Devices, systems and methods for sample preparation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016266015-A1
Application number	US-201615140902-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 28, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

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.

First claim

1 - 13 . (canceled)

14 . A method of assaying a biological sample for the presence of pathogen-identifying material, comprising:
Contacting said biological sample with a 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 so as to urge the sonicator tip away from the vessel wall; and a detector, said device being configured to assay said sample for the presence of pathogen-identifying material; and Assaying for the presence of a pathogen-identifying material in said biological sample, wherein assaying for the presence of a pathogen-identifying material is selected from detecting the presence of a pathogen-identifying material in said biological sample, identifying a pathogen-identifying material in said biological sample, measuring an amount of a pathogen-identifying material in said biological sample, and combinations thereof.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said assaying comprises optical detection.

16 .- 19 . (canceled)

20 . The method of claim 14 , 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.

21 . A method of assaying a biological sample for the presence of pathogen-identifying material, comprising:
Contacting said biological sample with a system comprising a device configured to assay said sample for the presence of pathogen-identifying material, said device comprising a housing; a sonicator within said housing, said sonicator having a sonicator tip; a sample handling system configured to move a sample within the housing; a vessel holder configured to hold said vessel, the vessel having a vessel wall and being configured to hold said sample for sonication; a solenoid disposed to urge said sonicator tip towards said vessel wall when said sonicator 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 so as to urge the sonicator away from the vessel wall; and a detector; and Assaying for the presence of the pathogen-identifying material in said biological sample, wherein assaying for the presence of a pathogen-identifying material is selected from the group consisting of detecting the presence of the pathogen-identifying material in the biological sample, identifying the pathogen-identifying material in the biological sample, measuring an amount of the pathogen-identifying material in the biological sample, and combinations thereof.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said assaying comprises optical detection.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said biological sample comprises a sample selected from the group consisting of 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.

24 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said sonicator of said device comprises a sonicator horn comprising a tip, wherein said 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.

25 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said detector of said device comprises an optical detector.

26 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said device further comprises a communication assembly configured to communicate with a user, a device, a laboratory, a network, or the cloud.

27 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said device is configured to apply force to a vessel while applying said sonicator tip to a wall of a vessel held in said vessel holder.

28 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said sonicator of said device comprises a sonicator horn comprising a tip, wherein said 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.

29 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said detector of said device comprises an optical detector.

30 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said device further comprises a communication assembly configured to communicate with a user, a device, a laboratory, a network, or the cloud.

31 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said device is configured to apply force to a vessel while applying said sonicator tip to a wall of a vessel held in said vessel holder.

Assignees

• Theranos Inc

Inventors

• Loo Alexander
• Holmes Elizabeth A

Classifications

• C12Q1/04 Primary

  Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor {(C12Q1/6897 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G01N1/286 Primary

  involving mechanical work, e.g. chopping, disintegrating, compacting, homogenising (microtomes G01N1/06; pulverising in general B02C; mixing in general B01F) · CPC title

• B01F31/87

  transmitting the vibratory energy by means of a fluid, e.g. by means of air shock waves · CPC title

• B01F2101/23

  Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials · CPC title

• B01F31/86

  with vibration of the receptacle or part of it · CPC title