Magnetic Separation Device With Tapered Pole Tips For High Flow Rate Cell Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for magnetic separation of cells are limited by low magnetic field strength, slow separation rates, and the introduction of foreign materials, which can lead to cell loss and contamination, especially in clinical applications.
Innovation Solution
The development of novel magnetic separation devices (MAG) and micro-fluidic separation devices (UFL) that enable high flow rate separation of biological entities without introducing foreign materials, and the use of these devices in combination with optical separation methods for increased specificity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional magnetic separation methods are used, then cells can be separated from biological samples, but the magnetic field strength is low and separation rate is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses superparamagnetic beads as magnetic labels that exhibit strong magnetic response only in the presence of an external magnetic field. These composite magnetic labels combine magnetic nanoparticles with functional coatings that bind to target cells, creating a composite material system that enhances both magnetic field strength and separation efficiency simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an alternating magnetic field that changes parameters such as field strength, frequency, and orientation over time. This dynamic parameter modulation enables rapid cell separation by inducing rotational and translational motion in magnetically-labeled cells, significantly increasing the separation rate compared to static magnetic fields
2Reliability
If foreign materials are introduced for magnetic separation, then separation can be achieved, but cell loss and contamination occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the magnetic separation medium (superparamagnetic beads) from the final cell preparation through magnetic depletion. After separation, the magnetic labels are taken out of the recovered cell population using an external magnetic field, ensuring that no foreign materials remain in the isolated cells and eliminating contamination risks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses superparamagnetic beads as temporary intermediary carriers that bind to target cells during separation but are subsequently removed. These intermediary beads facilitate the separation process by providing magnetic responsiveness to non-magnetic cells, then are cleanly extracted to leave pure cell populations without foreign material contamination
3Productivity
If high flow rate separation is implemented, then separation speed increases, but separation precision may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic magnetic field application where the magnetic field strength and orientation are adjusted in real-time based on flow rate. During high flow rate operation, the magnetic field is intensified and optimized to maintain sufficient separation precision, while allowing rapid processing. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to achieve both high productivity and high precision simultaneously
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
These methods achieve efficient and sterile separation of biological entities at high flow rates, reducing cell loss and contamination, and allowing for rapid and specific separation of cells from biological samples.
Implementation Method 1
SPLs 2 are superparamagnetic, which means that SPLs 2 are effectively non-magnetic in the absence of magnetic field, but will gain magnetic moment in the presence of magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
A magnetic field with sufficient field gradient may be applied to cell 10 to produce a physical force on the SPLs 2 attached to the cell 10 surface
Implementation Method 3
the physical force working through the SPLs 2 on cell 10 may be used to separate and physically remove cell 10 from its liquid solution
Implementation Method 4
OFLs 3 are conjugated with probes 22, which specifically bind to the surface markers 12 of cell 1. After incubation processes 9, a plurality of OFLs 3 are bound to cell 1 surface. OFLs 3 bound to cell 1 radiate optical signal in second wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic device includes a holder; a plurality of conduits mounted on the holder; a plurality of magnetic assemblies, each magnetic assembly including a soft magnetic center pole having a bottom end and a tapered tip end; first and second soft magnetic side poles disposed on opposite sides of the soft magnetic center pole and respectively having first and second top ends that are bent towards the soft magnetic center pole; and a magnetic flux source generating a magnetic flux in the soft magnetic center pole and the first and second soft magnetic side poles, the magnetic flux being concentrated from the bottom end to the tapered tip end of the soft magnetic center pole and divided between the first and second top ends. Each conduit is disposed in a gap formed between the tapered tip end and the first and second top ends of a respective magnetic assembly.