Patent ID: 8361316
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: B01F,B01L,B03C,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus constructed and arranged for mixing and separating magnetic particles in a liquid, the apparatus comprising: a holder having a plurality of apertures configured as an array of rows and columns; a plurality of containers, each container being sized to be placed in an aperture of the holder, each container being capable of receiving liquid containing magnetic particles; a first plurality and a second plurality of magnets and arranged relative to the containers so as to produce at least one magnetic field in each container, said magnets or containers being movable relative to each other between a first position and a second position so as to alternately subject the containers to magnetic fields from different sides thereby changing the relative angular position of the magnets and the magnetic particles in the containers; and a motor moving the magnets in a repetitive motion between first and second positions at a sufficiently high speed such that the magnetic particles do not significantly settle down due to gravitational forces during the motion between the first and second positions, wherein the alternate movement of the magnets firstly places the first plurality of magnets adjacent to a first side of a lateral wall of each container and secondly places the second plurality of magnets adjacent to a second side of the lateral wall of each container.