Systems and methods for sample preparation using sonication

Abstract

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.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A device configured to assay a sample for presence of pathogen-identifying material, said device comprising:
 a sonicator; a detector, a sample handling system, a vessel holder configured to hold a vessel, and a device to urge the sonicator apart from the vessel;   wherein said vessel holder has a port to allow a sonicator tip of the sonicator to extend into the vessel holder and contact the vessel, wherein the vessel holder and the sonicator tip are movable relative to each other.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said sonicator tip is configured to contact a vessel wall effective to transfer ultrasonic energy from said sonicator to said vessel wall upon operation of said sonicator. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said sonicator tip is configured to contact a vessel wall effective to transfer ultrasonic energy from said sonicator to said vessel wall upon operation of said sonicator, and optionally wherein the device is configured to apply force to a vessel while applying a sonicator tip to a wall of a vessel. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said detector comprises an optical detector, and said device further comprises a communication assembly configured to communicate with a user, a device, a laboratory, a network, or the cloud. 
     
     
         25 . A method of detecting the presence of pathogen-identifying material in a biological sample, comprising:
 contacting said biological sample with device of claim  1 ; and   detecting the presence of a pathogen-identifying material in said sample.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said detecting comprises optical detection. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said biological sample comprises a sample selected from blood, urine, sputum, tears, material from a nasal swab, material from a throat swab, material from a cheek swab, and another bodily fluid, excretion, secretion, and tissue obtained from a subject. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said sonicator is configured to contact an external face of said vessel effective to disrupt a cell in a sample within said vessel. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said device is configured to perform an assay on a sample when said sample is held in said vessel held by said vessel holder, said assay comprising an assay for pathogen-identifying material in the sample. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the vessel has a portion that is flat vessel side wall and another portion with a curved side wall. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein said detector comprises an optical detector and the device further comprises a communication assembly configured to communicate with a user, a device, a laboratory, a network, or the cloud. 
     
     
         32 . The automated assay device of  claim 29 , wherein said assay for pathogen-identifying material comprises an assay selected from an assay for the detection of pathogen-identifying material in a sample; an assay for identification of pathogen-identifying material in a sample; and an assay for measurement of an amount of pathogen-identifying material in a sample, wherein said assay optionally comprises an isothermal assay. 
     
     
         33 . The automated assay device of  claim 28 , wherein said biological sample comprises a sample selected from blood, urine, sputum, tears, material from a nasal swab, material from a throat swab, material from a cheek swab, and another bodily fluid, excretion, secretion, and tissue obtained from a subject. 
     
     
         34 . A system comprising:
 an automated assay device said automated assay device comprising a vessel holder, a sonicator having a sonicator tip;   a vessel, wherein said vessel comprises a vessel wall having an external face, said external face comprising a sonicator-contacting portion, wherein said sonicator-contacting portion complementary to a portion of said sonicator tip, and   a device for urging the vessel holder and the sonicator tip apart;   wherein said vessel holder having a port in a side wall of the vessel holder to allow a sonicator tip of the sonicator to extend into the vessel holder and contact the sonicator-contacting portion, wherein the vessel holder and the sonicator tip are movable relative to each other to bring said sonicator-contacting portion of the vessel into contact with the sonicator tip.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said sonicator-contacting portion of said vessel comprises a flat area of a side wall of the vessel.