Method and apparatus for separation of magnetically responsive spheres

An apparatus for separating a first population of magnetically responsive particles from a second population of magnetically responsive particles in a fluid, said second population of magnetically responsive particles including said first population of magnetically responsive particles and a third population of at least some other magnetically responsive particles, comprising:

• a container having a first portion and a second portion, said container receiving and containing said fluid and including said first population of magnetically responsive particles and said third population of at least some other magnetically responsive particles;
• a control magnet proximate to said first portion of said container, said control magnet effecting a removable control magnetic field to retain said second population of magnetically responsive particles in said first portion of said container;
• a controllable magnetic field proximate to said container, said controllable magnetic field being controllable to deliver at least one of a magnetic impulse and a magnetic field to said second population of magnetically responsive particles;
• and
• at least one concentrator magnet disposed proximate to said second portion of said container, said at least one concentrator magnet effecting a concentrator magnetic field to attract and retain one of said first population of magnetically responsive particles and a third population of at least some other magnetically responsive particles in said second portion of said container.

A method of separating at least one homogeneous population of magnetically responsive bead aggregations from a non-homogeneous population of magnetically responsive beads including said at least one homogeneous population of magnetically responsive bead aggregations and other magnetically responsive beads admixed in a fluid in a container having a first portion and a second portion, said method comprising the steps of:

• controlling said non-homogeneous population of magnetically responsive beads admixed in said fluid using a control magnetic field to retain said non-homogeneous population of magnetically responsive beads in said first portion of said container;
• removing said control magnetic field;
• generating an electromagnetic impulse to excite and disperse said non-homogeneous population of magnetically responsive beads admixed in said fluid to effect an initial separation of said non-homogeneous population of magnetically responsive beads and to effect a first rate of motion of said at least one homogeneous population of magnetically responsive beads and at least a second rate of motion of said other magnetically responsive beads, in a first direction away from said first portion of said container and toward said second portion of said container, and applying a magnetic field to said non-homogeneous population of magnetically responsive beads co-linear with said first direction to effect a third rate of motion of said other magnetically responsive beads and a fourth rate of motion of said at least one homogeneous population of magnetically responsive bead aggregations.