Electromagnetic Tissue Lysis Apparatus with Cryogenic Shroud
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for isolating biologically relevant microorganisms and organic molecules from cellular or tissue structures are hindered by robust cell walls and impenetrable layers, making chemical extraction inefficient, and current mechanical disruption tools are bulky, power-intensive, and unreliable.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus using time-varying electromagnetic fields to steer and accelerate magnetic beads against tissue samples, achieving tissue disruption without moving parts, and allowing for temperature and pressure control within a shroud to optimize the extraction process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chemical extraction methods are used to isolate biomolecules from tissue samples, then the extraction process is simple and non-invasive, but the extraction efficiency is low due to robust cell walls and impenetrable layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical disruption methods (bead beaters, homogenizers) with an electromagnetic field-based system that uses magnetically susceptible beads to mechanically disrupt tissue structures. Time-varying electromagnetic fields steer and accelerate the beads against tissue samples, achieving effective disruption without requiring bulky mechanical devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the extraction system by introducing magnetically susceptible beads and applying time-varying electromagnetic fields. This transforms the extraction process from a purely chemical or mechanical approach to one that utilizes electromagnetic forces to enhance disruption efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Productivity
If mechanical disruption tools are used to disrupt tissue structures, then the disruption effectiveness is high, but the devices are bulky, power-intensive, and have moving parts that reduce reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical disruption tools with moving parts (bead beaters, homogenizers) with an electromagnetic field-based system. The time-varying electromagnetic fields steer and accelerate magnetically susceptible beads, eliminating the need for mechanical moving parts while maintaining high disruption effectiveness. This substitution significantly improves device reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetically susceptible beads as intermediaries between the electromagnetic field and the tissue sample. These beads serve as the actual disrupting agents, being steered and accelerated by the electromagnetic fields to mechanically disrupt tissue structures. This intermediary approach allows the system to achieve high disruption effectiveness without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms.
3Productivity
If traditional mechanical homogenizers are used for tissue lysis, then the lysis capability is sufficient, but the devices are noisy and require significant electrical power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical homogenizers with an electromagnetic field-based system that uses magnetically susceptible beads for tissue disruption. The time-varying electromagnetic fields accelerate the beads to achieve effective lysis without requiring the high continuous power consumption of mechanical homogenizers, thereby reducing overall energy usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs time-varying electromagnetic fields that operate in periodic pulses rather than continuous operation. This periodic action allows the system to achieve effective tissue lysis through repeated acceleration cycles of the magnetically susceptible beads, reducing average power consumption compared to continuous mechanical operation.
4Reliability
If chemical extraction protocols are used, then the biochemical extraction is well-established, but the methods fail to access molecules trapped within cellular compartments and tissue structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines well-established chemical extraction protocols with an electromagnetic field-based mechanical disruption system. The time-varying electromagnetic fields accelerate magnetically susceptible beads to physically disrupt robust cell walls and impenetrable layers, making trapped molecules accessible to subsequent chemical extraction reagents. This combination maintains the reliability of established biochemical methods while dramatically improving molecule accessibility.
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 efficient and reliable extraction of biomolecules and microorganisms in a compact, portable, and low-noise platform, suitable for remote settings, with improved DNA concentration and tissue lysis efficiency compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
magnetically-susceptible lysing beads are steered and accelerated against tissue samples by externally-imposed magnetic fields generated electromagnetically
Implementation Method 2
Time varying magnetic fields generated by said electromagnetic coil produce motive forces on magnetic beads placed within said sample tube
Implementation Method 3
The temperature environment within the interior of said shroud is reduced to within the range of −273 Celsius to 0 Celsius by the introduction of a cooling fluid
Implementation Method 4
The temperature environment within the interior of said shroud is reduced to within the range of −273 Celsius to 0 Celsius by the introduction of a cooling fluid into said shroud via a fluid inlet port
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to the incorporation of a shroud into an apparatus which achieves tissue and/or cellular disruption through the imposition of a time-varying electromagnetic field generated by electrical means and used to direct magnetic beads or other magnetic particles against a tissue sample. Incorporation of the shroud allows for variation of temperature and/or pressure in the vicinity of the tissue sample during the tissue disruption process.