6653results about "Magnetic separation" patented technology

Peer-to-peer redundant file server system and methods include clients that determine a target storage provider to contact for a particular storage transaction based on a pathname provided by the filesystem and a predetermined scheme such as a hash function applied to a portion of the pathname. Servers use the same scheme to determine where to store relevant file information so that the clients can locate the file information. The target storage provider may store the file itself and/or may store metadata that identifies one or more other storage providers where the file is stored. A file may be replicated in multiple storage providers, and the metadata may include a list of storage providers from which the clients can select (e.g., randomly) in order to access the file.

This invention relates generally to the field of moiety or molecule manipulation in a chip format. In particular, the invention provides a method for manipulating a moiety in a microfluidic application, which method comprises: a) coupling a moiety to be manipulated onto surface of a binding partner of said moiety to form a moiety-binding partner complex; and b) manipulating said moiety-binding partner complex with a physical force in a chip format, wherein said manipulation is effected through a combination of a structure that is external to said chip and a structure that is built-in in said chip, thereby said moiety is manipulated.

This invention relates to methods for reducing the presence of a compound in an ionically conductive material, e.g., for use in iontophoretic devices, wherein the presence of the compound interferes with detecting a selected analyte. Removal of the compound can typically take place either during or after the manufacture of the ionically conductive material or an assembly comprising this material. Also disclosed are methods for generating selectively permeable barriers on the reactive faces of electrodes. Further, this invention relates to hydrogels comprising one or more biocides, as well as assemblies containing such hydrogels.

Methods of utilizing magnetic particles or beads (MBs) in droplet-based (or digital) microfluidics are disclosed. The methods may be used in enrichment or separation processes. A first method employs the droplet meniscus to assist in the magnetic collection and positioning of MBs during droplet microfluidic operations. The sweeping movement of the meniscus lifts the MBs off the solid surface and frees them from various surface forces acting on the MBs. A second method uses chemical additives to reduce the adhesion of MBs to surfaces. Both methods allow the MBs on a solid surface to be effectively moved by magnetic force. Droplets may be driven by various methods or techniques including, for example, electrowetting, electrostatic, electromechanical, electrophoretic, dielectrophoretic, electroosmotic, thermocapillary, surface acoustic, and pressure.

The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

A fluid separation and delivery apparatus and method are provided for filtering a fluid from a source and delivering a filtrate derived therefrom to a first destination, and delivering a decantate derived therefrom to a second destination. The fluid separation and delivery apparatus for the method comprises a filter device having an inlet port for connecting to a fluid source, a first outlet port for directing filtrate to a first destination, and a second outlet port for directing decantate to a second destination; an inlet pump connected between the inlet port of the filter device and the fluid source for pumping fluid at a flow rate of Q_in into the filter device; and an outlet pump connected between the second outlet port of the filter device and the second destination for pumping fluid at a flow rate of Q_out out of the filter device to the second destination. The outlet pump and the inlet pump are sized and controlled so that Q_out is less than Q_in, and so that the resulting flow rate of filtrate Q_r from the filter device through the first outlet port to the first destination is equal to Q_in−Q_out.

A laboratory automation system that is capable of carrying out clinical chemistry assays, immunoassays, amplification of nucleic acid assays, and any combination of the foregoing, said laboratory automation system employing at least one of micro-well plates and deep multi-well plates as reaction vessels. The use of micro-well plates as reaction vessels enables the laboratory automation system to assume a variety of arrangements, i.e., the laboratory automation system can comprise a variety of functional modules that can be arranged in various ways. In order to effectively carry out immunoassays by means of micro-well plates, a technique known as inverse magnetic particle processing can be used to transfer the product(s) of immunoassays from one micro-well of a micro-well plate to another.

The invention relates to a device, system and method a method for applying a certain Quality of Service (QoS) to a data stream (31a–31c, 32a–32b, 33a) of an application (31–33) communicating data over a sockets connection. The method comprises providing a uniquely identifiable identifier (UID, Stream Type) the application (31–33) or to the data stream (31a–31c, 32a–32b, 33a) from or to the application, and associating said identifier (UID, Stream Type) with a particular QoS in order to apply the particular QoS to the particular application (31–33) or to the particular data stream (31a–31c, 32a–32b, 33a), which application or data stream is identified by the identifier.

Methods and systems are disclosed for delivering personalized content from a first server such as a merchant Web server to a computer accessing a second server such as an affiliate Web server. A system according to the present invention includes a merchant Web server and an affiliate Web server, the affiliate Web server being coupled to the merchant Web server over a computer network. A database of user information is accessible to the merchant Web server, as is a rule base that includes a plurality of configurable rules. User identification may be collected from the computer accessing a Web site controlled by the affiliate Web server and the collected user identification may be sent to the merchant Web server, along with a request for content. User information corresponding to the collected user identification may then be retrieved from the database. The user information obtained from the database may be applied to the plurality of rules and selected content may be returned to the affiliate Web server in response to the request for content. The returned content is selected based upon the result of the application of the user information to the plurality of rules.

