unit. The first stop assembly and the second stop assembly can cooperate and lock each other to prevent the grinding unit and the test tube from rotating relative to each other.

[0010] In an optional embodiment, the first stop component is a protrusion, and the second stop component is a groove that matches the shape of the protrusion; or, the second stop component is a protrusion, and the first stop component is a groove that matches the shape of the protrusion.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the stirring blade is a spiral blade, and there are multiple stirring blades that are evenly arranged on the stirring unit.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the stirring blade is provided with at least one slot.

[0013] In an optional embodiment, the outer surface of the opening end is provided with an external thread, and the inner wall of the test tube cap is provided with an internal thread, and the external thread and the internal thread are engaged and connected; or, the inner surface of the opening end is provided with an internal thread, and the outer wall of the test tube cap is provided with an external thread, and the external thread and the internal thread are engaged and connected.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, the stirring unit further includes an opening connected to an external drive shaft.

[0015] The tissue disruption apparatus provided in the above embodiments, with its simplified structure and easy-to-maintain design, reduces production and maintenance time and costs, making operation more convenient. By optimizing the design of the stirring and grinding units, the efficiency of tissue disruption and cell viability are improved; in particular, the gap design between the stirring blades and the grinding teeth allows cells to pass through, reducing cell damage during disruption and minimizing sample loss throughout the disruption process, thereby increasing the yield and activity of single-cell suspensions. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments of this application will be briefly described below.

[0017] Figure 1 This is an explosion diagram of a tissue fragmentation device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0018] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a tissue fragmentation apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a grinding unit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the test tube and grinding unit in conjunction with an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a test tube provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a stirring unit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of a stirring unit and test tube cap assembly provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Explanation of main component symbols: 1 - test tube; 11 - open end; 12 - closed end; 13 - first stop assembly; 2 - test tube cap; 3 - grinding unit; 31 - grinding teeth; 32 - second stop assembly; 4 - stirring unit; 41 - stirring blade; 42 - slot; 43 - opening; 44 - sealing ring. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of this application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0026] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "inner" and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product is in use. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0027] In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "setup" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0028] Figure 1 This is an exploded schematic diagram of the tissue fragmentation device provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the tissue fragmentation device provided in the embodiments of this application, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the device includes:

[0029] Test tube 1, which has a closed end 12 and an open end 11; test tube cap 2, which is connected to the open end 11; stirring unit 4 is rotatably mounted on test tube cap 2; a sealing ring 44 is provided between test tube cap 2 and stirring unit 4 to prevent tissue fluid from leaking out of test tube cap 2.

[0030] The test tube 1 is equipped with a grinding unit 3, and the inner wall of the grinding unit 3 is provided with at least one row of grinding teeth 31; the stirring unit 4 includes at least one stirring blade 41, the outer edge of the stirring blade 41 is consistent with the shape of the grinding teeth 31, and there is a gap between the grinding teeth 31 and the stirring blade 41. The gap allows cells to pass through, so the cells will not be damaged, and a single-cell suspension with high activity can be obtained.

[0031] like Figure 1 and 2 As shown, in one embodiment, the outer surface of the opening end 11 is provided with external threads, and the inner wall of the test tube cap 2 is provided with internal threads, with the external threads engaging with the internal threads. In other embodiments, the inner surface of the opening end 11 may be provided with internal threads, and the outer wall of the test tube cap 2 may be provided with external threads, with the external threads engaging with the internal threads. The threaded connection between the test tube 1 and the test tube cap 2 provides a stable sealing system, reduces the risk of sample spillage, and improves the safety of the experiment.

[0032] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the grinding unit provided in the embodiments of this application is shown below. Figure 3 As shown, in one embodiment, the grinding unit 3 is a hollow tubular structure with openings at the top and bottom. Furthermore, the tubular structure of the grinding unit 3 can have different lengths and diameters to accommodate samples of different volumes.

[0033] In another embodiment, test tube 1 and grinding unit 3 may be made of a transparent material so that the state of the sample can be observed during the crushing process.

