Patent ID: 8895297

Claim:
A method of disrupting one or more cells or viruses, the method comprising: introducing a sample solution containing the cells or viruses into a first chamber of a micro-device for disrupting one or more cells or viruses, wherein the micro-device comprises: the first chamber; a second chamber which can be sequentially pressurized and depressurized; a flexible and elastic membrane between the first chamber and the second chamber and defining at least a part of the wall of the first chamber and second chamber, wherein the membrane vibrates when the second chamber is sequentially pressurized and depressurized; and a solid support for disrupting cells contained in the first chamber and present as a separate material with respect to the chamber wall; disrupting the cells or viruses by vibrating the flexible and elastic membrane between the first chamber and the second chamber by flowing a fluid into and out of the second chamber through a port, wherein the disrupting comprises periodically or non-periodically adjusting the pressure of the interior of the second chamber such that the flexible membrane is vibrated; and releasing resultant disrupted cells or viruses from the first chamber of the micro-device; wherein the micro-device further comprises an upper plate with a space defining the first chamber and a lower plate with a space defining the second chamber; and wherein the flexible membrane is disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate, the first chamber is delimited by the upper plate and the membrane, and the second chamber is delimited by the lower plate and the membrane.