Method and device for sonicating a biological sample
Inventors
Birkner, Patrick • Holzer, Manfred • Loetscher, Pirmin Hans • Nilsson, Ulf
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12350633-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a device for sonicating a biological sample. In one embodiment, a sample tube holder is pivotally suspended in a mount of a sonication device, thus allowing for a rotational degree of freedom and/or lateral movement that provides an optimized contact area between the sonotrode and the sample tube. Also disclosed is a method for sonicating a biological sample using the device described herein.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a sonication device and a method for sonicating biological samples in at least two sample tubes, where each sample tube has an essentially round-shaped side wall. A sample tube holder is pivotally suspended in a mount and is configured to hold the sample tube(s) in a substantially vertical orientation along a z-axis, and the sample tube holder comprises an opening on at least one side and a support element protruding from a back wall with at least two concave surfaces for individually contacting the side wall of each sample tube.
A sonotrode is provided with a transmittal unit having at least two sonicating areas, and each sonicating area comprises a concave surface for applying ultrasound to a side wall of each sample tube. The sonotrode is mounted on a guiding rail, and the mount is fixed to one end of the guiding rail such that the opening on the at least one side of the sample tube holder faces the sonicating areas.
An actuator moves the sonotrode on the guiding rail along a y-axis towards or away from the sample tube holder, enabling controlled engagement between the sonicating concave surfaces and the essentially round-shaped tube side walls through the opening. The sample tube holder is configured to rotate about an x-axis toward an arresting/sonication position when the tube side wall becomes in physical contact with the concave surfaces of the sonicating areas, while holding the sample tube(s) offset from the z-axis when the side wall is not in physical contact with the concave surfaces.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims. Both claims center on a pivotally suspended sample tube holder with concave-contact geometry, paired with a sonotrode having multiple concave sonicating areas moved along a guiding rail along a y-axis, with additional claim-specific features governing tube positioning and rotation behavior about the x-axis.
Pivotally suspended sample tube holder with concave contact support
A sample tube holder pivotally suspended in a mount configured to hold the at least two sample tubes, where the mount permits rotational movement of the sample tube holder about an x-axis, where the sample tube holder is configured, in the absence of rotational movement about the x-axis, to hold the sample tube in a substantially vertical orientation along a z-axis, and where the sample tube holder comprises an opening on at least one side; the sample tube holder comprises a support element having at least two concave surfaces, where each concave surface is configured to individually contact a side wall of each of the at least two sample tubes, and where the support element protrudes from a back wall of the sample tube holder.
Sonotrode with multiple concave sonicating areas facing the holder opening
A sonotrode comprising a transmittal unit having at least two sonicating areas for applying ultrasound to a side wall of each of the at least two sample tubes, where the at least two sonicating areas each comprise a concave surface; the sonotrode is mounted on a guiding rail, and the mount is fixed to one end of the guiding rail such that the opening on the at least one side of the sample tube holder faces the sonicating areas.
Y-axis sonotrode movement via actuator
An actuator for moving the sonotrode on the guiding rail along a y-axis towards or away from the sample tube holder.
Offset tube position and rotation to align with concave sonicating contact
The sample tube holder is configured to hold the at least two sample tubes in a position offset from the z-axis when the essentially round-shaped side wall of each of the at least two sample tubes is not in physical contact with the concave surfaces of the at least two sonicating areas of the sonotrode; and the sample tube holder is configured to rotate about the x-axis to a position substantially parallel with the z-axis when the essentially round-shaped side wall of each of the at least two sample tubes is in physical contact with the concave surfaces of the at least two sonicating areas of the sonotrode.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage lies in a pivotally movable sample tube holder with an opening and concave support element that individually contacts the essentially round-shaped tube side walls, a sonotrode with at least two concave sonicating areas positioned to face the holder opening, and y-axis actuator-driven movement of the sonotrode on a guiding rail to achieve ultrasound application through the concave contact geometry, with tube offset from the z-axis when not in contact and rotation about the x-axis upon physical contact.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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