Device for separating magnetically labelled cells

A device for separating magnetically labelled cells in a sample using an applied magnetic field, comprising:

• (a) a housing;
• (b) an inlet element at the top portion of the housing defining an inlet chamber, which has an input end and an output end with the output end being larger than the input end;
• (c) a filter chamber adjacent to the output end of the inlet element for filtering the magnetically labelled cells from the fluid while allowing unlabelled cells to pass through when a magnetic filed is applied thereto, and containing a multiplicity of magnetic matrix elements extending transversely across the filter chamber;
• (d) an outlet element for collecting the fluid which passes through the filter chamber and defining an outlet chamber, which has an input end coupled to the filter chamber and an output end;
• and
• (e) flow distribution means in both the inlet and outlet chambers, for distributing the flow generally uniformly across the filter chamber and comprising spherical particles, wherein the flow distribution means comprises particles of between 50 microns and 1 mm diameters;
• and wherein the housing is generally tubular and comprises a heat shrink material which has been heat shrunk onto the magnetic matrix elements whereby the magnetic matrix elements are embedded at their peripheries in the housing.

A device for separating magnetically labelled cells in a sample using an applied magnetic field, comprising:

• (a) an inlet element having an output end;
• (b) a filter chamber adjacent to the output end of the inlet element for filtering the magnetically labelled cells from the fluid while allowing unlabelled cells to pass through when a magnetic field is applied thereto, and containing a multiplicity of magnetic matrix elements extending transversely across the filter chamber;
• (c) an outlet element for collecting the fluid which passes through the filter chamber and having an input end connected to the filter chamber;
• and
• (d) a housing which is generally tubular, which comprises a heat shrink material, and which encloses the inlet and outlet elements and the filter chamber, the material having been heat shrunk so as to retain securely the inlet and outlet elements and so that the peripheries of the magnetic matrix elements are embedded therein.

A device for separating magnetically labelled cells in a sample using an applied magnetic field, comprising:

• (a) a housing;
• (b) an inlet element at the top portion of the housing having an input end and an output end;
• (c) a filter chamber adjacent to the output end of the inlet element for filtering the magnetically labelled cells from the fluid while allowing unlabelled cells to pass through when a magnetic filed is applied thereto, and containing a multiplicity of magnetic matrix elements extending transversely across the filter chamber;
• and
• (d) an outlet element for collecting the fluid which passes through the filter chamber having an input end coupled to the filter chamber and an output end, wherein the magnetic matrix elements are ordered and spaced apart so as to maximize the capture of magnetically labelled materials when a magnetic filed is applied;
• and wherein the housing is generally tubular and comprises a heat shrink material which has been heat shrunk onto the magnetic matrix elements whereby the magnetic matrix elements are embedded at their peripheries in the housing.