The disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for processing fluids through the use of a magnetic assembly wherein the magnetic assembly includes at least one fluid chamber containing a fluid and magnetic particles.

A separation system, a method in a separation system and an elution arrangement to be provided in a separation system for separating a biomolecule from a cell culture are provided. The method comprises the steps of: —providing a feed from a cell culture (3; 103; 203) comprising said biomolecule to a magnetic separator (5; 105; 205) and providing to the magnetic separator magnetic beads comprising ligands capable of binding this biomolecule; —separating by the magnetic separator said magnetic beads with bound biomolecules from the rest of the feed; —forwarding said magnetic beads as a slurry with an added buffer to an elution cell (7; 107; 207); —eluting the bound biomolecules in the elution cell.

Separate cleaning assembly for magnet assemblies formed by at least one magnet rod, wiper assembly and magnet handle device, the cleaning assembly including a base and vertically extending main body, wherein the cleaning assembly includes retaining means for retaining the magnet assembly to the main body and receiving means for receiving and accommodating the wiper assembly, wherein the receiving means for the wiper assembly is arranged to moving means arranged for moving the wiper assembly in longitudinal direction of the magnet rods.

A method for filtering magnetic particles includes spinning a filter including a plurality of pores within a substrate. The method further includes applying, subsequent to spinning the filter, an external magnetic field to the filter. The method includes disposing a solution including a first particle and a second particle onto the filter. The first particle includes a magnetic particle of interest. The method further includes separating the first particle from the second particle by capturing the first particle within a pore of the plurality of pores within the substrate.

Systems and methods for handling a variety of sample and preparatory fluids in a rack specifically configured for compatibility with predetermined liquid handlers such as automated pipettors or multi-channel manual pipettors and set up for magnetic based sample preparation. The rack can hold all of the necessary sample and reagent vials, and present them to the pipettor in some embodiments in a way that allows for parallel operation. The rack includes slidable magnets that in some embodiments are actuatable directly by the pipettor, eliminating a layer of complexity. Combined with a suitable pipettor the magnet enabled rack supports a multistep magnetic based sample preparation capability in a high throughput manner at one station that enhances sample purity throughout magnetic separation processes.

A system is provided for the quantitative magnetic separation of magnetic objects (e.g., particles or cells). The system uses magnetic ratcheting over arrays of ferromagnetic elements having gradient spacing manifested in various pitch zones that are encountered by the magnetic objects as they traverse the array. The system can be used to separate and concentrate magnetic objects based on iron oxide content. For cells, different phenotypes may be separated based, for example, on surface expression of proteins or molecules that are bound to magnetic particles. The system includes a substrate or chip having the array of ferromagnetic elements with increasing lateral pitch and an externally driven magnet device that generates a cycling magnetic field. Magnetic objects with higher IOC separate and equilibrate along the array at larger pitches. The system can be used for the differential sorting of particles and cells of interest.

Apparatus is providing featuring a synthetic bead having a solid-phase body with a surface, and being configured with a predetermined electric charge so as to respond to a corresponding predetermined electric field; and a plurality of molecules attached to at least part of the surface, the molecules comprising a functional group selected for attracting and attaching one or more mineral particles of interest to the molecules. Some combination of the solid-phase body or the surface may be configured from a polymer. The polymer may be polyethylenimine. The polyethylenimine may be engineered or configured to be highly charged so as to be used to collect the mineral particles of interest and then manipulated through and by the corresponding predetermined electric field.

An apparatus, vortex generator assembly and method for automated cell lysis and nucleic acid purification and processing. The vortex generator assembly includes sample holder having a lysis well, at least one wash well, and an elution well. The vortex generator assembly also includes a sample holder cover having a plurality of vibration rods for creating a vortex in the wells of the sample holder. The apparatus includes motor operating a rotating cam to cause the vibration rods to vibrate and create the vortex in a well holding fluid and magnetic beads, wherein the vortexing speed is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between the beads and disperse the beads in solution, to collect nucleic acids such as DNA.

A planar magnet for magnetic density separation, comprising an array of pole pieces succeeding in longitudinal direction of a mounting plane, each pole piece having a body extending transversely along the mounting plane with a substantially constant cross section that includes a top segment that is curved to distribute the magnetic field associated with the top surface of the pole piece such that its strength transverse to the mounting plane is substantially uniformly distributed in planes parallel to the mounting plane, the curved top segments having a width (w) in longitudinal direction of the mounting plane and a maximum height (h) transverse to the mounting plane, wherein the top segments of successive pole pieces are unequal in height and/or width.

Devices for sorting components (e.g., cells) contained in a liquid sample are provided. In certain aspects, the devices include a magnetic separation device and an acoustic concentrator device fluidically coupled to magnetic separation device. Aspects of the invention further include methods for sorting cells in a liquid sample, and systems, and kits for practicing the subject methods.