# US 9,752,968 B2 · Rotating shielded magnetic actuator

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- Number: US 9,752,968 B2
- Document ID: US9752968B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/132,823
- Filed: 2013-12-18
- Published: 2014-06-26
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-21
- Assignees: Luminex Corporation
- Applicants: Luminex Corporation
- Inventors: Eric Smith; Adam Schilffarth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752968B2

## CPC

- G01N 1/4044: {by chemical techniques; Digestion; Chemical decomposition}
- B01L 3/5085: {for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates}
- B03C 1/0332: {using permanent magnets}
- B03C 1/288: {disposed at the outer circumference of a recipient}
- B01L 2200/0668: Trapping microscopic beads
- B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
- B01L 2300/0851: Bottom walls
- B03C 2201/18: Magnetic separation whereby the particles are suspended in a liquid
- B03C 2201/26: for use in medical or biological applications
- Y10T 436/25375: Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
- 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)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B03C: MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS (separating isotopes B01D59/00; combinations of magnetic or electrostatic separation with separation of solids by other means B03B, B07B)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Systems configured to isolate particles in a fluid assay are disclosed. Methods for collecting a sample of magnetic particles from a liquid are also disclosed. In certain embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods include a magnetic actuator coupled to a chassis, where the magnetic actuator comprises at least one shielded rotatable magnet.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system configured to isolate particles in a fluid assay comprising:
a chassis;
a magnetic actuator coupled to the chassis, the magnetic actuator having rotatable shielded magnets, wherein each of the rotatable shielded magnets comprises:
a top surface;
a bottom surface; and
a shield, wherein the shield covers the bottom surface and is directly coupled to the rotatable shielded magnet;
a tub coupled to the chassis; and
a well plate coupled to the tub and comprising a plurality of wells arranged in columns and rows;
where the tub is configured to support the well plate such that each shielded magnet is adjacent to at least one column of wells.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 where:
a rotatable shielded magnet is configured to rotate from a first position to a second position;
the rotatable shielded magnet exerts a first magnetic field on the well plate in the first position;
the rotatable shielded magnet exerts a second magnetic field on the well plate in the second position; and
the first magnetic field is greater than the second magnetic field.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2 where:
at least one well comprises a plurality of magnetic microspheres;
the first magnetic field is sufficient to move the plurality of magnetic microspheres; and
the second magnetic field is not sufficient to move the plurality of magnetic microspheres.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, where each rotatable shielded magnet is adjacent to two columns of wells.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, where:
each rotatable shielded magnet comprises a permanent magnet;
the shield is coupled to and covers a portion of the permanent magnet; and
each rotatable shielded magnet has a thickness, a length, and an axis of rotation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5 where the axis of rotation is an eccentric axis of rotation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, where the shield comprises a magnetic permeable material, the permanent magnet comprises a rare earth material, and the permanent magnet is magnetized through its thickness.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising an agitator motor and a link coupled to the tub, where the agitator motor and the link are configured to agitate the tub and the well plate during operation.