Magnetic sample purification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9387484-B2
Application number	US-201013500446-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2010
Priority date	Oct 6, 2009
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

A method and apparatus for extracting magnetic particles from a sample includes placing the sample near a liquid carrier, which is immiscible with it, in a configuration stable under the influence of gravity. The magnetic particles are moved by a magnetic field from the sample and into the carrier. The magnetic particles are non-wetting with respect to the carrier and will therefore form agglomerates in the carrier.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for extracting magnetic particles from a liquid sample, the method comprising acts of:
mixing the liquid sample, the magnetic particles and a liquid carrier, the liquid carrier being immiscible with the liquid sample and having another mass density than the liquid sample;
ceasing of the mixing act to allow for a sedimentation of the liquid carrier under an influence of gravity; and
generating a magnetic field that moves the magnetic particles from the liquid sample into the liquid carrier.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic particles are further transferred from the liquid carrier into another material.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic particles in the liquid carrier are aspirated by a transfer device.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein after the generating act the liquid sample that has not been moved into the liquid carrier is aspirated by a transfer device leaving behind the liquid carrier and the magnetic particles.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least a component of a movement of the magnetic particles from the liquid sample into the liquid carrier is parallel to a direction of gravity.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic particles can be moved by a magnetic field through the liquid carrier to a target zone.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid carrier has a higher mass density than the liquid sample.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid carrier comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of halogenated oils, hydrocarbons, and alkanes.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic particles are non-wetting with respect to the liquid carrier.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic particles can specifically bind components of the liquid sample.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the halogenated oils are preferably at least one of a fluorocarbons, a perfluorocarbons and a silicone oils, and wherein the hydrocarbons are preferably at least one of an aliphatic hydrocarbon and an aromatic hydrocarbon.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid carrier is at least one of a hydrocarbon oil and an alkane oil.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of mass densities between the liquid sample and the liquid carrier is larger than at least one of 1 to 1.05, 1 to 1.15 and 1 to 1.3.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein moving the magnetic particles from the liquid sample into the liquid carrier via the generating of the magnetic field is independent of surface tension.

Assignees

• Wimberger-Friedl Reinhold
• Den Dulk Remco Christiaan
• Koninkl Philips Nv

Inventors

• Wimberger-Friedl Reinhold
• Den Dulk Remco Christiaan

Classifications

• G01N35/0098

  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 title

• B01L3/502

  with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures · CPC title

• B01L2400/043

  magnetic forces · CPC title

• B01L2200/0673

  Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid · CPC title

• Y10T436/25375

  Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.] · CPC title