Abrasive Cell Disruption Apparatus for Clogging-Free Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cell capture, disruption, and extraction are inefficient, prone to contamination, and unsuitable for both small and large-scale processing, particularly failing to effectively handle cells with thick membranes or spores due to clogging issues and labor-intensive handling, which results in reduced yield and quality.
Innovation Solution
A cell capture, disruption, and extraction apparatus featuring a disruption chamber with abrasive particles and an actuating mechanism that agitates the pestle and chamber, allowing for simultaneous cell capture, filtration, and lysis, using materials like diamond, glass shreds, or silicon dioxide to break open cells while minimizing contamination and clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filter membranes are used to separate cells from surrounding media, then cell separation is achieved, but the process is slow and filter membranes eventually clog
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cell separation and cell disruption functions into a single integrated device. The disruption chamber contains both the filtration mechanism and the cell breaking mechanism, allowing cells to be separated from media and then disrupted in the same device without transferring to separate equipment, thereby eliminating the clogging issue while maintaining separation effectiveness and improving processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The disruption chamber serves multiple functions: it acts as both a filtration chamber for separating cells from media and a disruption chamber for breaking open cells. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate filtration and disruption steps, resolving the contradiction between reliable separation and high productivity.
2Quantity of substance
If cells are collected from filter and transferred to separate lysis tube, then cell concentration is achieved, but handling errors and contamination occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates cell concentration, separation, and disruption functions into a single device. Cells are concentrated and separated in the disruption chamber, then directly disrupted in the same chamber without transfer to separate tubes. This eliminates handling steps that cause contamination while maintaining effective cell concentration and separation.
3Reliability
If harsh chemical, heat, Sonication, Freeze/Thaw or bead beating methods are used to break cells, then cell lysis is achieved, but the process is labor intensive and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical disruption methods (bead beating, sonication equipment) with a simpler mechanical pestle-based system. The pestle mechanically disrupts cells through direct contact and agitation within the disruption chamber, achieving effective lysis without requiring complex equipment or lengthy processing times, thereby improving productivity while maintaining lysis effectiveness.
4Adaptability or versatility
If distinct individual tools and kits are used for each step, then specialized functionality is achieved, but device complexity and expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple specialized functions (filtration, cell concentration, cell disruption, and lysis) into a single integrated device with one disruption chamber. This eliminates the need for multiple separate tools and kits, reducing device complexity and expense while maintaining the specialized functionality needed for each processing step through the multi-functional design of the chamber and its components.
Solution Approach 2:
The disruption chamber is designed to perform multiple specialized functions: filtration of cells from media, concentration of cells, and mechanical disruption of cells. This universal design allows a single device to replace multiple specialized tools, reducing overall system complexity while preserving the adaptive functionality needed for different processing steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus efficiently captures and breaks cells, reducing contamination and clogging, enabling simultaneous filtration and extraction, thus improving processing speed and yield while being adaptable for various cell types, including hard-to-lyse organisms.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of abrasive particles positioned in the disruption chamber
Implementation Method 2
an actuating mechanism operatively coupled to at least one of the disruption chamber and the pestle, and configured to agitate at least one of the pestle and the disruption chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A cell capture, disruption, and extraction apparatus includes a disruption chamber configured to receive cell solution and having therein a plurality of abrasives, which can include diamond powder, variably and multi dimensionally disbursed therein, and a pestle positioned in the disruption chamber. The apparatus includes an actuation device configured to agitate the disruption chamber and/or pestle, movement of the abrasives tearing cell structure in the solution to access its contents. A binding column or size exclusion column can be positioned downstream of the disruption chamber. The pestle can rotate with respect to the disruption chamber. The pestle can include a nut-shaped core or axle, and/or include a plurality of extrusions. Cell solution can first be introduced in the disruption chamber, the abrasives capturing the cells and allowing therethrough and purging the waste content, then breaking the cell content through the foregoing agitation process. The lysate can then bind to an extraction matrix downstream of the disruption chamber or it can be mixed in with the abrasives.