A highly sensitive assay is disclosed which combines immunomagnetic enrichment with multiparameter flow cytometric and immunocytochemical analysis to detect, enumerate and characterize carcinoma cells in the blood. The assay can detect one epithelial cell or less in 1 ml of blood and has a greater sensitivity than conventional PCR or immunohistochemistry by 1-2 orders of magnitude. In addition, the assay facilitates the biological characterization and staging of carcinoma cells.

An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations, or modules, in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a specimen sample, incubating the sample at prescribed temperatures for prescribed periods, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, and ascertaining the presence of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the reaction receptacles from one station to the next. The analyzer further includes devices for carrying a plurality of specimen tubes and disposable pipette tips in a machine-accessible manner, a device for agitating containers of target capture reagents comprising suspensions of solid support material and for presenting the containers for machine access thereto, and a device for holding containers of reagents in a temperature controlled environment and presenting the containers for machine access thereto. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte. The process is performed by automatically moving each of a plurality of reaction receptacles containing a solid support material and a fluid sample between stations for incubating the contents of the reaction receptacle and for separating the target analyte bound to the solid support from the fluid sample. An amplification reagent is added to the separated analyte after the analyte separation step and before a final incubation step.

A detecting device for biochemical detections is provided. The detecting device includes a first substrate, a magnetic layer located on the first substrate, an isolation layer located on the magnetic layer, at least a first electrode located on the isolation layer, a first dielectric layer located on the first electrode, a first hydrophobic layer located on the first dielectric layer, a second substrate, at least a second electrode located on the second substrate and having a cathode and an anode, a second dielectric layer located on the second electrode and a second hydrophobic layer located on the second dielectric layer. The first electrode is zigzag-shaped, and the cathode and the anode of the second electrode are comb-shaped and interlaced with each other.

Methods are provided for aligning carbon nanotubes and for making a composite material comprising aligned carbon nanotubes. The method for aligning carbon nanotubes comprises adsorbing magnetic nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes dispersed in a fluid medium to form a magnetic particle-carbon nanotube composite in the fluid medium; and exposing the composite to a magnetic field effective to align the nanotubes in the fluid medium. The method for making a composite material comprising aligned carbon nanotubes comprises (1) adsorbing magnetic nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes to form a magnetic particle-carbon nanotube composite; (2) dispersing the magnetic particle-carbon nanotube composite in a fluid matrix material to form a mixture; (3) exposing the mixture to a magnetic field effective to align the nanotubes in the mixture; and (4) solidifying the fluid matrix material to form a nanotube/matrix material composite comprising the aligned nanotubes which remain aligned in the absence of said magnetic field.

The present invention provides an apparatus for purifying nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA or proteins such as enzymes and antibodies from microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria or animal and plant tissues, the apparatus being capable of fast processing of a plurality of samples. More specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus for purifying nucleic acids or proteins using magnetically attractable particles, the apparatus comprising a plurality of piston pumps; a plurality of nozzles capable of having a plurality of disposable tips which are automatically attachable/detachable; and a mechanism which is capable of dispensing a desired amount of a reagent to be used subsequently in the next step into the same number of sections as that of the samples with high accuracy and at a high rate, while a mixture of a sample and a reagent are being mixed (stirred) by the pumps and nozzles, the apparatus being capable of rapidly processing a plurality of samples, wherein a series of steps from mixing (stirring) of the magnetically attractable particles and concentration of the sample to purification is automated with reduced wastes.

A fluid control and processing system for controlling fluid flow among a plurality of chambers comprises a body including a fluid processing region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid displacement region. The fluid displacement region is depressurizable to draw fluid into the fluid displacement region and pressurizable to expel fluid from the fluid displacement region. The body includes at least one external port. The fluid processing region is fluidicly coupled with the at least one external port. The fluid displacement region is fluidicly coupled with at least one external port of the body. The body is adjustable with respect to the plurality of chambers to place the at least one external port selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers. One or more of the chambers may be a processing chamber which includes two ports configured to selectively engage the at least one external port of the body, and a fluid processing material such as an enrichment material or a depletion material. In some embodiments, one or more chambers may include a separation channel, and an electric field may be applied across the separation channel.

