Apparatus and methods for magnetic mixing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10179899-B2
Application number	US-201514731459-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2015
Priority date	Jun 18, 2014
Publication date	Jan 15, 2019
Grant date	Jan 15, 2019

Abstract

Methods and systems for magnetic mixing. Particular embodiments relate to applying a magnetic field to move a magnetically responsive component in a chamber.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a shaft comprising a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end;
a motor coupled to the shaft, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
a plurality of magnets coupled to the shaft, wherein each magnet of the plurality of magnets comprises a first end proximal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and a second end distal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and
a module comprising a plurality of housings arranged along a linear axis, wherein:
each housing of the plurality of housings is configured to receive a chamber,
each magnet of the plurality of magnets is aligned with a corresponding housing of the plurality of housings;
the shaft is configured to move from a first shaft position to a second shaft position;
in the first shaft position, the second end of each magnet of the plurality of magnets is distal from the corresponding housing of the plurality of housings;
in the second shaft position, the second end of each magnet of the plurality of magnets is proximal to the corresponding housing of the plurality of housings; and
the longitudinal axis of the shaft is substantially parallel to the linear axis of the plurality of housings.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shaft is configured to rotate from the first shaft position to the second shaft position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of chambers, wherein the plurality of chambers comprises a chamber received within each housing of the plurality of housings; and
a moveable magnetically responsive component disposed within each chamber of the plurality of chambers, wherein:
the moveable magnetically responsive component is in a first position when the shaft is in the first shaft position; and
the moveable magnetically responsive component is in a second position when the shaft is in the second shaft position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each housing of the plurality of housings comprises a thermoelectric cooler (TEC).

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:
the side surface of each chamber of the plurality of chambers is tapered and the bottom surface of each chamber of the plurality of chambers is curved;
the bottom surface is curved with a first radius;
the moveable magnetically responsive component is a spherical ball with a second radius; and
the first radius is greater than the second radius.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the moveable magnetically responsive component is a disk or a rod.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first shaft position is approximately 25 degrees from the second shaft position.

8. An apparatus comprising:
a shaft comprising a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end;
a motor coupled to the shaft, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
a magnet coupled to the shaft, wherein the magnet comprises a first end proximal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and a second end distal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
a housing configured to receive a chamber, wherein:
the shaft is configured to move from a first shaft position to a second shaft position;
in the first shaft position, the second end of the magnet is distal from the housing; and
in the second shaft position, the second end of the magnet is proximal to the housing; and

a switch configured to limit rotation of the shaft between the first shaft position and the second shaft position, wherein the switch is an optical switch comprising a disc coupled to the shaft.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is coupled to a control module configured to control rotation of the shaft from the first shaft position to the second shaft position such that the moveable magnetically responsive component is held in the first position for approximately 1 to 5 seconds and then moved to the second position and held in the second position for approximately 1 to 5 seconds.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the control module is configured to control rotation of the shaft from the first shaft position to the second shaft position such that the moveable magnetically responsive component is cycled between the first and second positions for approximately between 60 to 360 seconds.

11. An apparatus comprising:
a shaft comprising a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end;
a motor coupled to the shaft, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
a magnet coupled to the shaft, wherein the magnet comprises a first end proximal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and a second end distal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
a housing configured to receive a chamber, wherein:
the shaft is configured to move from a first shaft position to a second shaft position;
in the first shaft position, the second end of the magnet is distal from the housing; and

in the second shaft position, the second end of the magnet is proximal to the housing, wherein:
the housing comprises a first opening configured to receive the magnet such that the second end of the magnet extends into the first opening when the shaft is in the second shaft position;
the housing comprises a second opening configured to receive a chamber; and
the housing comprises a third opening configured to receive a fiber-optic cable.

Assignees

• Luminex Corp

Inventors

• Whitman Doug
• Heisler James
• Bozarth Colin
• Siew Germaine
• Collins Charles
• Smith Eric

Classifications

• C12M27/02 Primary

  Stirrer or mobile mixing elements · CPC title

• B01L7/52

  with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples · CPC title

• B01F13/0818

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• H01F7/00

  Magnets (superconducting magnets H01F6/00; for separation of solid materials or fluids B03C1/00; for bench or like work-holders B23B31/28, B23Q3/00; work-holding devices B25B11/00; lifting magnets B66C1/00; {operating or controlling locks using permanent magnets E05B47/0038; devices for holding a wing, e.g. door or window, by magnetic or electromagnetic attraction E05C19/16; relieving load or bearings using magnetic means F16C39/06} ; for electric meters G01R; for relays H01H; {for electric discharge tubes H01J, e.g. H01J3/24, H01J23/10, H01J29/68} ; for dynamo-electric machines H02K) · CPC title

• B01F2101/23

  Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials · CPC title