Patent ID: 8430247

Claim:
A device for handling magnetic microparticles that bind a desired component from a sample, comprising: (a) magnetic microparticles ( 22 ) selected from the group consisting of: ferromagnetic, paramagnetic or superparamagnetic particles, wherein the magnetic particles bind a desired component selected from the group consisting of: a nucleic acid, a protein, a peptide, a cell organelle, a bacterium, a cell, and a virus; (b) a vessel ( 26 ), wherein the vessel is a tube or a well; and (c) a magnetic tool ( 10 ), comprising a magnet ( 13 ), a protective shield ( 21 ) or coating, and a ferromagnetic sleeve ( 12 ), wherein the magnet ( 13 ) and the ferromagnetic sleeve ( 12 ) are each movable in relation to each other and wherein the magnetic field of the magnet ( 13 ) is increased when the magnet ( 13 ) is partly or completely outside the ferromagnetic sleeve ( 12 ).