# US 9,518,903 B2 · Adapter for sliding magnetic particle separation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,903 B2 - Document ID: US9518903B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/595,926 - Filed: 2015-01-13 - Published: 2016-07-14 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-13 - Assignees: Gilson, Inc. - Applicants: Gilson, Inc. - Inventors: Kevin Fawcett; Gregory J. Robinson; David John Guckenberger; Scott Berry; David J. Beebe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518903B2 ## CPC - G01N 1/4077: {by other techniques involving separation of suspended solids} - G01N 35/0098: {involving analyte bound to insoluble magnetic carrier, e.g. using magnetic separation (magnetic particles used in immunoassays G01N33/54326; magnetic separation in general B03C)} - G01N 35/00029: {provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides (G01N35/028 takes precedence)} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract An adapter for a sliding head of a sample processing system is provided that includes a plate and a magnet mounting recess wall. The plate includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a front wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a back wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The magnet mounting recess wall is mounted to the top surface. The magnet mounting recess wall is configured to accommodate a magnet of a sliding head of a sample processing system. At least a portion of the bottom surface is curved in a first direction from the front wall to the back wall and is concave relative to the top surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adapter for a sliding head of a sample processing system, the adapter comprising: a plate comprising a top surface; a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface is curved in a first direction from the front wall to the back wall and is concave relative to the top surface; a front wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; and a back wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; and a magnet mounting recess wall mounted to the top surface, wherein the magnet mounting recess wall is configured to accommodate a magnet of a sliding head of a sample processing system, wherein the bottom surface further comprises a ridge mounted to extend from the bottom surface in a second direction opposite the top surface, wherein the ridge is curved in the first direction from the front wall to the back wall and is concave relative to the top surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adapter of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of magnet mounting recess walls mounted to the top surface, wherein the magnet mounting recess wall is one of the plurality of magnet mounting recess walls, wherein each magnet mounting recess wall of the plurality of magnet mounting recess walls is configured to accommodate a corresponding magnet of a plurality of magnets of the sliding head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The adapter of claim 2, wherein the plurality of magnet mounting recess walls defines a plurality of magnet mounting recesses and the plurality of magnet mounting recesses is arranged in a row between the front wall and the back wall and extending lengthwise along the front wall. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The adapter of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of parallel ridges, wherein the ridge is one of the plurality of parallel ridges, wherein each ridge of the plurality of parallel ridges is mounted to extend from the bottom surface in the second direction, wherein each ridge of the plurality of parallel ridges is curved in the first direction and is concave relative to the top surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The adapter of claim 4, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the front wall and the back wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The adapter of claim 1, wherein the magnet mounting recess wall defines a magnet mounting recess and the ridge is positioned under the magnet mounting recess. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The adapter of claim 1, wherein the magnet mounting recess wall defines a magnet mounting recess and the ridge is not positioned under the magnet mounting recess. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The adapter of claim 1, wherein the ridge extends along the bottom surface from the front wall to the back wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The adapter of claim 8, wherein a width of the ridge is smaller than a width of a magnet mounting recess defined by the magnet mounting recess wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The adapter of claim 1, wherein a radius of curvature of the portion of the bottom surface curved in the first direction is between 0.4 and 0.7 inches. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The adapter of claim 1, wherein a radius of curvature of the ridge curved in the first direction is between 0.4 and 0.7 inches. ### Claim 12 An adapter for a sliding head of a sample processing system, the adapter comprising: a plate comprising a top surface; a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface is curved in a first direction from the front wall to the back wall and is concave relative to the top surface; a front wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; and a back wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; and a magnet mounting recess wall mounted to the top surface, wherein the magnet mounting recess wall is configured to accommodate a magnet of a sliding head of a sample processing system, the adapter further comprising a rigid member receiving wall mounted to the top surface, wherein a tab is mounted to an outer surface of the rigid member receiving wall and extends outward from the outer surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The adapter of claim 12, wherein the rigid member receiving wall further comprises a plurality of tabs, wherein the tab is one of the plurality of tabs, wherein each tab of the plurality of tabs is mounted to the outer surface of the rigid member receiving wall and extends outward from the outer surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The adapter of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of rigid member receiving walls, wherein the rigid member receiving wall is one of the plurality of rigid member receiving walls, wherein each rigid member receiving wall of the plurality of rigid member receiving walls is mounted to the top surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The adapter of claim 12, wherein the rigid member receiving wall extends from the top surface in a third direction opposite the bottom surface. ### Claim 16 A sliding head of a sample processing system, the sliding head comprising: a housing comprising a base; a magnet mounted in the housing to extend through the base; and an adapter mounted to the base of the housing, the adapter comprising a plate comprising a top surface; a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface is curved in a first direction from the front wall to the back wall and is concave relative to the top surface; a front wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; and a back wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; and a magnet mounting recess wall mounted to the top surface, wherein the magnet mounting recess wall is configured to accommodate the magnet, wherein the adapter further comprises a projection mounted to the top surface to extend from the top surface in a third direction opposite the bottom surface, the projection comprising an outer surface and a tab mounted to extend outward from the outer surface, wherein the base comprises a groove formed in a side wall of a recess formed in the base, wherein the groove is configured to receive the tab when the adapter is mounted to the base. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sliding head of claim 16, wherein the projection is mounted to the magnet mounting recess wall. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The sliding head of claim 16, further comprising a rigid member mounted in the housing to be extendable through the base, wherein the adapter further comprises a rigid member receiving recess wall mounted to the top surface, wherein the rigid member receiving recess wall is configured to accommodate the rigid member, wherein the rigid member is mounted to allow movement in the first direction to eject the adapter from the base. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A sliding head of a sample processing system, the sliding head comprising: a housing comprising a base; a magnet mounted in the housing to extend through the base; and the adapter of claim 1 mounted to the base of the housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The sliding head of claim 16, wherein the bottom surface of the adapter further comprises a ridge mounted to extend from the bottom surface in a second direction opposite the top surface, wherein the ridge is curved in the first direction from the front wall to the back wall and is concave relative to the top surface.