A microfluidic device for separating target components from a source fluid includes one or more source channels connected to one or more collection channels by one or more transfer channels. The target components of the source fluid can be magnetic or bound to magnetic particles using a know binding agent. A source fluid containing magnetically bound target components can be pumped through the source channel of the microfluidic device. A magnetic field gradient can be applied to the source fluid in the source channel causing the magnetically bound target components to migrate through the transfer channel into the collection channel. The collection channel can include a collection fluid that is stagnant until a predefined volume of source fluid is processed or a predefined volume of target components accumulate in the collection channel, at which point collection fluid can be pumped into the collection channel to flush the target components out of the collection channel. The target components can be subsequently analyzed for detection and diagnosis.

A miniaturized, integrated, microfluidic device pulls materials bound to magnetic particles from one laminar flow path to another by applying a local magnetic field gradient. The device removes microbial and mammalian cells from flowing biological fluids without any wash steps. A microfabricated high-gradient magnetic field concentrator (HGMC) is integrated at one side of a microfluidic channel. When magnetic particles are introduced into one flow path, they remain limited to that flow path. When the HGMC is magnetized, the magnetic beads are pulled from the initial flow path into the collection stream, thereby cleansing the fluid. The microdevice allows large numbers of beads and materials to be sorted simultaneously, has no capacity limit, does not lose separation efficiency as particles are removed, and is useful for cell separations from blood and other biological fluids. This on-chip separator allows cell separations to be performed in the field outside of hospitals and laboratories.

The present invention relates to bead incubating and washing on a droplet actuator. Methods for incubating magnetically responsive beads that are labeled with primary antibody, a sample (i.e., analyte), and secondary reporter antibodies on a magnet, on and off a magnet, and completely off a magnet are provided. Also provided are methods for washing magnetically responsive beads using shape-assisted merging of droplets. Also provided are methods for shape-mediated splitting, transporting, and dispensing of a sample droplet that contains magnetically responsive beads. The apparatuses and methods of the invention provide for rapid time to result and optimum detection of an analyte in an immunoassay.

A method for removing a solute from a fluid using magnetically conditioned coagulation includes magnetically conditioning the fluid by applying a conditioning magnetic field to enhance the precipitation of solute particles for coagulation; adding a coagulant to the fluid before, during, or after application of the conditioning magnetic field to coagulate the increased available solute particles to form colloids; and collecting the colloids for removal from the fluid.

The present invention provides a device and methods of use thereof in microscale cell sorting. This invention provides sorting cytometers, which trap individual cells within vessels following exposure to dielectrophoresis, allow for the assaying of trapped cells, such that a population is identified whose isolation is desired, and their isolation.

An automated system for sorting dissimilar materials, and in particular for sorting plastics from other materials and for sorting different types of plastics from one another comprises, depending upon the embodiment, combinations of a sizing mechanism, a friction separation, an air separator, a magnetic separator, a dielectric sensor sortation bed, shaker screening, a ballistic separator, an inductive sensor sortation system and a float/sink tank. The dielectric sensor sortation system may be either analog or digital, depending upon the particular implementation. One or more float/sink tanks can be used, depending upon the embodiment, each with a media of a different specific gravity. The media may be water, or water plus a compound such as calcium chloride. In addition, multiples of the same general type of module can be used for particular configurations. A heavy media system or a sand float process can be used either alternatively or additionally.

A process for leaching a value metal from a base metal sulfide ore, comprising the step of leaching the ore with a lixiviant comprising a chloride, an oxidant and hydrochloric acid is disclosed. The leaching is controlled, by use of low concentrations of hydrochloric acid and a redox potential, to effect formation of hydrogen sulfide from the base metal sulfide ore. The hydrogen sulfide is stripped from the leach solution, thereby reducing the amount of sulfate generated in the leach to very low levels. The leaching may also be conducted to limit the co-dissolution of platinum group metals and gold with the base value metals. The leach forms a value metal-rich leachate and a solids residue. The solids residue may be subsequently leached to recover the platinum group metals and gold. The value metal-rich leachate can be is oxidized and neutralized to recover the value base metals. In an embodiment, the chloride is magnesium chloride and lixiviant solution is regenerated.

An air purifier for removing particles from air and providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance includes a housing having an air inlet, an air outlet and an airflow path therethrough. An air filter is mounted within the housing in the airflow path and a motor is mounted within the housing. The motor includes a motor shaft and a fan is mounted to the motor shaft for urging air into the air inlet, through the airflow path and out of the air outlet. An air cowl is removably mounted to the housing. The air cowl includes a peripheral edge. The air inlet or the air outlet is defined between the peripheral edge and the housing. A method of operating the air purifier with the inlet or outlet formed between the peripheral edge and the housing is also disclosed.

