Reusable sheaths for separating magnetic particles
AssigneeAbbott Laboratories
InventorsDouglas M. Campbell, Gregory E. Gardner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly that utilizes reusable sheaths for covering magnetic rods for collecting particles in an inverse magnetic particle process. The magnetic rod is removed from the reusable sheath to release particles at the same or a different location. The reusable sheaths can be assembled in a cylindrical plate, which can be rotated to position a clean sheath for each step of the inverse magnetic particle process. When not being used for particle separation, the sheaths can be washed of potentially contaminating solution in wash receptacles.
Claims23
An apparatus comprising:
- a post having a longitudinal axis;
- a retainer comprising a plate having a plurality of sheath apertures radially spaced from a center of the retainer and a post aperture to receive the post, wherein the retainer is rotatably coupled to the post and movable along the longitudinal axis of the post;
- and
- a plurality of sheaths removably disposed within the sheath apertures to depend from the retainer.
An apparatus comprising:
- a post having a longitudinal axis;
- a plate having a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and a third surface between the first major surface and the second major surface, the third surface having a plurality of teeth, the plate having a plurality of sheath apertures and a post aperture extending through the first and second major surfaces thereof, the post aperture to receive the post, wherein the plate is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the post and movable along the longitudinal axis of the post;
- and
- a plurality of sheaths having an open top end and a closed bottom end, the sheaths to be removably disposed within the sheath apertures to depend downwardly from the plate.
An apparatus comprising:
- a post having a longitudinal axis;
- a sheath retainer to hold a plurality of sheaths, the sheath retainer comprising a plate having a plurality of sheath apertures spaced radially on the plate and an aperture to receive the post;
- a plurality of sheaths to receive a magnetic rod, each of the sheaths having an open end and closed end, the sheaths removably disposed within the sheath apertures;
- a processing head to move the sheath retainer along the longitudinal axis of the post;
- and
- a drive to rotate the sheath retainer relative to the post, wherein the processing head and the drive are to move the sheath retainer between a first position where the closed end of a first sheath is disposed within a first container and a second position where the closed end of the first sheath is disposed within a second container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.