Rotating magnetic actuator
First Claim
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1. A magnetic actuator configured to isolate particles in a fluid assay, the magnetic actuator comprising:
- a first magnet magnetized in a first direction, a second magnet magnetized in a second direction, a third magnet magnetized in a third direction, and a fourth magnet magnetized in a fourth direction, wherein the directions are not identical and each direction is either parallel or orthogonal to the other directions such that a Halbach effect is induced on one side of the magnets;
a motor configured to rotate at least two of the first, second, third and fourth magnets;
a lateral support member configured to support the motor, the first magnet, the second magnet;
the third magnet, and the fourth magnet; and
a first linear magnet array comprising the first magnet, the second magnet, the third magnet, and the fourth magnet, where each of the first, second, third and fourth magnets is adjacent to at least one other of the first, second, third and fourth magnets;
wherein the motor is configured to rotate at least two of the first, second, third and fourth magnets in the linear magnet array approximately 180 degrees about an axis through the first magnet, the second magnet, the third magnet, and the fourth magnet.
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Abstract
Magnetic actuators comprising at least one linear subarray are presented. Systems comprising such magnetic actuators and methods for using such magnetic actuators to isolate magnetic particles in a fluid are also presented. Magnetic actuators comprising at least four uniform magnets are also presented, as are systems comprising such magnetic actuators and methods for using such magnetic actuators to isolate magnetic particles in a fluid.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A magnetic actuator configured to isolate particles in a fluid assay, the magnetic actuator comprising:
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a first magnet magnetized in a first direction, a second magnet magnetized in a second direction, a third magnet magnetized in a third direction, and a fourth magnet magnetized in a fourth direction, wherein the directions are not identical and each direction is either parallel or orthogonal to the other directions such that a Halbach effect is induced on one side of the magnets; a motor configured to rotate at least two of the first, second, third and fourth magnets; a lateral support member configured to support the motor, the first magnet, the second magnet;
the third magnet, and the fourth magnet; anda first linear magnet array comprising the first magnet, the second magnet, the third magnet, and the fourth magnet, where each of the first, second, third and fourth magnets is adjacent to at least one other of the first, second, third and fourth magnets; wherein the motor is configured to rotate at least two of the first, second, third and fourth magnets in the linear magnet array approximately 180 degrees about an axis through the first magnet, the second magnet, the third magnet, and the fourth magnet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A magnetic actuator configured to isolate particles in a fluid assay, the magnetic actuator comprising:
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a first magnet array comprising; an origin; and a linear subarray, the linear subarray comprising; a first magnet element magnetized in a first direction relative to the origin; a second magnet element magnetized in a second direction relative to the origin; a third magnet element magnetized in a third direction relative to the origin; and a fourth magnet element magnetized in a fourth direction relative to the origin; where the first direction, the second direction, the third direction, and the fourth direction are different from one another and either substantially parallel or substantially orthogonal to one another such that a Halbach effect is induced in the linear subarray; where the first magnet array has a length, an axis of rotation along the length of the first magnet array, a max side, and a min side; a motor coupled to the first magnet array and configured to rotate at least one magnet element of the first, second, third and fourth magnet elements about the axis of rotation along the length of the first magnet array; and a lateral support member configured to support the first magnet array and the motor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A magnetic actuator configured to isolate particles in a fluid assay, the magnetic actuator comprising:
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a first pair of magnet arrays rotatable together, each magnet array of the first pair of magnet arrays comprising a plurality of magnet elements arranged to induce a Halbach effect, where each magnet array of the first pair of magnet arrays has a length, an axis of rotation, a max side, and a min side; a first motor coupled to the first pair of magnet arrays through a gearset and configured to rotate the first pair of magnet arrays about the axis of rotation of each magnet array of the first pair of magnet arrays; a second pair of magnet arrays rotatable together, each magnet array of the second pair of magnet arrays comprising a plurality of magnet elements arranged to induce a Halbach effect, where each magnet array of the second pair of magnet arrays has a length, an axis of rotation along the length of each magnet array of the second pair of magnet arrays, a max side, and a min side; a second motor coupled to the second pair of magnet arrays through a gearset and configured to rotate the second pair of magnet arrays about the axis of rotation along the length of each magnet array of the second pair of magnet arrays; and a lateral support member configured to support the magnet arrays and the motors; where the magnetic actuator is configured to be coupled to an assay preparation module.
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19. A magnetic actuator configured to isolate particles in a fluid assay, the magnetic actuator comprising:
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a first uniform magnet having a length, a width, and a first axis of rotation substantially parallel to the length of the first uniform magnet, where the first uniform magnet is magnetized substantially uniformly through the width of the first uniform magnet in a first direction; a second uniform magnet having a length, a width, and a second axis of rotation substantially parallel to the length of the second uniform magnet, where the second uniform magnet is magnetized substantially uniformly through the width of the second uniform magnet in a second direction; a third uniform magnet having a length, a width, and a third first axis of rotation substantially parallel to the length of the third uniform magnet, where the first uniform magnet is magnetized substantially uniformly through the width of the third uniform magnet in a third direction; and a fourth uniform magnet having a length, a width, and a fourth axis of rotation substantially parallel to the length of the fourth uniform magnet, where the fourth uniform magnet is magnetized substantially uniformly through the width of the fourth uniform magnet in a fourth direction; wherein the first axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation, the third axis of rotation, and the fourth axis of rotation are not identical to each other and are substantially parallel to each other; wherein the first direction, second direction, third direction, and fourth direction are not identical to each other and each direction is parallel or orthogonal to each other direction; and wherein the uniform magnets are configured to induce a Halbach effect on the same side of all the uniform magnets; a motor configured to rotate at least two of the uniform magnets; and a lateral support member configured to support the uniform magnets, wherein each magnet is configured to rotate 90 degrees and adjacent magnets are configured to rotate in opposite directions. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification