Patent ID: 7384559

Claim:
A device for treating magnetizable or magnetically attractable particles which are present in a liquid, comprising: a holder for holding at least one reaction vessel with the liquid containing the particles; at least two movably arranged permanent magnets; a drive unit for moving the permanent magnets; said permanent magnets being arranged in pairs and opposite to each other, and being movable linearly in a vertical direction relative to the level of said liquid in the at least one reaction vessel; the distance between the two permanent magnets of a pair being dimensioned or adjustable such that a reaction vessel of said at least one reaction vessel can be positioned therebetween; the movement of the permanent magnets taking place so that each permanent magnet of said paired arrangement being alternately brought from a first position or start position, in which said permanent magnet is at a distance from one vessel of the at least one reaction vessel and said permanent magnet having essentially no influence on the particles, to a second or other position (work position), in which said permanent magnet is located laterally next to the one reaction vessel and exerts a magnetic force on the particles, and with said two permanent magnets of said paired arrangement alternating with each other in taking over the above-mentioned first position or the above-mentioned second position, relative to the reaction vessel positioned between the magnets, and alternating between the said positions at a predetermined velocity and/or for a predetermined duration.