Patent ID: 6312910
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: C07K

Abstract:
A method for quantitatively separating cells, proteins or other particles, and collecting at least some of said particles in a band using a multistage electromagnetic separator including a series of dipole, quadrupole or ring magnets, stacked along an upper cavity of an upper plate in rotational alignment with a lower plate including at least one sample container containing particles in a fluid in sealed fluid communication and cooperatively engaging said upper plate; comprising the steps of: activating at least one magnet providing a selection of field strengths in sequence, lowest field strength first, forming an electric field to accelerate said particles susceptible to said selected field strength upward until they reach an unstable point as defined by Earnshaw's theorem defining migrating particles, at which time a first field is switched off and a second field is switched on to continue the upward capture process without sticking said migrating particles to the wall by magnetophoresis.