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Magnetic separation of rare cells

  • US 9,217,131 B2
  • Filed: 01/20/2011
  • Issued: 12/22/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A magnetic separation system comprising:

  • a sample container;

    a first pump disposed downstream from said sample container;

    a carrier container;

    a second pump disposed downstream from said carrier container;

    a mixture container disposed downstream from said first and second pumps;

    a plurality of electromagnets;

    a tube extending from said mixture container, passing about said plurality of electromagnets, and terminating at a plurality of collection vessels;

    a third pump associated with said tube;

    a processor or a computer; and

    a computer-readable medium having stored thereon one or more programs that, when executed by said processor or said computer;

    operate said first and second pumps to separately feed, into said mixture container, a sample fluid from said sample container and a carrier fluid from said carrier container, wherein the sample fluid comprises magnetized cells and non-magnetized cells, operate said plurality of electromagnets to generate magnetic flux, and at the same time operate said third pump to cause a mixture of the sample fluid and the carrier fluid to flow inside said tube about said plurality of electromagnets, such that;

    (i) a majority of the magnetized cells are attracted to a wall of said tube, about said plurality of electromagnets, and(ii) a majority of the non-magnetized cells are drained to a first collection vessel of said plurality of collection vessels,operate said plurality of electromagnets to terminate the magnetic flux, and at the same time operate said second and third pumps to feed a washing fluid from said carrier container, through said mixture container and into said tube, such that attracted magnetized cells are dislodged from the wall of said tube and are washed, with the washing fluid, to a second collection vessel of said plurality of collections vessels.

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