Patent ID: 6357907
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B01F,B01J,C40B

Abstract:
A system for mixing liquid and/or solid contents of an array of vessels, comprisingmeans for receiving the array of vessels; magnetic stirrers disposed within respective vessels of the array; and means disposed in relation to the receiving means for subjecting the received array of vessels to a magnetic field that causes magnetic stirrers within respective vessels of the array to levitate at variable levels within the contents of said respective vessels, whereby the contents of said respective vessels are mixed by said variable-level levitations of the magnetic stirrers therein; wherein the subjecting means comprise a circular array of a plurality of pairs of separated magnetic poles, wherein each pair is disposed for focusing a magnetic field within a space between the respective pair of poles; and a carousel for moving the received array of vessels through the respective spaces between the respective pairs of poles to thereby levitate the magnetic stirrers when the respective vessels are within said respective spaces; and wherein the magnetic stirrers are stir balls.