Patent ID: 8689982

Claim:
A device for separating magnetic particles from a liquid mixture thereof, the device comprising: a sample plate defining a plurality of wells for containing a liquid mixture comprised of a liquid and magnetic particles to be separated therefrom, a magnet head which is movable between raised and lowered positions relative to the wells of the sample plate, and a plurality of substantially parallel and individually separated permanent magnets each having an upper end fixed to the magnet head and a lower free end opposite to the upper end, the magnets being positioned relative to the sample plate so that each of the magnets is aligned with a respective one of the wells of the sample plate such that movement of the magnet head between the raised and lowered positions causes the lower free end of each magnet to be removed from and disposed within the respective one of the wells, respectively, wherein each of the magnets is capable of being introduced into the liquid mixture contained in a respective one of the wells when the magnet head is in the lowered position thereof to thereby separate the magnetic particles within each of the wells from the liquid and collect the separated magnetic particles at the lower free end of the magnet, and wherein at least some of the magnets are inversely oriented such that magnetic fields are fixed between adjacent ones of the magnets to thereby locally define collection of the magnetic particles at each magnet introduced into the liquid mixtures of the wells.