Patent ID: 8268177

Claim:
A microfluidic separation system, comprising: a magnetic separator, comprising: a. a magnetic energy source; b. first and second magnetically conductive members leading from the magnetic energy source and having respective terminal ends; and c. the terminal ends of the first and second members being separated by a gap over which a magnetic field is applied due to the magnetic energy source, the magnetic field decreasing from the terminal ends towards an area of minimum field between the terminal ends; and a microfluidic chip for insertion into the gap, comprising: a. a body defining a plurality of channels on respective faces of the body; and b. an exterior lining that seals the plurality of channels to allow separate test sample volumes to circulate in at least two of the channels; wherein upon insertion of the microfluidic chip into the gap, the area of minimum field is positioned between, and offset from, a first channel on a first face of the body and a second channel on a second face of the body, and a first one of the test sample volumes in the first channel is confined to circulating closer to the terminal end of the first member and a second one of the test sample volumes in the second channel is confined to circulating closer to the terminal end of the second member.