Patent number: 6063616

Matrix mill for DNA extraction

Original Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.

Field of technology: Biotech

Patent granted on: Tue, 16 May 2000

Patent drawing

Abstract

The device and methods herein disclosed were developed to allow a large number of small samples of organic tissue to be processed. The goal was to allow for the capture of these intracellular contents for study, use, and/or amplification. Though the device and specific protocols can be used to retrieve a variety of intracellular molecules one of the preferred embodiments particularly lends itself to the extraction of DNA. The electromagnetic device uses a set of terraced coils controlled in such a matter as to continually alternate polarity and thereby emulate the random motion of a manual mortal and pestle. This simulation of random motion is created through the arrangement of coils found in this invention. Methods were also developed to aid in the retrieval of DNA or other intracellular components using this device such that these components can be isolated and then used for study, amplification, or a variety of different purposes. Essentially the enclosed invention discloses a device and methodology which will allow for the rapid processing of many small tissue samples. This will assist in making such procedures as genotyping, genetic analysis, and gene mapping faster and more reliable on a large scale.