Patent ID: 8247204

Claim:
A magnetic enrichment method comprising: (a) placing micro particles ( 22 ) that bind to a biological component, into a solution ( 23 ) comprising the biological component, in a reactor vessel ( 26 ); (b) allowing the micro particles ( 22 ) to bind to the biological component in the solution ( 23 ) in a closed reactor unit ( 60 ) under controlled conditions, wherein the closed reactor unit ( 60 ) comprises a magnetic unit ( 10 ) comprising at least one magnet ( 13 ), a ferromagnetic tube ( 12 ), and the reactor vessel ( 26 ), wherein conditions in the closed reactor unit ( 60 ) are controllable and wherein the at least one magnet ( 13 ) and the ferromagnetic tube ( 12 ) can each be moved in relation to each other in order to adjust the magnetic field strength of the at least one magnet; (c) using the magnetic unit ( 10 ) to collect the biological component bound to the micro articles ( 22 ) in the solution ( 23 ) in the closed reactor unit ( 60 ); and (d) enriching the biological component by releasing the component into another solution, wherein the micro particles are magnetic.