This is a method of filtration of a liquid comprising steps of sequential filtration of said liquid through at least one deep bed medium producing at least one first filtrate followed by at least one membrane medium filtration producing at least one second filtrate, wherein said membrane medium is at least periodically within said deep bed media Many types of deep bed and membrane media can be used. The domain of using contact clarification (direct filtration) can be expanded towards greater solids concentration. Operation and backwash, is simplified, continuous filtration becomes possible. Water can be water from natural source water, process water, wastewater, aqueous or non-aqueous suspensions, emulsions, solutions. Treatment can include mechanical interception of suspended particles, chemical, physical chemical, electrochemical, and biological processes. In water and wastewater processing, control over suspended solids, BOD, COD, nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, bacteria and viruses, heavy metals, color, and other constituents can be dramatically improved as compared to conventional processes. The method can be accommodated in new and modified existing treatment systems.

Devices and methods for performing dielectrophoresis are described. The devices contain a sample channel which is separated by physical barriers from electrode channels which receive electrodes. The devices and methods may be used for the separation and analysis of particles in solution, including the separation and isolation of cells of a specific type. As the electrodes do not make contact with the sample, electrode fouling is avoided and sample integrity is better maintained.

The invention discloses a benefication method for recovering specularite. The method comprises the processes of primary grinding, grading, primary low intensity magnetic separation, and tailings discarding by primary high intensity magnetic separation; rough concentrate pre-classification by the primary low intensity magnetic separation and the primary high intensity magnetic separation, secondary grinding, secondary low intensity magnetic separation to obtain concentrates, secondary high intensity magnetic separation to obtain concentrates; and selective flocculation desliming secondary conducted on high intensity magnetic separation tailings (middlings), and anionic reverse flotation. The method further comprises the step of arranging a cylindrical slag separating sieve before the primary high intensity magnetic separation. With the advantages that the iron concentrate grade and the iron recovery are high, the loss of granular iron minerals is low, the mineral process flow is short, concentrates and tailings can be obtained in advance and the energy consumption of the benefication is low, the invention can be used not only for selecting specularite ores, but also for selecting weakly magnetic iron minerals, such as hematite, goethite, siderite, limonite, and the like.

An apparatus for separating magnetic particles from a liquid which contains said particles, said liquid being contained in an elongated vessel (11) having a length axis (12), said vessel being arranged in a vessel holder (13) with its length axis (12) in a substantially vertical position, said vessel (11) having a bottom and a tapered cross-section that diminishes towards the bottom of the vessel and a side wall (14) which has an outer surface which forms an angle with the length axis (12) of said vessel (11). This apparatus comprises a magnet (15) having a plane outer surface (16) and being adapted for being moved by transport means (17) along a motion path (25), said magnet (15) and said transport means (17) being so arranged with respect to said vessel (11) that over a portion of said motion path (25) said plane outer surface (16) of said magnet is in contact with a portion of said outer surface of said side wall (14) of said vessel (11), and transport means (17) for moving said magnet (15) between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position along said motion path (25).

The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating blood into components, may be expanded to include other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for extracting non-polar lipids from microalgae are achieved using a lipid extraction device having an anode and a cathode that forms a channel and defines a fluid flow path through which an aqueous slurry is passed. An electromotive force is applied across the channel at a gap distance in a range from 0.5 mm to 200 mm to cause the non-polar lipids to be released from the algae cells. The non-polar lipids can be extracted at a high throughput rate and with low concentrations of polar lipids such as phospholipids and chlorophyll.

The invention discloses a preselecting method of low-grade magnetic iron ore, comprising the steps of crushing the raw ore of the magnetic iron ore by coarse crushing, intermediate crushing and fine crushing operations, conveying to subject to ultra-fine crushing operation, and then crushing by a high-pressure roller mill, scattering the crushed product by a wet cylindrical sieve, conveying the ore on the cylindrical sieve to the vibrating sieve by a belt to perform wet gradation, conveying the ore on the vibrating sieve to a dry magnetic separator by the belt to discard the waste, returning the ore concentrate of the dry magnetic separator to the high-pressure roller mill to crush the ore concentrate again, perform magnetic separation and discarding tailings of the ore concentrate below the vibrating sieve and the ore concentrate below the cylindrical sieve in a wet coarse grain intermediate-field intensity magnetic separator, and selecting the coarse ore concentrate of the intermediate-field intensity magnetic separator by a grinding separation technology. The invention has the advantages that the invention selects quantities of qualified mine tailings by wet magnetic separation before grinding ore, reduces ore grinding work, reduces ore grinding energy consumption and has high system processing capacity; the invention can be widely used in magnetic ore dressing plant, and in particular suitable for treatment of preselecting low-grade magnetic iron ore with the iron grade lower than or equal to 22%.