GB2442062A - Fluid disruption and storage apparatus - Google Patents

Fluid disruption and storage apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2442062A
GB2442062A GB0618553A GB0618553A GB2442062A GB 2442062 A GB2442062 A GB 2442062A GB 0618553 A GB0618553 A GB 0618553A GB 0618553 A GB0618553 A GB 0618553A GB 2442062 A GB2442062 A GB 2442062A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
chamber
fluid
disruption
storage apparatus
volume
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0618553A
Other versions
GB0618553D0 (en
Inventor
Charles Buchan Ritchie
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Score Group Ltd
Original Assignee
Score Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Score Group Ltd filed Critical Score Group Ltd
Priority to GB0618553A priority Critical patent/GB2442062A/en
Publication of GB0618553D0 publication Critical patent/GB0618553D0/en
Publication of GB2442062A publication Critical patent/GB2442062A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M3/00—Tissue, human, animal or plant cell, or virus culture apparatus
    • C12M3/08—Apparatus for tissue disaggregation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/06—Fluid handling related problems
    • B01L2200/0684—Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
    • B01L2400/04—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means
    • B01L2400/0475—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
    • B01L2400/0478—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure pistons

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Virology (AREA)
  • Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
  • Cell Biology (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)

Abstract

A fluid disruption and storage apparatus comprises a first chamber for receiving a fluid 22 and a second chamber (24) which is adapted to receive fluid from the first chamber. The second chamber has a variable volume. On displacement of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber, the volume of the second chamber is varied. The chambers may be connected by narrow bore 26 (aiding cell disruption). The volume of the second chamber may be varied by a moveable seal 32. The seal may be a piston and may comprise a needle valve 34. The needle valve may block the bore. The device may allow disruption of cells (e.g. blood) in an air-free environment.

