# US 2014/0193305 A1 · Device for franmenting molecules in a sample by ultrasound > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193305 A1 - Document ID: US20140193305A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/117,378 - Filed: 2012-06-05 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-06 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Cristian Bogdan Craus; Jacob Marinus Jan Den Toonder; Roel Penterman; Pieter Jan Van Der Zaag - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193305A1 ## CPC - B06B 3/00: Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency - B02C 19/18: Use of auxiliary physical effects, e.g. ultrasonic waves or irradiation, for disintegrating - C12M 47/06: {Hydrolysis; Cell lysis; Extraction of intracellular or cell wall material (lysis of microorganisms C12N1/06; extracting or separating nucleic acids from biological samples C12N15/1003)} - G01N 1/286: {involving mechanical work, e.g. chopping, disintegrating, compacting, homogenising (microtomes G01N1/06; pulverising in general B02C; mixing in general B01F)} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) - B02C: CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN ({household tools and machines for pulverising foodstuffs, e.g. coffee and spice mills A47J42/00; pharmaceutical mortars A61J3/02; mechanical processing of refuse and garbage B03B9/06; dressing mould materials by grinding B22C5/04}; obtaining metallic powder by crushing, grinding or milling B22F9/04; {recovery of plastics by disintegrating B29B17/00; crushing raw materials in starch making C08B30/02; beaters for papermaking D21D1/02; crushing devices specially for transport in mines E21F13/002; slag crushing devices F23J1/00; fuel milling devices in combustion apparatus F23K1/00; household devices for crushing coal F24B15/02; ice disintegrating devices F25C5/02}) - 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} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract According to an aspect of the present invention, a device for fragmenting molecules in a sample by ultrasound is provided. The device comprises a planar-shaped cartridge and a fragmentation instrument that has a vessel-like shape. By means of applying under-pressure in the fragmentation instrument the cartridge is pulled towards the fragmentation instrument and therefore spatially closes a fluid compartment that is comprised by the fragmentation instrument. Afterwards, an ultrasound treatment of the sample, which is comprised in a sample compartment of the cartridge, may be processed. A sealing layer is provided in between the cartridge and the fragmentation instrument in order to hold the fixation of the cartridge tightly and in order to provide for leakage prevention out of the fluid compartment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for fragmenting DNA or nucleic acids in a sample by ultrasound, the device comprising: a cartridge, a fragmentation instrument with an ultrasound transducer, wherein the fragmentation instrument is configured for fragmenting DNA or nucleic acids by ultrasound, a fluid compartment, wherein the cartridge comprises a sample compartment for including the sample with the molecules, wherein the fluid compartment is spatially separated from the sample compartment, and wherein the cartridge and the fragmentation instrument fit together in such a way that a spatial closure of the fluid compartment is established when the cartridge and the fragmentation instrument are assembled together. ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid compartment comprises an opening, and wherein the cartridge and the fragmentation instrument are respectively adapted to establish a closure of the fluid compartment in such a way that the opening of the fluid compartment is fluid tightly sealed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid compartment is comprised by the fragmentation instrument, wherein the fluid compartment comprises a bottom and at least one side wall, and wherein the fluid compartment comprises an opening opposite of the bottom. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising a sealing layer in between the cartridge and the fragmentation instrument. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein the sealing layer comprises apertures (110a, 110b, 110c, 110d) for enabling an application of under pressure between the fragmentation instrument and the cartridge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the instrument comprises sidewalls with at least one groove, wherein the device is adapted to apply under pressure through the groove, and wherein the cartridge and the fragmentation instrument are respectively adapted in such a way, that the cartridge can be sucked onto the sidewalls of the fragmentation instrument to thereby establish the closure of the fluid compartment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the fragmentation instrument comprises a liquid inlet, and wherein the cartridge comprises an overflow channel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein the sealing layer is a flexible membrane, wherein the flexible membrane provides for the spatial closure of the fluid compartment, and wherein the flexible membrane is adapted to actuate the sample comprised in the sample compartment when the transducer emits ultrasound. ### Claim 10 A method for providing a ultrasound device for fragmenting DNA or nucleic acids in a sample, the method comprising the steps: providing for a device which comprises a fragmentation instrument, a cartridge and a fluid compartment (S1), wherein the fragmentation instrument is configured for fragmenting DNA or nucleic acids by ultrasound, wherein the cartridge comprises a sample compartment which is spatially separated from the fluid compartment, wherein the cartridge has a planar shape, and wherein the fragmentation instrument has a vessel-like shape placing the cartridge onto the fragmentation instrument (S2), and thereby causing a closure of the fluid compartment (S3). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps: applying an under pressure between the cartridge and the fragmentation instrument, sucking the cartridge towards the instrument by means of the under pressure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps: providing for a seal layer between the fragmentation instrument and the cartridge, sealing the fluid compartment substantially fluid tight by applying under pressure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps: opening a valve of a channel in the cartridge, transporting liquid into the liquid compartment, closing the valve, generating ultrasound thereby fragmenting molecules in the sample, opening the valve, and evacuating the liquid from the liquid compartment.