Direct Drive Tissue Homogenizer with Debris Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tissue homogenizers are inefficient in processing large samples and fail to separate debris from the disrupted tissue sample effectively, often generating excessive heat that can degrade biological materials.
Innovation Solution
A direct drive tissue homogenizer using a rotary motor to generate 2D impact forces for sample disruption, combined with continuous rotational centrifugation for debris separation, minimizing heat generation and enabling efficient processing of large samples in a single step.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional tissue homogenizers are used to process large samples, then processing capacity is improved, but heat generation increases causing degradation of biological materials
Solution Approach 1:
The homogenization chamber is divided into multiple compartments, each processing a portion of the tissue sample independently. This segmentation allows heat to be distributed and dissipated more effectively across multiple smaller zones rather than concentrating heat in a single large chamber, thereby maintaining lower temperatures during processing of large sample quantities.
Solution Approach 2:
The homogenization chambers are nested within a cooling jacket structure that circulates coolant. This nested configuration allows efficient heat transfer from the sample chambers to the cooling system, rapidly removing generated heat and preventing temperature increase that would degrade biological materials while maintaining high processing capacity.
2Productivity
If conventional homogenizers process tissue samples, then tissue disruption is achieved, but debris separation is not effective
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges two previously separate functions into a single integrated system: high-speed homogenization and debris separation. The homogenization chamber incorporates a filtration mechanism that allows disrupted tissue to be separated from debris in the same chamber without transferring to another container, achieving both efficient processing and high-quality separation simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The homogenization and separation processes occur continuously in sequence within the same chamber. As tissue is disrupted by the homogenization blades, the resulting mixture is immediately funneled through an integrated filter, allowing debris to be separated continuously during the processing action rather than requiring a separate batch operation, thereby maintaining high productivity and separation quality.
3Speed
If mechanical force is used for tissue dissociation, then processing speed is improved, but heat generation increases degrading biological materials
Solution Approach 1:
The homogenization blades operate with periodic reciprocating motion rather than continuous rotation. This periodic action creates intermittent mechanical force that effectively dissociates tissue at high speed during the forward stroke, while the return stroke allows cooling and prevents continuous heat generation, thereby maintaining processing speed while controlling temperature increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The homogenization chamber incorporates localized cooling zones directly adjacent to the blade assembly where mechanical force is applied. This local quality approach applies cooling precisely where heat is generated by mechanical dissociation, allowing high-speed processing without significant temperature increase in the critical sample region.
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 device achieves rapid and efficient disruption of tissue samples with low temperature increase, effectively separating debris and preserving the integrity of biological materials for downstream analysis.
Implementation Method 1
A direct drive motor, a plurality of sample containers. The framework can be a solid bar, a circular solid plate or a circular hollow plate with plurality of arms... the direct drive motor generates a motion to the driving arms to produce a horizon motion for dissociation of the tissue
Implementation Method 2
combined with continuous rotational centrifugation for debris separation
Data Source
AI summary
A bio-sample homogenizer with a direct drive motor generating reciprocal motion for sample disruption, following continuous rotation for centrifuge tissue sample dissociation for debris separation. The homogenizer device comprises: a motor, a plurality of sample containers, a frame work to mount the sample containers. The direct drive motor generates constant acceleration/deceleration to drive the platform for producing a horizon reciprocal motion. A plurality of holding slots mounted on the framework for holding the plurality of sample containers containing with beads and tissue sample. The beads in the sample containers cause a blending action on the tissue sample for fully dissociation of the sample. Following continuous rotation generating centrifuge force, the finely dissociated solution is separated from the debris.