Magnetic Particle Separation Device with Segmented Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetic separation devices are not suitable for high-throughput applications due to high material consumption, error rates, and cross-contamination, and they struggle with producing a homogeneous magnetic field, especially when handling large numbers of samples.
Innovation Solution
A device with a magnetic circuit comprising two soft-magnetic limbs and a movable permanent magnet that can be activated or deactivated to produce a homogeneous magnetic field, allowing for efficient separation and transfer of magnetic particles between liquids, using a head piece with magnetizable bars and a screening material to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnetic particles are immobilized on the interior wall of the reaction vessel by a permanent magnet, then separation of magnetic particles from liquid is achieved, but high material consumption and error rates occur due to manual handling
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the reaction vessel into multiple separate chambers, each with its own permanent magnet for immobilizing magnetic particles. This segmentation allows simultaneous processing of multiple samples without cross-contamination, improving both reliability and productivity by enabling parallel operations while maintaining accurate separation in each chamber
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specialized reaction vessel design with integrated permanent magnets as intermediaries between the magnetic particles and the external control system. These magnets serve as fixed immobilization points that enable reliable particle separation while the vessel structure itself facilitates automated handling, reducing manual intervention errors
2Reliability
If a permanent magnet is used to immobilize magnetic particles, then separation is achieved, but cross-contamination occurs during liquid removal
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the system into separate chambers each with its own permanent magnet, the patent ensures that liquid removal from one sample does not affect other samples. The segmentation creates physical barriers that prevent cross-contamination while maintaining reliable separation in each isolated chamber
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multiple permanent magnets distributed across different chambers rather than a single magnet for the entire system. This partial distribution of magnetic immobilization functions to each chamber prevents cross-contamination during liquid handling while ensuring adequate separation purity in each individual sample
3Ease of operation
If movable permanent magnets are used in magnetic separation devices, then flexibility is improved, but homogeneous magnetic field production becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places permanent magnets at specific fixed locations within separate chambers, creating localized homogeneous magnetic fields in each chamber. This local optimization ensures that each chamber receives adequate magnetic field strength for particle immobilization while the overall system maintains flexibility through its modular chamber design
Solution Approach 2:
By distributing identical permanent magnets to each chamber at equivalent positions, the patent creates equipotential magnetic field conditions across all chambers. This ensures homogeneous magnetic field production in each chamber while maintaining operational flexibility through the standardized modular design
4Reliability
If individual reaction vessels are processed manually, then separation can be performed, but high material consumption and error rates result
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the processing system into multiple independent chambers that can be processed simultaneously. This segmentation allows batch processing of multiple samples in parallel, reducing the total material consumption per sample while maintaining accurate separation through the dedicated permanent magnet in each chamber
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple separation functions into a single integrated device with multiple chambers. By merging the separation capabilities for multiple samples into one device, it reduces overall material consumption compared to processing each sample individually in separate manual operations, while maintaining high separation accuracy through standardized chamber design
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient separation and transfer of magnetic particles with reduced material consumption and error rates, suitable for high-throughput processes, and maintains a consistent magnetic field strength across multiple samples.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic field produced by one or more permanent magnets
Implementation Method 2
by employing magnetic forces, that is, a magnetic field
Implementation Method 3
Methods based on magnetic separation using specifically binding, magnetically attractable particles
Implementation Method 4
an eluting liquid or eluting buffer is used that is suitable for breaking the bond between the target substance(s) and the magnetic particles
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided to separate magnetic or magnetizable particles from a liquid by using a magnetic field. The device includes two limbs made of a soft-magnetic material. An air gap is provided between be two poles of the limbs. The air gap can receive one or more liquid containers. A head piece is arranged in a fixed or detachable manner on one of the two poles. One or more magnetizable bars are disposed in a fixed or movable manner on the head piece, in the vertical direction. One or more permanent magnets are arranged in a movable manner on at least one point of the device, such that a magnetic field can be produced between the two poles and the magnetic field can be activated or deactivated by moving the magnet(s). The region of the device where the movable magnet(s) are arranged is at least partially surrounded by a material that screens the magnetic field.