Patent ID: 8349274

Claim:
A microfluidic device comprising: a plurality of chambers adapted for performing chemical, biochemical, or physical processes; a flow path connecting the plurality of chambers adapted for accommodating at least one magnetic particle sequentially moving through the plurality of chambers; the plurality of chambers being separated by at least one valve-like structure adapted to enable passing-through of the at least one magnetic particle from one of the plurality of chambers to another one of the plurality of chambers; and at least one delaying structure adapted to delay movement of the at least one magnetic particle along the flow path by stopping in a controlled manner the movement of the at least one magnetic particle and by controllably releasing the at least one magnetic particle again, wherein stopping and releasing is performed by changing a magnetic field, wherein the delaying structure comprises a geometrical structure and is adapted such that the at least one magnetic particle is moved against the geometrical structure by application of the magnetic field, and wherein the flow path is structured such that a direction of movement from a first of the plurality of chambers to a subsequent second of the plurality of chambers is in a first direction and a direction of movement from the second of the plurality of chambers to a subsequent third of the plurality of chambers is in a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being different and not parallel to each other.