Rotating shielded magnetic actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9752968-B2
Application number	US-201314132823-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2013
Priority date	Dec 21, 2012
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

Systems configured to isolate particles in a fluid assay are disclosed. Methods for collecting a sample of magnetic particles from a liquid are also disclosed. In certain embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods include a magnetic actuator coupled to a chassis, where the magnetic actuator comprises at least one shielded rotatable magnet.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system configured to isolate particles in a fluid assay comprising:
a chassis;
a magnetic actuator coupled to the chassis, the magnetic actuator having rotatable shielded magnets, wherein each of the rotatable shielded magnets comprises:
a top surface;
a bottom surface; and
a shield, wherein the shield covers the bottom surface and is directly coupled to the rotatable shielded magnet;

a tub coupled to the chassis; and
a well plate coupled to the tub and comprising a plurality of wells arranged in columns and rows;
where the tub is configured to support the well plate such that each shielded magnet is adjacent to at least one column of wells.

2. The system of claim 1 where:
a rotatable shielded magnet is configured to rotate from a first position to a second position;
the rotatable shielded magnet exerts a first magnetic field on the well plate in the first position;
the rotatable shielded magnet exerts a second magnetic field on the well plate in the second position; and
the first magnetic field is greater than the second magnetic field.

3. The system of claim 2 where:
at least one well comprises a plurality of magnetic microspheres;
the first magnetic field is sufficient to move the plurality of magnetic microspheres; and
the second magnetic field is not sufficient to move the plurality of magnetic microspheres.

4. The system of claim 1 , where each rotatable shielded magnet is adjacent to two columns of wells.

5. The system of claim 1 , where:
each rotatable shielded magnet comprises a permanent magnet;
the shield is coupled to and covers a portion of the permanent magnet; and
each rotatable shielded magnet has a thickness, a length, and an axis of rotation.

6. The system of claim 5 where the axis of rotation is an eccentric axis of rotation.

7. The system of claim 5 , where the shield comprises a magnetic permeable material, the permanent magnet comprises a rare earth material, and the permanent magnet is magnetized through its thickness.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an agitator motor and a link coupled to the tub, where the agitator motor and the link are configured to agitate the tub and the well plate during operation.

Assignees

• Luminex Corp

Inventors

• Smith Eric
• Schilffarth Adam

Classifications

• B03C2201/18

  Magnetic separation whereby the particles are suspended in a liquid · CPC title

• B01L3/5085 Primary

  for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates · CPC title

• Y10T436/25375

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

• B01L2200/0668

  Trapping microscopic beads · CPC title

• B01L2300/0851

  Bottom walls · CPC title