Patent EP0806665A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0806665A1
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Method and apparatus for wash, resuspension, recollection and localization of magnetizable particles in assays using magnetic separation technology
Assignee: Bayer Corp
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Filing: 1997-05-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-05-08
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for enabling resuspension wash and magnetic localization of sample components bound to particles with magnetic properties in reaction vessels during separation and wash for enhanced chemiluminescent signal generation in biomedical assays. The assays involve moving reaction vessels past magnetic arrays that partially localized the particles prior to passing a gap where washing occurs, with or without resuspension, after separating out the unbound particles and liquid. The band of particles is further localized by a focusing magnet at the end of the array prior to dosing the vessel with acid for chemiluminescent purposes. A block of soft magnetic material is employed in place of a magnet in the gap to minimize magnetic strength at the gap. Trimmed magnets adjacent the gap cause left, then right, particle shifting that localizes the magnetizable particles. The gap enables improved resuspension by wash, whereas the localized particles enable more efficient resuspension by reagent.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven E. Bushnell
- 👤 Tina K. Garyantes
- 👤 Michael L. Malek
- 👤 Howard J. Kirchick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 02:03
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/543; G01N33/54313; G01N33/54326; B; B03; B03C; B03C1/00; B03C1/02; B03C1/28; B03C1/288; B03C2201/00; B03C2201/26; G01N35/00; G01N35/0098; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/807; Y10S436/809; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11; Y10T436/113332
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A system for clustering sample particles bound to molecules having magnetic properties in reaction vessels within an assay instrument, characterised in that the system comprises: a magent array providing plural staions past which the said reaction vessels transit in sequence, the said plural stations comprising: one or more first stations at which the said magnet array provides a magnetic field which causes vertical clustering of the said bound particles in a vessel as the said vessels transit the said magnet array; one or more second stations at which the said magnet array provides a magnetic field which causes horizontal clustering of the said bound particles in a vessel as the said vessels transit the said magnet array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said magnet array at the said one or more second stations directs the said magnetic field to slide the said bound particles in one horizontal direction at a first one of the said one or more second stations, and in an opposite horizontal direction at a further one of the said one or more second stations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the said magnet array at the said one or more second stations provides a narrowed magnetic field to cause the said clustering.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
120 words
A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the said magnet array includes a plurality of the said one or more first stations surrounding a plurality of the said one or more second stations, the said magnetic field being directed to slide the said bound particles in one horizontal direction by a first one of the said one or more second stations, and in an opposite horizontal direction by a further one of the said one or more second stations; and optionally further including at least one further second station beyond the said one or more first stations, the said at least one further second station providing a narrowed magnetic field to cause the said clustering.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
168 words
A wash block in a magnet array providing magnetic separation of bound and unbound components in reaction vessels moving past the said wash block in an assay instrument, characterised in that the wash block comprises: a resuspension wash region having plural reaction vessel positions as the said vessels move past the said array, the said wash block at resuspension wash region including: a central reaction vessel position proximate which the said wash block has a soft magnetic insert in the said magnet array, a first reaction vessel position disposed before said central reaction vessel position, the said wash block at the said first reaction vessel position having trimmed magnets and a first portion of the said soft magnetic insert proximate one of the said vessels; and a second reaction vessel position disposed after said central reaction vessel position, the said wash block at the said second reaction vessel position having trimmed magnets and a second portion of the said soft magnetic insert proximate one of the said vessels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
142 words
A wash block as claimed in claim 5, wherein it further comprises: an initial separation region having plural reaction vessel initial separation positions as the said vessels move past the said array, the said initial separation region disposed before the said resuspension wash region, each of the said initial separation positions providing magnets proximate a respective reaction vessel; and/or a subsequent separation region having plural reaction vessel subsequent separation positions as the said vessels move past the said array, the said subsequent separation region disposed after the said resuspension wash region, each of the said subsequent separation positions providing magnets proximate a respective vessel; preferably at least one of the said plurality of reaction vessel subsequent separation positions further comprising at least one focusing magnet pair of size smaller than the said magnets provided proximate the said reaction vessel initial separation positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
226 words
