Eddy Current Actuator Cell Disruption for LOC Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for disrupting biological cells, particularly Gram-positive bacteria and fungi, are complex and not suitable for Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) systems, often requiring enzymes, high equipment costs, and uncontrolled heating, which complicates subsequent analysis.
Innovation Solution
The method employs pressure pulses generated by an eddy current actuator to disrupt cell membranes, allowing for efficient release of cellular contents without enzymes, suitable for automation in LOC systems, and reducing equipment and reagent costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If enzymatic lysis is used to disrupt cell membranes, then cell disruption is achieved, but additional purification steps are required and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces enzymatic lysis with a mechanical disruption system using a disruption device that physically breaks cell membranes through mechanical action, eliminating the need for subsequent purification steps to remove enzymes and reducing overall process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the problematic enzymatic step from the process, using direct mechanical disruption instead, which simplifies the overall workflow by eliminating the need for separate purification operations
2Ease of manufacture
If ultrasound is used for cell disruption, then PCR reaction can be carried out directly without purification, but equipment costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive disruption device that can be easily integrated into LOC systems, replacing expensive ultrasound equipment while maintaining the capability for direct PCR without purification steps
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes complex ultrasound machinery with a simpler mechanical disruption system that achieves the same functional outcome of cell lysis enabling direct PCR
3Quantity of substance
If high-temperature treatment is used to release DNA, then DNA can be released from cells, but cell membranes of Gram-positive bacteria and fungi cannot be sufficiently destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the disruption parameter from thermal (high temperature) to mechanical action, which effectively destroys cell membranes of Gram-positive bacteria and fungi while still enabling DNA release
4Reliability
If laser cavitation is used to disrupt bacteria, then cell destruction is achieved, but high-energy pulses are required and equipment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a simple, low-cost mechanical disruption device instead of high-energy laser systems, reducing equipment requirements while maintaining effective bacteria destruction capability
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 enables reliable cell disruption for various cell types with minimal effort, facilitating automation and reducing costs, allowing for direct analysis without additional purification steps, particularly beneficial for LOC systems and microbial diagnostics.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure pulses are generated with a shock actuator based on the eddy current principle (eddy current actuator). The eddy current actuator is formed in particular by a coil that acts on an electrical conductor.
Implementation Method 2
The coil acts on an electrical conductor arranged on or in the reaction vessel with the cells to be disrupted. The electrical conductor is arranged on or in the reaction vessel with the cells to be disrupted.
Implementation Method 3
The biological cells are treated with pressure pulses. As a result, the cell envelopes and in particular the cell membranes are destroyed and the cell contents, for example DNA, can be released from the cell envelope.
Implementation Method 4
The pressure pulses preferably have a short wavelength and a high amplitude. The destruction of the cell membranes takes place in a purely physical way.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for digesting biological cells in a reaction container (11), characterised in that the cells are treated with pressure pulses. The pressure pulses are generated by means of at least one eddy current actuator (13) in conjunction with an electric conductor (12) arranged on or in the reaction container (11).