Abrasive Disruption Chamber for Simultaneous Cell Capture and Lysis
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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 for cells with thick membranes or spores, due to the use of distinct tools and labor-intensive processes that are slow, costly, and often ineffective for microorganisms.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus involving a disruption chamber with abrasive particles of varying sizes and shapes to obstruct cells while allowing waste matter to pass through, combined with a pestle for agitation, facilitating simultaneous cell capture and disruption, and a binding matrix for extracting cellular content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If distinct individual tools and kits are used for cell capture, disruption, and extraction, then each step can be performed with specialized equipment, but the process becomes labor intensive, slow, and prone to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cell capture, disruption, and extraction functions into a single integrated apparatus. The disruption chamber serves multiple purposes: it captures cells from the input stream, disrupts them using abrasive particles, and allows the resulting lysate to pass through to the binding matrix. This eliminates the need for separate tools and kits for each step, reducing labor intensity and contamination risk while maintaining specialized functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The disruption chamber is designed as a multi-functional device that performs cell capture, disruption, and lysate delivery simultaneously. The same chamber that captures cells also contains the abrasives for disruption and facilitates the transfer of lysate to the binding matrix. This universal design reduces the number of components needed while maintaining the specialized capabilities required for each processing step.
2Productivity
If filter membranes are used to separate cells from surrounding media, then cell concentration is achieved, but the process is slow and the filter eventually clogs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the filter membrane component from the cell separation process entirely. Instead of using a filter to separate cells from media, the apparatus relies on the disruption chamber to capture cells directly from the input stream while allowing the surrounding media to pass through. This eliminates the clogging problem associated with filters while maintaining cell concentration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical filtration system with a disruption-based system. Rather than mechanically filtering cells through a membrane, the apparatus uses the disruption chamber with abrasive particles to capture and disrupt cells simultaneously. This substitution eliminates the clogging issue inherent in mechanical filtration while improving processing speed.
3Reliability
If cells are collected from filter then moved to separate lysis tube, then cell concentration is maintained, but handling errors and contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cell capture and disruption steps into a single location - the disruption chamber. Cells are captured from the input stream and disrupted within the same chamber, eliminating the need to transfer concentrated cells to a separate lysis tube. This integration removes the handling steps that cause errors and contamination while maintaining cell concentration throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The disruption chamber acts as an intermediary that eliminates the need for manual transfer steps. Instead of moving cells from a filter to a separate tube, the chamber receives the input stream, captures cells, and directly delivers the disrupted contents to the binding matrix. This intermediary function removes the vulnerable handling step while maintaining cell concentration.
4Reliability
If harsh chemicals, heat, sonication, or bead beating are used to break cells open, then cell lysis is achieved, but the process is complex and may destroy intracellular components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive abrasive particles as the disruption mechanism. These abrasives are simple, disposable elements that physically disrupt cells through abrasion rather than requiring complex mechanical systems or harsh chemicals. The abrasives achieve effective cell lysis while being simple to implement and replace, reducing device complexity while maintaining component integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical disruption systems (such as high-speed bead beaters or sonication apparatus) with a simpler abrasive-based system. Instead of using sophisticated mechanical forces that may damage intracellular components, the apparatus uses controlled abrasion with solid particles to disrupt cells. This substitution reduces device complexity while preserving component integrity through gentler, more controlled disruption.
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
This approach enhances efficiency and reduces contamination by enabling simultaneous cell capture and disruption, improving processing speeds and yield while being applicable to a wider range of cell types, including hard-to-lyse organisms, and reducing the complexity and cost of sample preparation.
Implementation Method 1
selecting the abrasives to embody sizes and shapes to obstruct the cells in a space between the abrasives, and allowing therethrough the waste matter following introduction of the cell solution to the disruption chamber, and agitating the cells against the abrasives by actuating at least one of the disruption chamber and the pestle, the selected sizes and shapes of the abrasives configured to cut the cells separated from the waste matter
Data Source
AI summary
A cell capture, disruption, and extraction method includes a introducing a plurality of abrasives in a disruption chamber, which can include diamond powder, variably and multi dimensionally disbursed therein, and a pestle positioned in the disruption chamber. The method includes agitating the abrasives by moving the disruption chamber and/or pestle, agitation 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. 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. The lysate can then bind to an extraction matrix downstream of the disruption chamber or it can be mixed in with the abrasives.