Arrayed Lyser with Micromotor Agitators for Tissue Homogenization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cell lysis and tissue homogenization, such as enzymatic, chemical, and ultrasound approaches, face limitations in achieving high efficiency and accurately mimicking in vivo conditions for drug validation and screening, particularly for cancerous tissues.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an array of uniformly spaced chambers with micromotors and impellers for mechanical agitation of biological samples, using particulate materials like ceramic or glass beads to enhance lysis efficiency and mimic in vivo tissue structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If chemical lysis approaches are used to disrupt cell membranes, then cell disruption is achieved, but the resulting bio-products are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical lysis methods with mechanical agitation using bead arrays and rotors that physically disrupt cell membranes through controlled mechanical forces, thereby achieving cell disruption without the harmful chemical degradation of bio-products
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces beads (glass, ceramic, or other materials) as intermediary objects that mediate the mechanical disruption process. These beads act as a buffer between the rotor and cell membranes, enabling effective cell lysis while protecting sensitive bio-products from direct contact with harsh mechanical or chemical forces
2Ease of manufacture
If ultrasound is used to produce cavitation for cell disruption, then cell lysis is achieved, but lysis efficiency is insufficient for many applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cell disruption process into multiple controlled mechanical agitation events using arrays of beads and rotors, replacing the single-step ultrasound cavitation process. This segmentation allows for more precise control and higher overall lysis efficiency through repeated mechanical stress cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs mechanical vibration and rotation of bead arrays driven by rotors to disrupt cell membranes. The controlled mechanical vibration generated by rotating beads provides more effective and efficient cell lysis compared to ultrasound cavitation, achieving higher productivity while maintaining cell disruption capability
3Device complexity
If cell monolayer culture is used for drug screening, then analysis is simplified, but physiological relevance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and organization of cells from monolayer culture to three-dimensional aggregates or tissue fragments. This parameter change in cellular architecture maintains analytical simplicity while dramatically improving physiological relevance, as the 3D structures better mimic in vivo tissue organization and cell-cell interactions
4Object-affected harmful factors
If bead agitation via vortex mixer is used for lysis, then chemical lysis issues are avoided, but lysis efficiency and homogeneity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bead agitation process into organized arrays with multiple rotors, replacing the uncontrolled vortex mixing approach. This segmentation provides uniform distribution of mechanical forces across all samples, achieving consistent and homogeneous lysis efficiency while maintaining bio-product integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal platform with arrays of identical bead-containing chambers and rotors that can process multiple samples simultaneously with consistent results. This multi-functional design ensures uniform lysis efficiency and homogeneity across all samples, overcoming the variability inherent in manual vortex mixing
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 system effectively homogenizes and disrupts tissues to obtain cell aggregates or fragments that more accurately reflect in vivo conditions, improving drug validation and screening assays by enhancing lysis efficiency and maintaining sample integrity.
Implementation Method 1
an impeller coupled to the motor to be rotatably driven thereby... in operation each of the plurality of agitator devices selectively agitates the fluid and biological sample
Implementation Method 2
Processing of biological specimens, for example cell lysis, is used to provide biological materials for compositional analysis... employs beads (e.g., glass or ceramic) which are agitated, for example, via a vortex mixer
Implementation Method 3
A system for homogenization and lysis of biological samples... effectively homogenizes and disrupts tissues to obtain cell aggregates or fragments
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for the efficient agitation of tissue samples. A device may include a plurality of chambers that each receives samples therein. The plurality of chambers may be uniformly spaced with respect to a least one dimension, to form a one dimensional or two dimensional array. Each of the chambers may include an opening and an agitator device in fluid contact with the sample disposed within the chamber. The agitator devices may include a micromotor which provides rotational motion to a shaft and an impeller fixed to the shaft such that the impeller and the shaft rotate together upon provision of the rotational motion by the micromotor. The system may include an electrical energy source electrically coupled to the plurality of micromotors to rotate the impellers sufficient to agitate the sample as required for a particular activity (e.g., homogenization, lysis).