Patent ID: 6231760
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: B03C

Abstract:
An apparatus for mixing magnetic particles in, and separating magnetic particles from a liquid medium, the apparatus comprising:a magnetically permeable container having a wall or walls containing a liquid medium;a quantity of magnetic particles located in the liquid medium in said container;a magnet disposed outside the wall or walls of said container generating a magnetic field gradient inside the container in a portion of the liquid medium, defining a magnetic field cavity in the liquid medium;means for continuously changing the relative angular position between said magnetic particles in said container and said magnet causing movement of said magnetic particles throughout the magnetic field cavity in the liquid medium; andmeans for moving said magnet, concurrently with continuously changing the relative angular position between said magnetic particles in said container and said magnet, along the outside wall or walls of said container from one end of the liquid medium in said container to the other, causing the magnetic field cavity to move from one end of the liquid medium in said container to the other, while said magnetic particles are moving throughout the magnetic field cavity.