Flux Concentrator for Biomagnetic Particle Transfer Device

• US 20080170966A1
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Festo Corp (Festo SE & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Festo Corp (Festo SE & Company KG)
• Inventors: Cook, Douglas Lee, Bray, Thomas E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,799,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/101
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/286 disposed at the inner circumference of a recipient, e.g. magnetic drain bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]

Abstract

A tip for a biomagnetic particle transfer device generally includes a solid body made from a highly magnetically permeable material and having a shape adapted to concentrate a magnetic field generated by the transfer device on the body. The tip body preferably includes a truncated cone-shaped portion and a solid probe portion. The cone-shaped portion defines an attachment end engageable with an end of the transfer device and an apex opposite the attachment end. The probe portion extends from the apex of the cone-shaped portion, and the magnetic field is concentrated on the probe portion.

Claims

1. A tip for a biomagnetic particle transfer device comprising a solid body made from a highly magnetically permeable material and having a shape adapted to concentrate a magnetic field generated by the transfer device on said body.

2. A tip as defined in claim 1, wherein said body comprises:

a truncated cone-shaped portion defining an attachment end engageable with an end of the transfer device and an apex opposite said attachment end; and

a solid probe portion extending from said apex of said cone-shaped portion, the magnetic field being concentrated on said probe portion.

3. A tip as defined in claim 2, wherein said cone-shaped portion includes an inner recess shaped to receive an end pole of a magnet of the transfer device.

4. A tip as defined in claim 3, wherein said recess is spherically shaped to receive a spherically shaped end of the magnet.

5. A tip as defined in claim 2, wherein said probe portion is a narrow elongate solid cylinder.

6. A tip as defined in claim 2, wherein said probe portion has a corrugated outer surface.

7. A tip as defined in claim 1, wherein said body has a biological agent coating.

8. A biomagnetic particle transfer device comprising:

a pin having a tip end and a magnet element disposed therein; and

a tip engageable with said tip end of said pin, said tip being made from a highly magnetically permeable material and having a shape adapted to concentrate a magnetic field generated by the magnet element in said pin on said tip.

9. A transfer device as defined in claim 8 wherein said tip comprises:

a truncated cone-shaped portion defining an attachment end engageable with said tip end of said pin and an apex opposite said attachment end; and

a solid probe portion extending from said apex of said cone-shaped portion, the magnetic field being concentrated on said probe portion.

10. A transfer device as defined in claim 9, wherein said cone-shaped portion includes an inner recess shaped to receive an end pole of said magnet element of said pin.

11. A transfer device as defined in claim 10, wherein said recess is spherically shaped to receive a spherically shaped end of said magnet element.

12. A tip array for a biomagnetic particle transfer device comprising:

a plurality of tips engageable with a magnetic element of the transfer device, each of said tips being made from a highly magnetically permeable material and having a shape adapted to concentrate a magnetic field generated by the magnetic element of the transfer device on said tip; and

a unitary frame supporting said plurality of tips.

13. A tip array as defined in claim 12, wherein each of said tips comprises:

a truncated cone-shaped portion defining an attachment end engageable with an end of the magnetic element of the transfer device and an apex opposite said attachment end; and

a solid probe portion extending from said apex of said cone-shaped portion, the magnetic field being concentrated on said probe portion.

14. A tip array as defined in claim 13, wherein said cone-shaped portion includes an inner recess shaped to receive an end pole of a magnet of the transfer device magnetic element.

15. A tip array as defined in claim 14, wherein said recess is spherically shaped to receive a spherically shaped end of the magnet.

16. A biomagnetic particle transfer device comprising:

at least one magnetic element adapted for selectively generating a magnetic field;

a plurality of tips engageable with said magnetic element, each of said tips being made from a highly magnetically permeable material and having a shape adapted to concentrate the magnetic field generated by said magnetic element on said tip; and

a unitary frame supporting said plurality of tips.

17. A transfer device as defined in claim 16, wherein the device comprises fewer magnetic elements than tips.

18. A transfer device as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said tips comprises:

a truncated cone-shaped portion defining an attachment end engageable with an end of the magnetic element and an apex opposite said attachment end; and

a solid probe portion extending from said apex of said cone-shaped portion, the magnetic field being concentrated on said probe portion.

19. A transfer device as defined in claim 18, wherein said cone-shaped portion includes an inner recess shaped to receive an end pole of a magnet of said magnetic element.

20. A transfer device as defined in claim 19, wherein said recess is spherically shaped to receive a spherically shaped end of the magnet.