Magnetic system for particle attraction in a plurality of chambers
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorMikhail Ovsyanko
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Abstract
The invention relates to a magnetic sample-processing device, particularly a sensor device (100), that comprises two electromagnets (110, 120) for generating a magnetic field (B) in a first and a second sample chamber (SC1, SC2) located adjacent to each other in an x-direction. The poles of the electromagnets are disposed below the first and the second sample chamber (SC1, SC2), respectively, next to each other in a perpendicular y-direction. Moreover, the electromagnets are individually controlled by a control unit (130). In a preferred embodiment, the distance between the electromagnets (110, 120) in x-direction is so large that magnetic cross talk can be neglected. In another embodiment, said distance is close, and the electromagnets are operated in a synchronized way.
Claims12
A sample-processing device with means for generating a magnetic field (B) in a first and a second sample chamber (SC1, SC2) that are located adjacent to each other in an x-direction and have a bottom extending in said x-direction and in a y-direction which is substantially perpendicular to the x-direction, comprising:
- a) a first electromagnet with a core having a horse-shoe shape and with a first pair of poles (111, 111′, 211, 211′) that can be disposed below the first sample chamber (SC1) next to each other in said y-direction;
- b) a second electromagnet with a second pair of poles (121, 121′, 221, 221′) that can be disposed below the second sample chamber (SC2) next to each other in the y-direction;
- c) a control unit for controlling the first and the second electromagnet individually.
A method for processing a sample with a sample-processing device in a first and a second sample chamber (SC1, SC2) that are located adjacent to each other in an x-direction and have a bottom extending in said x-direction and in a y-direction which is substantially perpendicular to the x-direction, comprising:
- a) disposing below the first sample chamber (SC1) a first electromagnet with a core having a horse-shoe shape and with a first pair of poles (111, 111′, 211, 211′) which are arranged next to each other in said y-direction;
- b) disposing below the second sample chamber (SC2) a second electromagnet with a second pair of poles (121, 121′, 221, 221′) that are arranged next to each other in the y-direction;
- c) controlling the first and the second electromagnet individually to generate a magnetic field (B) in the first and/or the second sample chamber (SC1, SC2) such that neighboring poles (211, 221;
- 211′,221′) of different electromagnet have in average opposite polarity for a predetermined percentage of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.