A magnet array for enabling magnetic separation of bound and unbound components in at least one reaction vessel passing therethrough, characterised in that the magnet array comprises: an initial separation stage for separating the said bound component from the said unbound component in the said at least one reaction vessel; a resuspension wash stage subsequent to the said initial separation stage, the said resuspension wash stage selectively enabling a resuspension wash of the said bound component in the said at least one reaction vessel; a succeeding separation stage subsequent to the said resuspension wash stage for focusing the said bound component within the said at least one reaction vessel and for aspirating the said unbound component from within the said at least one reaction vessel; and a reagent mix stage subsequent to the said succeeding separation stage, the said reagent mix stage enabling dispensation of a reagent for resuspension of the said bound component in the said at least one reaction vessel; the said initial separation stage, the said resuspension wash stage, the said succeeding separation stage and the said reagent mix stage collectively comprising plural consecutively arranged reaction vessel positions within the said magnet array and the said resuspension wash stage maintaining a bound component physical configuration in the said at least one reaction vessel in the absence of the said selectively enabled resuspension wash.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A magnet array as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said initial separation stage, the said resuspension wash stage and the said succeeding separation stage each comprises at least one magnet pair of the said magnet array proximate respective ones of the said reaction vessel positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
A magnet array as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the said resuspension wash stage further comprises: a wash buffer dispense position having a wash buffer dispense nozzle, the said at least one reaction vessel being positioned at the said wash buffer dispense position to receive a wash buffer from the said wash buffer dispense nozzle; preferably there being a soft magnetic insert at the said wash buffer dispense position; and/or a pre-wash reaction vessel position before and a post-wash reaction vessel position after the said wash buffer dispense position, the said soft magnetic insert overlaping the said pre-wash and post-wash positions and the said pre-wash and post-wash positions having respective magnets trimmed to accommodate the said overlapping soft magnetic insert; the said soft magnetic insert preferably being formed by low carbon steel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A magnet array as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the said succeeding separation stage further comprises at least one magnet pair, proximate a respective one of the said reaction vessel positions, having a size smaller than the said at least one magnet pair of the said initial separation stage to provide a focusing of the said bound components within the said at least one reaction vessel at the said respective one of the said reaction vessel positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A magnet array as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10 wherein it further comprises a secondary resuspension wash stage, disposed consecutively with and between the said succeeding separation stage and the said reagent mix stage.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for separating components of an assay, bound to magnetizable particles, from unbound components using a magnet array, characterised in that the method comprises: providing the said bound and unbound assay components in a reaction vessel; passing the said reaction vessel proximate a first series of sequentially disposed magnet pairs in the said magnet array to induce initial separation of the said bound components from the said unbound components; passing the said reaction vessel proximate a resuspension wash stage of the said magnet array partially comprised of a soft magnetic insert selectively to enable resuspension wash of the said bound components; and passing the said reaction vessel proximate a second series of sequentially disposed magnet pairs in the said magnet array to induce subsequent separation of the said bound components.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the said passing the said reaction vessel proximate a resuspension wash stage further comprises: passing, in sequence, the said reaction vessel through: a first position having a first trimmed magnet pair and a first portion of the said soft magnetic insert proximate thereto; a second position having a second portion of the said soft magnetic insert proximate thereto; and a third position having a third portion of the said soft magnetic insert and a second trimmed magnet pair proximate thereto; and optionally aspirating the said unbound component from the said reaction vessel at the said first position; and dispensing a wash buffer into the said reaction vessel at the said second position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
152 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the said passing the said reaction vessel proximate a second series of sequentially disposed magnet pairs further comprises: passing the said reaction vessel proximate a second series of magnet pairs of which a subset of at least one last magnet pair in the said second series comprises at least one focusing magnet pair of smaller size relative to other magnet pairs in the said second series; and optionally aspirating the said unbound components from the said reaction vessel when the said reaction vessel is proximate a last one of the said at least one focusing magnet pair; and passing the said reaction vessel proximate a reagent mix stage sequentially disposed after the said second series of sequentially disposed magnet pairs in the said magnet array, a reagent buffer being dispensed into the said reaction vessel for resuspending the said bound components.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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