[0034] In one embodiment, the grinding teeth 31 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the inner wall of the grinding unit 3, forming multiple rows of teeth. Furthermore, the grinding teeth 31 can be designed in different shapes, such as serrated or corrugated, to accommodate different types of tissue samples. The arrangement density of the grinding teeth 31 can be adjusted according to the hardness of the sample and the required degree of fragmentation. For example, for harder tissues, the grinding teeth 31 can be designed to be sharper and denser; while for softer tissues, they can be designed to be smoother and sparser.

[0035] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the test tube and grinding unit provided in the embodiments of this application, as shown below. Figure 4As shown, in one embodiment, the test tube 1 and the grinding unit 3 are fixed by an interference fit, and the grinding unit 3 will not detach from the test tube 1 when the test tube cap 2 is opened; the degree of interference fit can be controlled by precise manufacturing tolerances to ensure that the grinding unit 3 will not loosen at high speeds.

[0036] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the test tube provided in the embodiments of this application, such as... Figure 3 - Figure 5 As shown, in one embodiment, a first stop assembly 13 is provided on the inner wall of the test tube 1, and a second stop assembly 32 is provided on the outer wall of the grinding unit 3. The first stop assembly 13 and the second stop assembly 32 can cooperate to lock each other to prevent the grinding unit 3 and the test tube 1 from rotating relative to each other.

[0037] The separate design of test tube 1 and grinding unit 3 can reduce mold costs, make the assembly of test tube 1 and grinding unit 3 more convenient, and also facilitate the maintenance and replacement of worn parts, rather than the entire test tube 1, thus reducing replacement costs.

[0038] Furthermore, the first stop assembly 13 and the second stop assembly 32 can be designed with different locking mechanisms, such as threads, slots, or magnetic locking, to provide different levels of safety and ease of operation.

[0039] In one embodiment, the first stop component 13 is a protrusion and the second stop component 32 is a groove that matches the shape of the protrusion; or, the second stop component 32 is a protrusion and the first stop component 13 is a groove that matches the shape of the protrusion.

[0040] This protrusion and groove design provides a quick locking and unlocking mechanism, making the installation and replacement of the grinding unit 3 more convenient. Furthermore, the protrusion and groove design can have various variations; for example, they can be designed in different shapes and sizes to provide different levels of fixation strength and ease of operation, as long as they prevent relative rotation between the grinding unit 3 and the test tube 1.

[0041] For example, the test tube 1 is provided with ribs, and the grinding unit 3 is provided with grooves that cooperate with the ribs to prevent the grinding unit 3 and the test tube 1 from rotating relative to each other. Moreover, the ribs can increase the structural strength of the test tube 1, making it less prone to deformation or damage under high speed or high pressure working conditions.

[0042] In another embodiment, the grinding sleeve can also be integrally formed with the test tube 1 to reduce possible errors during assembly and improve product consistency and quality.

[0043] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a stirring unit provided in one embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 6As shown, in one embodiment, the stirring blade 41 is a spiral blade. There are multiple stirring blades 41, which are evenly arranged on the stirring unit 4. The spiral blade can more effectively push the liquid and tissue sample to move in a specific direction, thereby improving the stirring efficiency. The centrifugal force generated by the spiral blade during rotation can push the biological tissue towards the inner wall of the grinding unit 3, increasing the contact opportunity and friction between the biological tissue and the grinding teeth 31, thus greatly increasing the grinding area and more effectively breaking down the tissue.

[0044] Furthermore, the number and spacing of the stirring blades 41 can be adjusted according to the viscosity of the sample and the required stirring intensity. The stirring blades 41 can be designed to be replaceable to adapt to different stirring needs.

[0045] In one embodiment, the stirring blade 41 has at least one slot 42. The slot 42 is a narrow slit that allows biological samples that have been processed into small particles to pass through, further reducing the mechanical resistance of the tissue to be processed on the stirring blade 41 during rotation. During the tissue fragmentation process, tissue fragments may clog the stirring blade 41; the slot 42 can reduce this clogging and maintain the continuous rotation and fragmentation action of the blade. In addition, the slot 42 makes cleaning and maintenance of the stirring blade 41 easier, as it can serve as a channel for the flow of cleaning fluid, helping to remove residues adhering to the stirring blade 41.

[0046] Furthermore, the design of the slots 42 can have many variations; for example, they can be designed in different shapes and sizes to optimize sample flow and mixing efficiency.

