GAS DRIVEN GENE DELIVERY INSTRUMENT

摘要

A gas driven apparatus (10) for accelerating particles (16) coated with a genetic material into a target, comprises a reservoir (12) for releasably retaining a gas at a sufficiently high-pressure to detach the particles from the surface of a sample cartridge (14) and to carry the particles through the apparatus (10) toward the target. When leaving the apparatus (10), the particles (16) entrained in the gas stream pass through a substantially conical exit nozzle (24) which causes the pattern of distribution of the particles to greatly expand. Methods for using the apparatus and for preparing the sample cartridges (14) are also described.