Description

I
Fluid Disruption and Storage Apparatus The present invention relates to a fluid disruption and storage apparatus, particularly, but not exclusively, to an apparatus for the disruption and storage of cellular fluids.
Conventional apparatus for the disruption and storage of cellular fluids typically comprise a first container having a first chamber which is filled with the fluid to be disrupted, and a second container having a second chamber adapted to receive fluid from the first chamber. The second container has a piston which is slideably receivable within the first chamber. The piston has a central bore, such that on insertion of the piston into the first chamber the fluid is displaced from the first chamber through the bore to the second chamber. Forcing the fluid through the central bore of the piston into the second chamber causes the fluid to be disrupted. The disrupted fluid is stored in the second chamber until required.
The apparatus described above is effective in disrupting and storing a cellular fluid. However, the apparatus is limited in that the disrupted cellular fluid stored in the second chamber is susceptible to contamination and degradation by gases present in the second chamber prior to the transfer of the cellular fluid thereinto.
The cellular fluid absorbs any gas present in the second chamber. The result is that the disrupted cellular fluid becomes a foam with bubbles of the gas formed throughout the fluid. Typically, the gas present in the second chamber is air. The presence of Nitrogen and especially Oxygen in the cellular fluid cause the cellular fluid to decay. Furthermore, the presence of any impurities in the air will also contaminate the cellular fluid.
In order to remove the air bubbles from the cellular fluid it is necessary to put the fluid through a centrifugal process. This is costly, time consuming and inconvenient.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid disruption and storage apparatus which obviates or mitigates one or more of the disadvantages referred to above.
According to the present invention there is provided a fluid disruption and storage apparatus comprising: a first chamber for receiving a fluid; a second chamber adapted to receive fluid from the first chamber, the second chamber having a variable volume; and means for displacing fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber, wherein on displacement of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber, the volume of the second chamber is varied.
Preferably, the displacement of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber increases the volume of the second chamber.
Preferably, the volume of the second chamber is initially substantially zero.
Preferably, the volume of the second chamber is increased to substantially that of the fluid displaced from the first chamber.
Preferably, a moveable seal is provided to vary the volume of the second chamber.
Preferably, the seal comprises a valve.
Preferably, the valve is a needle valve.
Preferably, the seal is a piston.
Preferably, the means for displacing fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber is a piston.
Preferably, the first and second chambers are defined by a housing.
Preferably, the moveable seal is located within the housing.
Preferably, the housing comprises an upper end portion, a lower end portion and a body portion.
Preferably, the first chamber is defined between the upper end portion and the body portion.
Preferably, the second chamber is defined between the lower end portion and the body portion.
Preferably, the moveable seal is located between the upper end portion and the body portion.
Preferably, the piston is located within the first chamber.
Preferably, the body portion comprises a bore which fluidly communicates with the first and second chambers.
Preferably, the bore has a first portion having a first diameter, and a second portion having a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter.
Preferably, the first portion of the bore is adjacent the second chamber and the second portion of the bore is adjacent the first chamber.
Preferably, the apparatus further comprises sealing means between the upper end portion and the body portion and the lower end portion and the body portion.
Preferably, at least one portion of the second chamber is adapted to allow fluid to be removed therefrom.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figs. 1 to 3 are cross-sectional side views of a fluid disruption and storage apparatus in accordance with the present invention before, during and after disruption of a fluid.
With reference to Figs. I to 3, a fluid disruption and storage apparatus 10 comprises a housing 12. The housing 12 comprises an upper end portion 14, a lower end portion 16 and a body portion 18. Sealing means 19 are provided between the body portion 18 and the upper and lower end portions 14, 16.
A first chamber 20 for receiving a cellular fluid 22 is defined between the lower end portion 16 and the body portion 18 of the housing 12. A cellular fluid is considered here as being a fluid which is comprised of a large number of cells. For example, biological materials, such as blood, tissue homogenate and saliva, or man-made matenals are all considered to be cellular fluids.
A second chamber 24 is defined between the upper end portion 14 and the body portion 18 of the housing 12.
The body portion 18 comprises a bore 26 which is in fluid communication with the first and second chambers 20, 24. The bore 26 has a first portion 28 having a first diameter, and a second portion 30 having a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter. The first portion 28 of the bore 26 is adjacent the second chamber 24 and the second portion 30 of the bore 26 is located adjacent the first chamber 20.
The second chamber 24 is adapted to receive the cellular fluid 22 from the first chamber 20. At least one portion of the second chamber 24 is adapted to allow the cellular fluid 22 to be removed therefrom.
The volume of the second chamber 24 may be varied by a moveable seal 32. The seal 32 is a piston which is located between the upper end portion 14 and the body portion 18. The seal 32 comprises a needle valve 34. The needle valve 34 is configured such that it may engage with and block the first portion 28 of the bore 26.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, when the needle valve 34 is engaged with the first portion 28 of the bore 26 the volume of the second chamber 24 is substantially zero. As the seal 32 is moved closer to the upper end portion 14, the volume of the second chamber 24 is increased, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
The apparatus 10 further comprises a piston 36 located within the first chamber 20 for displacing fluid from the first chamber 20 to the second chamber 24.
In operation, the first chamber 20 is filled with a sample of cellular fluid 22.
The piston 36 is then forced into the first chamber 20. The piston 36 is forced into the first chamber 20 by a machine (not shown) which applies the requisite amount of force to the piston 36.
As the piston 36 is forced into the first chamber 20 the cellular fluid 22 contained in the first chamber 20 is forced by the piston 36 through the bore 26 and into the second chamber 24. As the cellular fluid 22 enters the second chamber 24 the seal 32 is moved upwards towards the upper end portion 14, thus increasing the volume of the second chamber 24, as illustrated in Fig. 2.
As illustrated in Fig. 3, when the piston 36 is fully inserted into the first chamber 20 substantially all of the cellular fluid 22 is transferred to the second chamber 24. Typically, the above operation happens in less than 1 millisecond.
Forcing the cellular fluid 22 through the bore 26 in the manner described above causes the cells of the cellular fluid 22 to be disrupted. The cellular fluid 22 contained within the first chamber 20 is pressurised and forced through the bore 26 into the second chamber 24. The pressure required to disrupt the cellular fluid 22 is dependent upon the type of cellular fluid, but a typical pressure is in the region of 40 kpsi (276 MPa).
The differing diameters of the first and second portions 28, 30 of the bore 26 of the body portion 18 creates a step which aids in the disruption of the cellular fluid.
The shape, size and configuration of the bore 26 of the body portion 18 may also be varied depending on the type of cellular fluid 22 which is being disrupted.
The cells in the cellular fluid 22 are disrupted by the following mechanisms: (a) the boundary level cells rupture due to the friction created at the wall of the bore 26 as the fluid passes through the bore 26, (b) the cell walls burst due to the pressunsation of the fluid through the bore 26, (c) the cells explode as they enter the second chamber 24 due to the decrease in pressure and (d) the outer cells burst on impact against the moveable seal 32.
The moveable seal 32 allows the volume of the second chamber 24 to be varied. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the volume of the second chamber 24 is initially substantially zero. As the cellular fluid 22 is forced through the bore 26 by the piston 36, the disrupted cellular fluid 22 enters the second chamber 24 and forces the seal 32 upwards towards the upper end portion 14, increasing the volume of the second chamber 24. The volume of the second chamber 24 is increased by an amount which is equal to the volume of disrupted cellular fluid 22 which enters the second chamber 24.
The purpose of the moveable seal 32 is to create a second chamber 24 for the disrupted cellular fluid 22 to enter which is free from air. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the seal 32 provides a barrier between the second chamber 24 and air 38 located between the upper end portion 14 and the seal 32. As the disrupted cellular fluid 22 enters the second chamber 24 the volume of the second chamber 24 increases and is completely taken up by the disrupted cellular fluid 22. The presence of the seat 32 prevents the air 38 being absorbed by the disrupted cellular fluid 22, thus creating an air-free sample of disrupted cellular fluid 22.
As the seal 32 moved upwards towards the upper end portion 14, the air 38 is compressed. The apparatus 10 may additionally comprise one or more one-way valves (not shown) to vent the compressed air 38 as the disrupted cellular fluid 22 enters the second chamber 24. Alternatively, the air 38 may remain in a compressed state between the seat 32 and the upper end portion 14 until the disrupted cellular fluid 22 is removed from the second chamber 24. At which point the compressed air 38 returns to its initial pressure by moving the seal 32 back towards the body portion 18.
The disrupted cellular fluid 22 may be stored in the second chamber 24 until required.
The fluid disruption and storage apparatus 10 therefore obviates or mitigates the disadvantages of previous proposals by providing a fluid disruption and storage device which prevents degradation and contamination of the fluid. The apparatus 10 prevents degradation and contamination of the disrupted cellular fluid 22 by providing a moveable seal 32 within the housing 12 which is used to vary the volume of the second chamber 24. The seal 32 allows the disrupted cellular fluid 22 to be stored in an airfree chamber.
Modifications and improvements may be made to the above without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

