Method and apparatus for isolating cell nuclei from biopsy obtained tissue

摘要

A rotor (14) is located within a rotor chamber (12) formed in a housing (24). A drive shaft (16) extends from a motor and couples to the drive shaft interconnect (46) at the center of the rotor (14). One side of the rotor (14) is provided with circumferentially spaced apart radial rows of mincing edges (20). These edges (20) are situated on concentric circles or on a spiral. They are elongated circumferentially and may be situated substantially on an arc and substantially on an arc or on a chord. During use, the rotor (14) is rotated after biopsy obtained tissue (10) has been placed in the rotor chamber (12) on the side of the rotor (14) that includes the mincing edges (20). A fluid is delivered into and out from the rotor chamber (12) as the rotor (14) is being rotated to mince the biopsy, lyse the cells, and release the cell nuclei from the obtained tissue. Cell nuclei are expelled from the chamber (12) and are moved through a filter (58). The cell nuclei are collected and then delivered to a flow cytometry apparatus to be analyzed.