A highly parallel microfluidic blood separation device for isolation of variety of analytes for large-scale clinical trials. The device can be utilized for isolation of number of different target analytes, which may be the starting materials for variety of diagnostic methods including NGS, PCR, FISH, IHC, and others. Separation is achieved via magnetic sheath flow principals and is highly parallel. The separation device achieves effective magnetic separation, functions during sample flow in a vertical geometry and may fasten to standard multi-well plates for highly multiplexed sample recovery. Operating in vertical orientation allows multiplexing, more cards/slot/bay on instrument, allows effective use of real estate on instruments and bench tops.

A variety of devices, systems, kits, and methods are provided for separating or enriching circulating tumor cells in a biological sample such as whole blood. In some aspects, the devices are multi-stage devices including at least a filtering stage, and two separation stages for ferrohydrodynamic separation of magnetically labelled white blood cells and for marker-independent and size-independent focusing of magnetically labeled particles so as to separate or enrich unlabeled rare cells in the biological sample. The devices and methods are, in some aspects, capable of high throughput in excess of 6 milliliters per hour while achieving high separation (>97%) of the unlabeled rare cells.

A pipette tip extension attachable to a pipette tip having a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end is disclosed. The exterior wall has an outer side and an inner side and forms at the proximal end a reception aperture for inserting a pipette tip, and at the distal end a dispense aperture. The pipette tip extension further has an inner cavity, a distance element connected to the inner side of the exterior wall, and a constriction element.

A pipette tip extension attachable to a pipette tip having a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end is disclosed. The exterior wall has an outer side and an inner side and forms at the proximal end a reception aperture for inserting a pipette tip, and at the distal end a dispense aperture. The pipette tip extension further has an inner cavity, a distance element connected to the inner side of the exterior wall, and a constriction element.

Electromagnetic processing of fluid materials is disclosed. Separation of one or more ionic components of a fluid, and combination of one or more ionic components in a fluid, are discussed.

Electromagnetic processing of fluid materials is disclosed. Separation of one or more ionic components of a fluid, and combination of one or more ionic components in a fluid, are discussed.

The present invention is related to a high aspect ratio column thickener and a process thereof useful for dewatering of iron ore tailings. The column thickener has been developed with multiple feed inlet points and an auxiliary inlet point for water to clear the jam of high concentration slurry, if required. The column also consists of a conical portion at the bottom. Magnetic field has been applied using induced magnetic coil just above the conical portion of column thickener. Iron ore tailings slurry is fed into the column thickener and particles are allowed to settle in axial direction with and without the application of magnetic field.

The present invention is related to a high aspect ratio column thickener and a process thereof useful for dewatering of iron ore tailings. The column thickener has been developed with multiple feed inlet points and an auxiliary inlet point for water to clear the jam of high concentration slurry, if required. The column also consists of a conical portion at the bottom. Magnetic field has been applied using induced magnetic coil just above the conical portion of column thickener. Iron ore tailings slurry is fed into the column thickener and particles are allowed to settle in axial direction with and without the application of magnetic field.

Methods for separating particles in a ferrofluid, along with apparatus for performing the same, are provided. The method may include introducing the ferrofluid through a separation tube; applying a magnetic field to the separation tube such that a fluid constriction is created within the tube that leads to a density gradient in the fluid with a maximum value (d.sub.max) at some region along the tube; and introducing a plurality of particles into the ferrofluid within the separation tube such that particles having densities greater than d.sub.max flow through the ferrofluid.

Methods for separating particles in a ferrofluid, along with apparatus for performing the same, are provided. The method may include introducing the ferrofluid through a separation tube; applying a magnetic field to the separation tube such that a fluid constriction is created within the tube that leads to a density gradient in the fluid with a maximum value (d.sub.max) at some region along the tube; and introducing a plurality of particles into the ferrofluid within the separation tube such that particles having densities greater than d.sub.max flow through the ferrofluid.