  1. I-1'
    Claims 1. A fluid disruption and storage apparatus comprising: a first chamber for receiving a fluid; a second chamber adapted to receive fluid from the first chamber, the second chamber having a variable volume; and means for displacing fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber, wherein on displacement of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber, the volume of the second chamber is varied.
  2. 2. A fluid disruption and storage apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displacement of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber increases the volume of the second chamber.
  3. 3. A fluid disruption and storage apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the volume of the second chamber is initially substantially zero.
  4. 4. A fluid disruption and storage apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the volume of the second chamber is increased to substantially that of the fluid displaced from the first chamber. * *
  5. 5. A fluid disruption and storage apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus further comprises a moveable seal *** * to vary the volume of the second chamber. ** ** * * * * *
    *:*.
  6. 6. A fluid disruption and storage apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the seal comprises a valve. a
  7. 7. A fluid disruption and storage apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the valve is a needle valve.
  8. 8. A fluid disruption and storage apparatus as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the seal is a piston.
  9. 9. A fluid disruption and storage apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for displacing fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber is a piston.
  10. 10. A fluid disruption and storage apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second chambers are defined by a housing having an upper end portion, a lower end portion and a body portion, the body portion having a bore which fluidly communicates with the first and second chambers.
  11. 11. A fluid disruption and storage apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * a.. * a a... a a. * **e
    S S. ** * . S * S a. * * * S * a.
GB0618553A 2006-09-21 2006-09-21 Fluid disruption and storage apparatus Withdrawn GB2442062A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0618553A GB2442062A (en) 2006-09-21 2006-09-21 Fluid disruption and storage apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0618553A GB2442062A (en) 2006-09-21 2006-09-21 Fluid disruption and storage apparatus

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0618553D0 GB0618553D0 (en) 2006-11-01
GB2442062A true GB2442062A (en) 2008-03-26

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0618553A Withdrawn GB2442062A (en) 2006-09-21 2006-09-21 Fluid disruption and storage apparatus

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Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020055708A1 (en) * 1999-09-24 2002-05-09 Peterson Kenneth R. Coupling syringe system and methods for obtaining a mixed composition

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020055708A1 (en) * 1999-09-24 2002-05-09 Peterson Kenneth R. Coupling syringe system and methods for obtaining a mixed composition

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Avestin, "Liposofast pneumatic actuator" [online], published 16 Oct 2006. Available from http://web.archive.org/web/20061016160549/http://www.avestin.com/lf.html [Accessed 29 Oct 2007] *
Clonetech, "Transfactor extractor kits user manual" [online], published 14 June 2004. Available from http://www.clontech.com/images/pt/PT3612-1.pdf [Accessed 29 Oct 2007] *
Xiaobing, "Small scale nuclear protein extraction without the use of a detergent" [online], published Jan 07 2007. *

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Publication number Publication date
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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)