Patent ID: 7981696

Claim:
A microfluidic platform for selectively manipulating magnetic particles, said microfluidic platform comprising: a membrane; at least one selectively generateable magnetic field; and a plurality of spin valve magnetic traps attached to the membrane, the plurality of spin valve magnetic traps each configured to produce a local magnetic field when temporarily subjected to a magnetic field of sufficient strength to change the magnetization state of the spin valve trap between off and on states, said produced local magnetic field being capable of attracting and indefinitely retaining magnetic particles proximate the spin valve magnetic traps, said plurality of spin valve magnetic traps further being selectively switchable between the on state, in which the local magnetic fields are produced and the magnetic particles are magnetically attracted and retained proximate the spin valve magnetic traps, and an off state, in which no local magnetic fields are produced and the magnetic particles are not attracted or retained proximate the spin valve magnetic traps, and wherein the on state is further characterized by the persistence of the local magnetic field after the at least one selectively generateable magnetic field is discontinued.