Magnetic separation device

• US 4,710,472 A
• Filed: 09/25/1985
• Issued: 12/01/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Reynolds, Charles P., Black, Alfred T., Saur, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Odar, H. A.
• Application Number:
  US06/780,123
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 210/222, 210/223, 210/927, 422/44, 209/215, 209/213, 209/223.1, 269/8, 269/276, 269/246, 435/287
• US Class Current: 435/308.1
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/01 by addition of magnetic adjuvants
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/288 disposed at the outer circumference of a recipient
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/26 for use in medical or biological applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48 Biological material, e.g. blood, urine G01N33/02, G01N33/26, G01N33/44, G01N33/46 take precedence; Haemocytometers counting blood corpuscules distributed over a surface by scanning the surface G06M11/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54326 Magnetic particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0098 involving analyte bound to insoluble magnetic carrier, e.g. using magnetic separation magnetic particles used in immunoassays G01N33/54326; magnetic separation in general B03C

Abstract

A magnetic separation device suitable for removing magnetic bead-coated cells from a system comprising a base, a plurality of magnets mounted on the base such that a sample chamber is created for holding sample containers which are to be placed in close proximity to the magnets, and a means for adjusting the position of the magnets with respect to the sample container. A blood sample containing magnetic bead-coated cells is passed through tubing which is mounted in close proximity to the magnets. The magnetic bead-coated cells are attracted by the magnets and retained in the tubing while the nonmagnetic cells pass through the tubing.

Claims

1. A magnetic separation device suitable for removing magnetic bead-coated cells from a system, comprising:

at least one sample container containing a sample of magnetic bead-coated cells;

a base;

magnetic means comprised of at least one high energy magnet mounted on said base such that at least one chamber is created near said high energy magnet for holding at least one sample container on said base near said high energy magnet, and a sample container placed in said chamber in close proximity to said magnetic means so that magnetic bead-coated cells within said sample container are attracted by said magnet during use of said device; and

means for adjusting the position of at least one said high energy magnet with respect to said sample container in said chamber.

2. A magnetic separation device suitable for removing magnetic bead-coated cells from a system, comprising:

a base; and

a high energy magnet mounted on said base such that two chambers are created on opposite sides of said high energy magnet for holding two sample containers which are to be placed in said chambers in close proximity to said high energy magnet.

12. The magnetic separation device of claim 2, further comprising:

two jaws mounted on said base on opposite sides of said high energy magnet thereby creating said two chambers which are useful for holding said two sample containers between said jaws and said high energy magnet so as to adjust the position of each of said jaws with respect to said sample containers and said high energy magnet.

13. The magnetic separation device of claim 12 wherein said jaws each have a magnetically susceptible metal shim which becomes magnetic when in close proximity to said high energy magnet.

14. The magnetic separation device of claim 13 wherein each said shim is made of galvanized steel.

15. The magnetic separation device of claim 14 further comprising:

cam means for adjusting the position of said jaws with respect to said sample containers.

16. The magnetic separation device of claim 15 wherein said magnet is a samarium cobalt magnets.

3. A magnetic separation device for removing magnetic bead-coated cells from a system comprising:

a base;

a plurality of high energy magnets mounted on said base such that a chamber is created for holding a sample container which may be placed into said chamber in close proximity to said magnets which are located at opposite sides of said chamber;

said plurality of high energy magnets having at least two pairs of high energy magnets so that one magnet from each pair is located on one side of said chamber; and

means for adjusting the position of said one magnet of each pair of magnets with respect to a sample container positioned in said chamber on said base.

8. The magnetic separation device of claim 3, further comprising:

at least two moveable blocks mounted on said base, said blocks being mounted along parallel lines; and

at least two high energy magnets from said plurality of high energy magnets mounted on said moveable blocks, one such magnet mounted on each moveable block from two high energy magnets being mounted along parallel lines such that said chamber is created between them, and two other high energy magnet mounted on said base magnets being mounted on said moveable block such that each can be moved along one of said parallel lines so as to adjust the position of said two high energy magnets with respect to said container.

4. A magnetic separation device suitable for removing magnetic bead-coated from a system, comprising:

two base plates;

means for holding said base plates together such that said base plates can be positioned opposite to each other to create a chamber for holding a sample container;

a plurality of posts mounted on said base plates which allow said base plates to move closer to each other while remaining in alignment with each other;

a plurality of mounting pegs mounted on said base plates for holding said sample container in said chamber;

one or more high energy magnets mounted near the center of each said base plate; and

means for securing said base plates together so that they will remain secured together while said device is rotated.

19. The magnetic separation device of claim 4 wherein said high energy magnet mounted near the center of each said plate is a samarium cobalt magnet.

20. The magnetic separation device of claim 19 wherein said means for holding said base plates together includes a hinge.

21. The magnetic separation device of claim 20 wherein said means for securing said base plates together includes a spring latch.

5. A magnetic separation device suitable for removing magnetic bead-coated cells from a system, comprising:

a base;

a samarium cobalt magnet mounted on said base;

two jaws mounted on said base on opposite sides of said magnet thereby creating two chambers on opposite sides of said magnet for holding two sample container on said base between said jaws and said magnet, said jaws each being movable with respect to said magnet so as to adjust the position of each said jaws with respect to each said sample container and said magnet; and

a cam for adjusting the position of said jaws with respect to said sample containers and said magnet.

17. The magnetic separation device of claim 5 wherein each of said jaws has a magnetically susceptible metal shim which becomes magnetic when in close proximity to said magnet.

18. The magnetic separation device of claim 17 wherein each said shim is made of galvanized steel.

6. A magnetic separation device for removing magnetic bead-coated cells from a system, comprising:

a sample container containing a sample of magnetic bead-coated cells;

a base;

two blocks mounted on said base, said blocks being mounted in parallel relation on opposite sides of a chamber, the first of said blocks being immovably mounted on said base, the second of said blocks being moveably mounted on said base such that this second blocks can be moved toward or away from the first block;

respective samarium cobalt magnets, including first and second magnets mounted on said blocks, said respective magnets being mounted along said parallel lines so that a chamber for holding said sample container on said base is created between said first and second magnets, said sample container being mounted in said chamber so that magnetic bead-coated cells within said sample container are attracted by said magnets during use of said device, the first of said magnets being mounted on said block, and the second of said magnets being mounted on said second block such that the second of said magnets can be moved so as to adjust the position of said second of said magnets with respect to said sample container and said first of said magnets; and

an adjusting screw mounted adjacent to said second of said magnets and said second of said blocks for adjusting the position of said second of said magnets with respect to said sample container.

7. A magnetic separation device for removing magnetic bead-coated cells from a system, comprising:

a sample container containing a sample of magnetic bead-coated cells;

a base;

a plurality of high energy mounted on said base such that a chamber is created between said high energy magnets for holding said sample container which is disposed within said chamber in close proximity to said magnets so that magnetic bead-coated cells within said sample container are attracted by said magnets during use of said device; and

means for adjusting the position of one of said high energy magnets with respect to said container in said chamber.

9. The magnetic separation device of claim 7 having one pair of magnets.

10. The magnetic separation device of claim 9 wherein said means for adjusting the position of one of said high energy magnets with respect to said sample container in said chamber is an adjusting screw.

11. The magnetic separation device of claim 10 wherein each of said high energy magnets is a samarium cobalt magnet.