Method and apparatus for processing tissue samples

A method comprising:

• (a) providing a system comprising a cartridge engaged with an instrument,
• (i) wherein the cartridge comprises:
• (1) a preprocessing chamber comprising a stator comprising grinding teeth;
• and a plunger comprising a shaft and a head comprising grinding teeth and a circumference which provides a side gap between the plunger head and a wall of the preprocessing chamber between about 25 microns and 400 microns, wherein the prepossessing chamber comprises a tissue or cell sample;
• and
• (2) a plurality of cartridge ports, wherein the cartridge ports are in fluid communication with the preprocessing chamber;
• (ii) wherein the instrument comprises:
• (1) a cartridge interface comprising a plurality of fluid ports engaged with the cartridge ports;
• (2) a fluidics subsystem comprising one or more pumps and fluid lines communicating with the fluid ports in the cartridge interface;
• and
• (3) an actuator that moves the plunger along a Z-axis of the plunger and rotates the plunger;
• and
• (b) disrupting a tissue sample in the preprocessing chamber by using the actuator to move the plunger along the Z-axis and to rotate the plunger within the preprocessing chamber to grind the tissue sample between the grinding teeth and the grinding stator, to produce a suspension of biological material;
• and
• (c) using the fluidic subsystem to move the suspension of biological material around and above the head through the side gap between the head and the wall of preprocessing chamber, and out of the preprocessing chamber through a port in the preprocessing chamber.