Portable Sample Disruptor Apparatus for Field Cell Lysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biological samples collected in the field are prone to degradation and contamination, making it difficult to perform reliable molecular analysis techniques such as single molecule sequencing and PCR, especially since cryogenic freezing is impractical for field use.
Innovation Solution
A portable, battery-powered sample disruption apparatus that vibrates a container using a reciprocating piston, allowing for efficient cell lysis and nucleic acid release, while being compact and easy to operate in various environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryogenic freezing is used to maintain sample integrity, then sample degradation is prevented, but the method becomes impractical for field use due to equipment size and power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of sample preservation from complex cryogenic systems and implements it through simple mechanical disruption followed by ambient temperature storage. The bead-beating mechanism disrupts cells to release nucleic acids, which are then stable at ambient temperatures, eliminating the need for cryogenic equipment in field settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses disposable bead tubes and consumable lysis buffers that enable single-use field processing. The mechanical disruption apparatus is designed for portability and can be used with various consumable tubes, allowing field workers to perform sample preparation without requiring sophisticated cryogenic infrastructure.
2Productivity
If mechanical disruption is performed in the field, then sample processing speed increases, but risk of contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces sterile bead tubes as intermediaries that contain the mechanical disruption process. The beads and lysis buffer are pre-packaged in sterile containers, allowing mechanical disruption to occur in a controlled, sterile environment even during field operations, thus preventing contamination while maintaining processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary sterilization and sample preparation steps before field deployment. Lysis buffers are pre-aliquoted into sterile tubes, and bead tubes are pre-sterilized, allowing the actual mechanical disruption to proceed without risk of contamination during field operations.
3Volume of moving object
If portable apparatus is designed for field use, then device size is reduced, but structural complexity increases to achieve vibration function
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a self-contained vibration mechanism where the motor directly drives the bead tube without requiring complex transmission systems. The simple direct-drive design minimizes moving parts while achieving the necessary vibration intensities for effective mechanical disruption in a portable format.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses mechanical vibration generated by a small motor to agitate beads within the tube, creating sufficient force for cell disruption. This approach achieves effective sample processing with a compact vibration mechanism, avoiding the need for larger, more complex mechanical systems.
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 apparatus enables rapid, contamination-free processing of samples in the field, preserving their integrity and facilitating efficient nucleic acid extraction, even in remote locations with varying weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the piston can be reciprocated to vibrate a container (e.g., vial) disposed in the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, kits, and methods for portable sample disruption (e.g., for encouraging cell lysis).