Device and system for transfer of material

• US 6,409,925 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bio-Magnetech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bio-Magnetech Corporation
• Inventors: Khatskina, Anna, Gombinsky, Moshe
• Primary Examiner(s): Horlick, Kenneth R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spiegler, Alexander H.
• Application Number:
  US09/601,741
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 210/695, 210/222, 210/416.1, 435/6, 536/24.3, 536/526, 141/130, 719/217, 436/256, 219/225, 209/224, 209/232
• US Class Current: 210/695
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00315 Microtiter plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00468 by manipulation of individual beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/005 Beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0059 Sequential processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00592 Split-and-pool, mix-and-divide processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/01 by addition of magnetic adjuvants
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/0332 using permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/284 with associated cleaning means, e.g. retractable non-magnetic sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/286 disposed at the inner circumference of a recipient, e.g. magnetic drain bolt
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/288 disposed at the outer circumference of a recipient
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/18 Magnetic separation whereby the particles are suspended in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/22 characterised by the magnetical field, special shape or generation
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/26 for use in medical applications
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/06 Libraries containing nucleotides or polynucleotides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/10 Libraries containing peptides or polypeptides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1065 : Multiple transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1072 : with provision for selective pipetting of individual channels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1074 : arranged in a two-dimensional array

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for collection of magnetic particles. The invention further concerns a system for transfer of material from a plurality of source vessels to a plurality of target vessels, the device comprising a plurality of collecting members each of which can be manipulated independently. The invention further concerns a method for detection of biological entities being fluorescent label, wherein the entities are bound to magnetic particles. The fluorescent emission is concentrated by clustering the magnetic particles utilizing magnetic force.

Claims

1. A system for transfer of solid magnetic particles from a plurality of source vessels to a plurality of target vessels such that material from each source vessel is transferred to a designated target vessel, the system comprising a plurality of detachably connected collecting members permitting simultaneous transfer of solid particles from a number of source vessels to one or more target vessels;

each collecting member is made of a material which is not affected by a magnetic field, having a truncated particle collecting tip and an elongated lumen with an open end, said end of the lumen being at a distal portion of said elongated member adjacent to said tip;

the lumen accommodating a magnetic field providing member within the lumen, which member is displaceable between a first position in which the magnetic field providing member is in said distal portion whereby attraction of said particles to said truncated tip occurs, and a second position in a proximal portion of said lumen in which said particles are not attracted to said truncated tip, transition between the first position and the second position is controlled by electric or pneumatic force;

each collecting member is independently controlled.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a computer for controlling the independent transition from said first position to said second position of each collecting member.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first position is obtained by application of a force capable of creating a magnetic field in the truncated tip of each collecting member and the second position is achieved by ceasing of creation of said magnetic field.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic field is created by the use of an electromagnet present in each collecting member.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic field is created by the use of a pneumatic pump.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic field is created by the use of a spring.

7. A system according to claim 1 for the quantitative collection of magnetic particles attracted to the truncated tip, wherein the proportion of particles collected is in correlation to the time of collection.

8. A system for quantitative collection of magnetic particles according to claim 7, wherein the truncated tip thickness is less than 30 μ

m.