EP0136126A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic separator for solid phase immunoassays
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
•
Filing: 1984-09-07
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2004-09-07
Abstract
Abstract 57 Apparatus is provided for simultaneously performing magnetic separations in a plurality of containers (34), each container containing an aqueous dispersion of particles which respond to a magnetic field. The apparatus includes a rack (12) for receiving and holding the containers at predetermined locations and a base (14) which includes an array of magnets (46) and which mates with the rack (12) to bring a first portion of each container into the proximity of a north pole of a magnet and a second portion of each container into the proximity of the south pole of a magnet. Both the rack and base include handle members (38) which mate with each other to form a combined handle for the entire apparatus. The apparatus is self supporting when inverted to provide easy decanting of solutions from the containers. The magnets (46) are arranged in the apparatus to produce a minimum of stray magnetic fields.
Inventors
- 👤 Trevor H. Adams
- 👤 Donald R. Grady
- 👤 Jack R. Harkins
- 👤 Lee Josephson
- 👤 Henry J. Rahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:39
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03C; B03C1/00; B03C1/02; B03C1/28; B03C1/288; B03C1/284; B03C2201/00; B03C2201/18; B03C2201/26; G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/0098
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for simultaneously performing magnetic separations in a plurality of containers, each container containing an aqueous dispersion of particles which will respond to a magnetic field, comprising: a rack for receiving and holding the containers at predetermined locations, said rack including a top having an array of apertures therein, each aperture sized to receive one container; and a base which mates with the rack, said base including a bottom having associated therewith an array of magnets, the magnets being arranged with their axes parallel to the bottom of the base to minimize stray magnetic fields in the space below the apparatus, the rack and the base mating with each other to bring a first portion of each container into the proximity of a north pole of a magnet and a second portion of each container into the proximity of a south pole of a magnet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for simultaneously performing magnetic separations in a plurality of containers, each container containing an aqueous dispersion of particles which will respond to a magnetic field, comprising: a rack for receiving and holding the containers at predetermined locations, said rack including a top having an array of apertures therein, each aperture sized to receive one container; and a base which mates with the rack, said base including a bottom having associated therewith an array of magnets, the magnets being arranged with their axes parallel to the bottom of the base to minimize stray magnetic fields in the space below the apparatus, the rack and the base mating with each other to bring a first portion of each container into the proximity of a north pole of a magnet and a second portion of each container into the proximity of a south pole of a magnet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnets are disc magnets arranged with their axes parallel to the bottom of the base to minimize stray magnetic fields in the space below the apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnets are arranged in lines with the north poles of the magnets in each line pointing in a direction opposite to the direction of the north poles of the magnets in each adjacent line so as to minimize;. stray magnetic fields throughout the space surrounding the apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnets are contained in a plurality of upstanding rib members associated with the bottom of the base, the rib members having a reduced wall thickness in those regions which are in proximity to the containers when the rack and the base are mated so as to increase the strength of the magnetic fields within the containers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
The apparatus of claim 1 comprising two handle members at opposite ends of the bottom, the rack and the base mating with each other to bring a first portion of each container into the proximity of a north pole of a magnet and a second portion of each container into the proximity of a south pole of a magnet and to bring the handle members associated with the rack and the handle members associated with the base into engagement with each other to'form a combined handle for the entire apparatus, which combined handle, when employed by the user, automatically results in the rack and the base being moved as a unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnets are contained in a plurality of upstanding rib members associated with the bottom of the base, the rib members having a reduced wall thickness in those regions which are in proximity to the containers when the rack and the base are mated so as to increase the strength of the magnetic fields within the containers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the volume of the aqueous dispersion is greater than approximately 1.5 milliliters and the average diameter of the particles which will respond to a magnetic field is in the submicron range.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rack includes two downwardly directed legs associated with opposite ends of the top and an upwardly directed shoulder associated with a rear portion of top, the distance from the bottom of the legs to the top of the shoulder being approximately equal to the height of a container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each aperture has associated therewith one or more finger members for engaging the sides of the containers to hold the containers in the rack, the one or more finger members being an integral part of the top.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the rack includes two downwardly directed, hollow legs associated with opposite ends of the top, each leg including an aperture associated with its bottom and a vent associated with its top for the ingress and egress of boiling water to and from the interior of the leg.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.