US2017146525A1PendingUtilityA1

Particle Facilitated Testing

47
Assignee: UNIV OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND BRISTOLPriority: Mar 21, 2007Filed: Feb 3, 2017Published: May 25, 2017
Est. expiryMar 21, 2027(~0.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Richard LuxtonJanice KielyPatrick Wraith
G01N 33/54333G01N 33/54386G01N 33/54306G01N 33/54326C12M 47/06B01L 99/00
47
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Claims

Abstract

Magnetic particles are distributed across a fluid flow by applied magnetic field to interact with a test substance in fluid. Alternatively or additionally, particles, which may be magnetic, are combined with cells and energy, e.g. ultrasonic energy, is applied to cause the particles to create a lysate. Alternatively or additionally, the size of a quantity of magnetic particles is assessed by its impact on the tuning mechanism of a controlled oscillator that is affected by the particles.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . Apparatus for lysing a cell, the apparatus comprising a chamber for holding the cell to be lysed and means for introducing energy into the chamber, wherein the chamber contains a plurality of particles which may be excited by the energy to enhance lysing of the cell. 
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the means for introducing energy into the chamber comprises means for introducing sound waves into the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the means for introducing sound waves into the chamber comprises a sonicator probe. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the means for introducing sound waves into the chamber comprises an ultrasonic transducer. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the means for introducing energy into the chamber is operable to introduce energy into the chamber in a pulsed manner. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the particles are of a plastics material. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the particles are of metal. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the particles are of a combination of metal and a plastics material. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of particles are provided with a binding agent to which components of a lysed cell may bind. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the chamber comprises a sensor surface provided with a binding agent to which components of a lysed cell may bind. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein a label is provided to identify a complex formed when a component binds to the binding agent. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the label comprises an enzyme. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of particles are in the range from approximately 0.1 μm to approximately 100 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the plurality of particles are in the range from approximately 1 μm to approximately 20 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of particles are magnetic. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the plurality of particles are of a paramagnetic material. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the plurality of particles are of a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the plurality of particles are of a diamagnetic material. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the plurality of particles are of a super-paramagnetic material. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 15  further comprising sensing means for sensing the magnetic particles. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 20  further comprising means for generating a magnetic field to draw the magnetic particles towards the sensing surface of the chamber. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the means for generating a magnetic field comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the means for generating a magnetic field comprises an electromagnet. 
     
     
         24 . A method of lysing a cell, the method comprising introducing the cell into a chamber containing a plurality of particles and introducing energy into the chamber to excite the plurality of particles. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the energy introduced into the chamber comprises sound waves. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the sound waves are introduced into the chamber using a sonicator probe. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the sound waves are introduced into the chamber using an ultrasonic transducer. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the energy is introduced into the chamber in a pulsed manner. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the particles are of a plastics material. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the particles are of metal. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the particles are of a combination of metal and a plastics material. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the plurality of particles are provided with a binding agent to which components of a lysed cell may bind. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the chamber comprises a sensor surface provided with a binding agent to which components of a lysed cell may bind. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 33  wherein a label is provided to identify a complex formed when a component binds to the binding agent. 
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 34  wherein the label comprises an enzyme. 
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the plurality of particles are in the range from approximately 0.1 μm to approximately 100 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the plurality of particles are in the range from approximately 1 μm to approximately 20 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the plurality of particles are magnetic. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 38  wherein the plurality of particles are of a paramagnetic material. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 38  wherein the plurality of particles are of a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 38  wherein the plurality of particles are of a diamagnetic material. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 38  wherein the plurality of particles are of a super-paramagnetic material. 
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 38  wherein sensing means are used to sense the magnetic particles. 
     
     
         44 . A method according to according to  claim 43  wherein a magnetic field is generated to draw the magnetic particles towards the sensor surface of the chamber. 
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 44  wherein the magnetic field is generated using means comprising a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 44  wherein the magnetic field is generated using means comprising an electromagnet.

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