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US 2014/0175019 A1Published application
Rotating magnetic actuator
AssigneeLuminex Corporation
InventorsEric Smith, Jon Isom, Adam Schilffarth
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims22
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;
- and
- a lateral support member configured to support the motor, the first magnet, the second magnet, the third magnet, and the fourth magnet.
1 more element
A magnetic actuator configured to isolate particles in a fluid assay, the magnetic actuator comprising:
- 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 its length, 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 its axis of rotation;
- and
- a lateral support member configured to support the first magnet array and the motor.
11 more elements
A magnetic actuator configured to isolate particles in a fluid assay, the magnetic actuator comprising:
- a first pair of magnet arrays rotatable together, each magnet array comprising a plurality of magnet elements arranged to induce a Halbach effect, where each magnet array 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 their respective axes of rotation;
- a second pair of magnet arrays rotatable together, each magnet array comprising a plurality of magnet elements arranged to induce a Halbach effect, where each magnet array has a length, an axis of rotation along its length, 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 their respective axes of rotation;
- 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.
4 more elements
A magnetic actuator configured to isolate particles in a fluid assay, the magnetic actuator comprising:
- a first uniform magnet having a length, a width, and a first axis of rotation substantially parallel to its length, where the first uniform magnet is magnetized substantially uniformly through its width in a first direction;
- a second uniform magnet having a length, a width, and a second axis of rotation substantially parallel to its length, where the second uniform magnet is magnetized substantially uniformly through its width in a second direction;
- a third uniform magnet having a length, a width, and a third first axis of rotation substantially parallel to its length, where the first uniform magnet is magnetized substantially uniformly through its width in a third direction;
- and
- a fourth uniform magnet having a length, a width, and a fourth axis of rotation substantially parallel to its length, where the fourth uniform magnet is magnetized substantially uniformly through its width 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.
9 more elements
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 magnets;
- 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;
- and
- where the tub is configured to support the well plate such that each magnet or magnet array is adjacent to at least one column of wells.
4 more elements
A method for collecting a sample of magnetic particles from a liquid, comprising:
- obtaining a system comprising:
- a chassis;
- a magnetic actuator coupled to the chassis, the magnetic actuator having rotatable magnets;
- 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;
- and
- where the tub is configured to support the well plate such that each magnet or magnet array is adjacent to at least one column of wells;
- obtaining a first suspension comprising a plurality of magnetic particles suspended in a first liquid;
- introducing a volume of the first suspension into at least one well;
- adjusting the magnets to a first position such that a magnetic force is exerted on at least one column of wells;
- forming a pellet of magnetic particles in at least one well;
- and
- aspirating a portion of the first liquid from at least one well.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.