Fluidically Integrated Rotary Bead Beader

A system for performing molecular testing, comprising:

• a housing comprising:
• one or more fluid chambers;
• and
• a fluidic network connecting at least the one or more fluid chambers to a movable central chamber;
• a bead beater disposed within the housing, comprising:
• one or more walls forming an enclosed chamber having an inlet and a plurality of fluidic connections, at least a portion of which are coupled to the fluidic network, and
• a rotary element disposed within the enclosed chamber;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the rotary element and configured to rotate the rotary element about an axis extending along a length of the rotary element.

A method for lysing a sample, comprising:

• introducing at least the sample into an enclosed chamber via a fluidic connection coupled to a fluidic network that is further coupled to one or more other chambers;
• rotating a rotary element, disposed within the enclosed chamber, along an axis extending along a length of the rotary element;
• and
• lysing the sample within the enclosed chamber via the movement of the rotary element.

A method for lysing a sample, comprising:

• introducing at least the sample into an enclosed chamber via a fluidic connection coupled to a fluidic network that is further coupled to one or more other chambers;
• rotating a rotary element, disposed within the enclosed chamber, along an axis extending along a length of the rotary element;
• exciting a plurality of beads disposed within the enclosed chamber by the movement of the rotary element;
• and
• lysing the sample within the enclosed chamber via the movement of the rotary element and the plurality of beads.

A method for homogenizing a sample, comprising:

• introducing at least the sample into an enclosed chamber via a fluidic connection coupled to a fluidic network that is further coupled to one or more other chambers;
• rotating a rotary element, disposed within the enclosed chamber, along an axis extending along a length of the rotary element;
• and
• homogenizing the sample within the enclosed chamber via the movement of the rotary element.

A method for homogenizing a sample, comprising:

• introducing at least the sample into an enclosed chamber via a fluidic connection coupled to a fluidic network that is further coupled to one or more other chambers;
• rotating a rotary element, disposed within the enclosed chamber, along an axis extending along a length of the rotary element;
• exciting a plurality of beads disposed within the enclosed chamber by the movement of the rotary element;
• and
• homogenizing the sample within the enclosed chamber via the movement of the rotary element and the plurality of beads.