[0047] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of a stirring unit and test tube cap assembly provided in an embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment, the stirring unit 4 further includes an opening 43 connected to an external drive shaft. The stirring unit 4 is connected to the external drive shaft through the opening 43, realizing direct drive without the need for a complex transmission mechanism.

[0048] When using this device to process biological tissues, sample tissue and reagents are placed inside the device. The opening 43 on the stirring unit 4 is connected to an external drive shaft, which drives the stirring unit 4 to rotate. The stirring unit 4 drives the stirring blades 41 to rotate, while the test tube 1 and the grinding unit 3 fixed on the test tube 1 remain stationary. The stirring blades 41 push the tissue inside the test tube 1 outwards, and with the action of centrifugal force, the tissue is thrown to the periphery and comes into contact with the grinding unit 3 inside the test tube 1.

[0049] The grinding unit 3 has at least one row of grinding teeth 31 on its inner wall. The outer edge of the stirring blade 41 pushes the biological tissue against the grinding teeth 31, and this process is repeated to break down the tissue. Furthermore, due to the fit between the shape of the grinding teeth 31 and the outer edge of the stirring blade 41, the gap design between the stirring blade 41 and the grinding teeth 31 allows cells to pass through, reducing cell damage during the disruption process and helping to maintain cell viability and integrity. The rotation speed and processing time of the stirring unit 4 are comprehensively set based on the adhesion of the tissue and the required particle size of the biological sample to be prepared.

[0050] The disruption mechanism in this embodiment is designed with cell protection in mind. Unlike other methods that use direct cutting and grinding to obtain biological samples, it releases cells through gentle physical action, reducing cell damage during disruption. Furthermore, the gap between the stirring blades 41 and the grinding teeth 31 allows cells to pass through, minimizing sample loss throughout the disruption process, thereby increasing the yield and activity of single-cell suspensions.

[0051] Moreover, the structure of this embodiment is simple and easy to mold. Since the drive port is located on the test tube cap 2, the consumables can be inverted, making them easy to use and store, and improving the efficiency and flexibility of the experiment, so as to achieve efficient and gentle tissue disruption.

[0052] It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0053] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A tissue disruption device, characterized in that, include: Test tube (1), the test tube (1) having a closed end (12) and an open end (11); Test tube cap (2), connected to the open end (11); The stirring unit (4) is rotatably mounted on the test tube cap (2); The test tube (1) is provided with a grinding unit (3), and the inner wall of the grinding unit (3) is provided with at least one row of grinding teeth (31); The stirring unit (4) includes at least one stirring blade (41), the outer edge of the stirring blade (41) is consistent with the shape of the grinding tooth (31), and there is a gap between the grinding tooth (31) and the stirring blade (41).

2. The tissue disruption device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The grinding unit (3) is a hollow tube with openings at the top and bottom.

3. The tissue fragmentation device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The grinding teeth (31) are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the inner wall of the grinding unit (3) to form multiple rows of teeth.

4. The tissue disruption device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The test tube (1) and the grinding unit (3) are fixed by an interference fit.

5. The tissue disruption device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The inner wall of the test tube (1) is provided with a first stop assembly (13), and the outer wall of the grinding unit (3) is provided with a second stop assembly (32). The first stop assembly (13) and the second stop assembly (32) can cooperate to lock each other to prevent the grinding unit (3) and the test tube (1) from rotating relative to each other.

6. The tissue disruption device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first stop component (13) is a protrusion, and the second stop component (32) is a groove that matches the shape of the protrusion; or, The second stop component (32) is a protrusion, and the first stop component (13) is a groove that matches the shape of the protrusion.

7. The tissue disruption device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stirring blade (41) is a spiral blade, and there are multiple stirring blades, which are evenly arranged on the stirring unit (4).

8. The tissue fragmentation device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The stirring blade (41) is provided with at least one slot (42).

9. The tissue disruption device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the opening end (11) is provided with an external thread, and the inner wall of the test tube cap (2) is provided with an internal thread. The external thread and the internal thread are connected in a mating manner. or, The inner surface of the open end (11) is provided with an internal thread, and the outer wall of the test tube cap (2) is provided with an external thread, and the external thread is connected to the internal thread.

10. The tissue disruption apparatus according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The stirring unit (4) also includes an opening (43) that is connected to an external drive shaft.