US 11,926,815 B2
Method and apparatus for processing tissue samples
Stevan Bogdan Jovanovich, Livermore, CA (US); Kaiwan Chear, Livermore, CA (US); Bruce Leisz, San Jose, CA (US); David Eberhart, Santa Clara, CA (US); and John Bashkin, Fremont, CA (US)
Assigned to S2 GENOMICS, INC., Livermore, CA (US)
Filed by S2 Genomics, Inc., Livermore, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/119,810.
Application 18/119,810 is a continuation of application No. 15/734,128, granted, now 11,618,876, previously published as PCT/US2019/035097, filed on Jun. 1, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/679,494, filed on Jun. 1, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0407232 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. C12M 1/33 (2006.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/34 (2006.01); C12N 1/06 (2006.01); G01N 1/28 (2006.01); G01N 1/31 (2006.01); G01N 1/40 (2006.01)
CPC C12M 45/02 (2013.01) [C12M 41/12 (2013.01); C12M 45/06 (2013.01); C12M 45/09 (2013.01); C12M 45/20 (2013.01); C12N 1/066 (2013.01); G01N 1/286 (2013.01); G01N 1/31 (2013.01); G01N 1/4077 (2013.01); G01N 2001/4088 (2013.01)] 42 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
(a) an instrument comprising:
(i) one or more cartridge interfaces, each configured to engage a cartridge and comprising one or more fluid ports;
(ii) a fluidics subsystem comprising:
(1) one or more sources of liquids and/or gasses;
(2) one or more fluid lines communicating with the sources and with fluid ports in the cartridge interface; and
(3) one or more pumps configured to move liquids and/or gasses from the sources into and/or out of the one or more fluid ports;
(iii) a subsystem comprising an actuator to that engages and actuates a tissue disruptor in a cartridge engaged with a cartridge interface; and
(b) one or more cartridges, each engaged with one of the cartridge interfaces, wherein at least one cartridge comprises:
(i) one or more cartridge ports communicating with at least one of the fluid ports in the cartridge interface;
(ii) a preprocessing chamber comprising a bottom surface and an opening and, positioned in the opening, a tissue disruptor configured for mechanical disruption of tissue, wherein the tissue disruptor comprises a plunger comprising a shaft and a head, wherein the plunger is configured to rotate and be raised or lowered within the preprocessing chamber, wherein the plunger comprises a coupler to engage the actuator,
wherein the head (l) has a circumference which, when the head moves within the preprocessing chamber, provides a gap between the head and a wall of the preprocessing chamber between about 25 microns and 400 microns, and (II) comprises grinding teeth for disrupting tissue;
and
(iii) a processing chamber communicating with the preprocessing chamber, and with one or more cartridge ports and configured to collect a suspension of biological material from the preprocessing chamber.