Device and Method for Manipulating and Mixing Magnetic Particles in a Liquid Medium
First Claim
1. A method of mixing magnetic particles in a microfluidic environment with a surrounding medium in a reaction chamber that is a part a microfluidic network, wherein at least two electromagnetic poles face each other across the reaction chamber, the method comprising:
- a) applying from the electromagnetic poles magnetic field sequences having polarity and intensity that vary in time;
said varying magnetic field sequences being effective to break an inhibit particle claim aggregates and to maintain the particles in suspension as a fog of particles in relative dynamic movement;
b) combining the magnetic fields from different magnetic poles in a sequence to induce displacement of the fog of particles across the reaction chamber whereby the fog of particles occupies substantially the whole reaction chamber volume.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for manipulating and mixing magnetic particles (3) in a surrounding liquid medium, comprises at least one couple of magnetic poles (1,1′) facing each other across a gap, the facing poles diverging from a narrow end of the gap to a large end of the gap, the poles (1,1′) forming part of an electromagnetic circuit and being arranged to provide a magnetic field gradient in the gap region; and a reaction chamber (2) that is a part of a fluidic network for containing the said magnetic particles in suspension and placed in the gap of the said electromagnets poles (1,1′). The reaction chamber (2) preferably has at least one part which has a diverging cavity, arranged co-divergently in the diverging gap between the poles.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of mixing magnetic particles in a microfluidic environment with a surrounding medium in a reaction chamber that is a part a microfluidic network, wherein at least two electromagnetic poles face each other across the reaction chamber, the method comprising:
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a) applying from the electromagnetic poles magnetic field sequences having polarity and intensity that vary in time;
said varying magnetic field sequences being effective to break an inhibit particle claim aggregates and to maintain the particles in suspension as a fog of particles in relative dynamic movement;b) combining the magnetic fields from different magnetic poles in a sequence to induce displacement of the fog of particles across the reaction chamber whereby the fog of particles occupies substantially the whole reaction chamber volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification