Solid-core ring-magnet
AssigneeAlpaqua Engineering, LLC
InventorOlaf Stelling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solid-core ring-magnet having one or more cavities is provided. The magnet can have an overall cylindrical shape or a rectangular-prism shape. In either case, a portion of cavity walls of the magnet are ring shaped, causing the magnetic field lines to emanate from the magnet in the shape of a ring. The diameter of the ring shaped cavities can be constant throughout, constant through a portion of the cavity, variant throughout, or variant through a portion of the cavity. The cavities open to the end of the magnet, and terminate toward the core of the magnet. Also provided are systems and kits having solid-core ring-magnets. Methods of purifying a macromolecule using the solid-core ring-magnets are also provided.
Claims20
A magnet for use in isolating macromolecules from a mixture when the macromolecules adhere to paramagnetic beads to form a complex, wherein the magnet comprises:
- a. a solid core having an inner mass of the magnet;
- b. a top surface, wherein the top surface is at a first outer side of the magnet;
- c. a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is at a second outer side of the magnet substantially opposite from the top surface;
- d. one or more cavities extending from the top surface, the bottom surface, or both toward the solid core;
- wherein the one or more cavities each have a cavity wall and a portion of the cavity wall forms a ring shape;
- e. at least one side wall, wherein the side wall encloses sides of the magnet not covered by the top surface, the bottom surface, and the one or more cavities.
A system for use in isolating macromolecules from a mixture when the macromolecules adhere to paramagnetic beads to form a complex, wherein the system comprises:
- a. a magnet that comprises:
- i. a solid core forming an inner mass of the magnet;
- ii. a top surface, wherein the top surface is at a first outer side of the magnet;
- iii. a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is at a second outer side of the magnet substantially opposite from the top surface;
- iv. one or more cavities extending from the top surface, the bottom surface, or both toward the solid core;
- wherein the one or more cavities each have a cavity wall and a portion of the cavity wall forms a ring shape;
- and
- v. at least one side wall, wherein the side wall encloses sides of the magnet not covered by the top surface, the bottom surface, and the one or more cavities;
- and
- b. a vessel for holding the mixture having the complex, wherein the vessel is shaped to fit within the one or more cavities such that when the vessel is placed within a cavity, a volume of a mixture held by the vessel within the cavity is between about 5 micro-liters and about 35 micro-liters.
A method for purifying a macromolecule from a liquid sample having a mixture, the method comprising:
- a. collecting the liquid sample in a vessel;
- b. adding magnetic beads to the liquid sample, wherein steps “a” and “b” can be performed in any order under conditions to form a macromolecule-magnetic bead complex between the macromolecule and the magnetic bead;
- c. separating the complex from the sample by placing the vessel in a cavity of a magnet, wherein the magnet comprises:
- i. a solid core forming an inner mass of the magnet;
- ii. a top surface, wherein the top surface is at a first outer side of the magnet;
- iii. a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is at a second outer side of the magnet substantially opposite from the top surface;
- iv. one or more cavities extending from the top surface, the bottom surface, or both toward the solid core;
- wherein the one or more cavities each have a cavity wall and a portion of the cavity wall forms a ring shape;
- and
- v. at least one side wall, wherein the side wall encloses sides of the magnet not covered by the top surface, the bottom surface, and the one or more cavities.
A kit for use in isolating macromolecules from a mixture when the macromolecules adhere to paramagnetic beads to form a complex, wherein the kit comprises:
- a. a magnet that comprises:
- i. a solid core forming an inner mass of the magnet;
- ii. a top surface, wherein the top surface is at a first outer side of the magnet;
- iii. a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is at a second outer side of the magnet substantially opposite from the top surface;
- iv. one or more cavities extending from the top surface, the bottom surface, or both toward the solid core;
- wherein the one or more cavities each have a cavity wall and a portion of the cavity wall forms a ring shape;
- and
- v. at least one side wall, wherein the side wall encloses sides of the magnet not covered by the top surface, the bottom surface, and the one or more cavities;
- and
- b. a vessel for holding the mixture having the macromolecule, wherein the vessel is shaped to fit within the one or more cavities such that when the vessel is placed within a cavity, a volume of a liquid composition held by the vessel within the cavity and up to the complex is between about 5 micro-liters and about 35 micro-liters.
A magnet plate system for use in isolating a macromolecule from a mixture, wherein the magnet plate comprises:
- a. at least one magnet, wherein the magnet comprises:
- i. a solid core having an inner mass of the magnet;
- ii. a top surface, wherein the top surface is at a first outer side of the magnet;
- iii. a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is at a second outer side of the magnet substantially opposite from the top surface;
- iv. one or more cavities extending from the top surface, the bottom surface, or both toward the solid core;
- wherein the one or more cavities each have a cavity wall and a portion of the cavity wall forms a ring shape;
- and
- v. at least one side wall, wherein the side wall encloses sides of the magnet not covered by the top surface, the bottom surface, and the one or more cavities;
- and
- b. a top plate adapted to receive a plurality of magnets, wherein the top plate has one or more post openings for receiving a top end of a post and a spring;
- c. a post having the top end and a bottom end;
- d. a spring for placement at the opening of the top plate and surrounding the post;
- e. a support plate to support the magnet, wherein an affinity exists between the support plate and the magnet;
- f. a base plate receives the bottom end of the post and the spring and is placed underneath the base plate when in use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.