Curetis Gmbh

Curetis Ag

Gerd Lüdke

Andreas Boos

Johannes Bacher

Matthias Klein

Hassan Motejadded

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for a lysis procedure, in particular for an automated and/or controlled lysis procedure of a sample, in particular a biological sample. The apparatus comprises at least one rotation disc (), at least one vial holder () which is configured to receive a vial (), wherein the vial holder () is arranged on the disc (), at least one driving device () which is configured to rotate the disc () and the vial holder (), at least one heating device () which is configured to heat the sample to a determined incubation temperature, and&#x2014;at least one control device () which is configured to control the driving device () and/or the heating device () by means of a timing and/or step control, and/or&#x2014;at least one transmitting device () for inductive coupling for energy and signal transmission, which is configured to transmit the energy for heating to the heating device (), and/or&#x2014;wherein the driving device () is configured to rotate the disc () in a first direction (A) and/or with a first speed, and to rotate the vial holder () in a second direction (A) and/or with a second speed. The apparatus and the method are adapted for an (automated) lysis procedure, wherein the lysis can be carried out in a safe, efficient and effective manner.

Apparatus and method for a lysis of a sample, in particular for an automated and/or controlled lysis of a sample

The present invention provides a universally applicable lysis buffer comprising a chaotropic 5 agent, a reducing agent, and a proteolytic enzyme suitable for processing a wide variety of different sample types, such as different types of bodily samples relevant for the diagnosis of a respiratory disease. Furthermore, the present invention provides the use of a chaotropic agent, a reducing agent, and a proteolytic enzyme for the lysis of a broad spectrum of bodily samples. Moreover, the present invention provides a method for processing bodily samples which is universally applicable to the lysis of a variety of different types of bodily samples. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for analyzing a bodily sample or for detecting the presence of a pathogen in a bodily sample, preferably, for diagnosing a respiratory disease, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. Preferably, these methods are universally applicable to a variety of sample types, are applicable as one-tube-processes, are 15 suitable for performance in a high-throughput setting, and are automatable.

Universally applicable lysis buffer and processing methods for the lysis of bodily samples

The present invention provides a reaction vessel () for a PCR device. The reaction vessel () comprises a sample vial () defining a reaction chamber () for performing PCR and a storage vessel () defining a storage chamber () for optical detection. The reaction chamber () is in fluid communication with a liquid supply port () for supplying a liquid sample containing at least one target DNA to the reaction chamber (). The reaction chamber () and the storage chamber () are in fluid communication via a spacer element () and a porous membrane () for hybridization of the at least one target DNA within the liquid sample onto specific immobilised hybridization probes. The lower end of the spacer element () extends into the reaction chamber (), but does not reach the bottom thereof. The upper end of the spacer element () is located in proximity of the porous membrane (), which is made from a material having different physical properties in a dry state and a wet state. In the dry state the porous membrane () allows air as well as liquid to pass therethrough. In the wet state the porous membrane () still allows the passage of liquid therethrough, but not of air, such that during a PCR the liquid sample remains in the reaction chamber () and after the PCR the reaction vessel () is configured to force the liquid sample via the spacer element () to the porous membrane () for hybridization and detection of the at least one target DNA in the liquid sample. Moreover, a PCR device comprising such a reaction vessel () as well as a method for performing PCR are described.

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Holzgerlingen, Germany

Gerd Lüdke