DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SAMPLE PREPARATION

摘要

Devices, systems and methods including a sonicator for sample preparation are provided. A sonicator may be used to mix, resuspend, aerosolize, disperse, disintegrate, or de-gas a solution. A sonicator may be used to disrupt a cell, such as a pathogen cell in a sample. Sample preparation may include exposing pathogen-identifying material by sonication to detect, identify, or measure pathogens. A sonicator may transfer ultrasonic energy to the sample solution by contacting its tip to an exterior wall of a vessel containing the sample. Multipurpose devices including a sonicator also include further components for additional actions and assays. Devices, and systems comprising such devices, may communicate with a laboratory or other devices in a system for sample assay and analysis. Methods utilizing such devices and systems are provided. The improved sample preparation devices, systems and methods are useful for analyzing samples, e.g. for diagnosing patients suffering from infection by pathogens.

主权项

1. A system configured to assay a sample for the presence of pathogen-identifying material, comprising:
i) a device configured to assay a sample for the presence of pathogen-identifying material, said device comprising a housing, and within said housing, a sonicator having a sonicator tip; a vessel holder configured to hold a vessel having a vessel wall; a sample handling system configured to move said vessel within the housing, wherein the vessel is configured to hold said sample for sonication; a solenoid disposed to urge said sonicator tip towards the vessel wall when said solenoid is activated, wherein the sonicator tip is configured to contact the vessel wall effective to transfer ultrasonic energy from said sonicator to the vessel wall upon operation of the sonicator; a spring disposed to as to urge the sonicator tip away from the vessel wall; and a detector and ii) a communication assembly configured to communicate with one or more of a user, another device, a laboratory, a network, or the cloud.