Device and method for extracting a targeted fraction from a sample

1. A device for isolating a target from a sample, the sample including the target bound to solid phase substrate to form target bound solid phase substrate, comprising:

a first plate lying in a first plane and having a first surface, the first surface including a first region for receiving at least a portion of the sample;

a second plate lying in a second plane which is generally parallel to and spaced from the first plate along an axis generally perpendicular to the first and second planes by a distance, the second plate having a first surface directed toward the first surface of the first plate and including a first region for receiving a reagent; and

a magnetic force generator positionable adjacent the second plate, the magnetic force generator generating a magnetic force which draws the target bound solid phase substrate away from the first surface of the first plate toward the first surface of the second plate in a direction generally parallel to the axis when the portion of the sample is received on the first region of the first plate;

wherein:

when the portion of the sample is received on the first region of the first plate and when the reagent is received on the first region of the second plate, the distance between the first plate and the second plate being sufficient:

to provide an air gap between the portion of the sample received by first region of the first plate and the reagent received by the first region of the second plate; and

for the target bound solid phase substrate in the portion of the sample to be drawn through the air gap and into the reagent by the magnetic force generated by the magnetic force generator.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first region of the first plate is defined by a portion of the first surface of the first plate.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the first region of the first plate is hydrophilic.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the first surface of the first plate external of the first region thereof is hydrophobic.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first region of the second plate is defined by a portion of the first surface of the second plate.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the first region of the second plate is hydrophilic.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the first surface of the second plate external of the first region thereof is hydrophobic.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the first plate includes a second surface and wherein the first region of the first plate includes a recess in the second surface and a passageway extending between the recess and the first surface of the first plate.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the first region of the second plate includes a recess in the first surface of the second plate.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the second plate includes a second surface and wherein the magnetic force generator is a magnet positioned adjacent the second surface of the second plate for generating the magnetic force.

11. A device for isolating a target from a sample, the sample including the target bound to solid phase substrate to form target bound solid phase substrate, comprising:

a first sample receiving region disposed on a first plate for receiving at least a portion of the sample;

a first reagent region disposed on a second plate for receiving a reagent, the first reagent region opposing the first sample receiving region; and

a magnetic force generator adjacent the second plate, the magnetic force generator generating a magnetic force for drawing the target bound solid phase substrate from the at least the portion of the sample, through an air gap and into the reagent when the at least the portion of the sample is received on the first sample receiving region of the first plate and when the reagent is received on the first reagent region of the second plate;

wherein:

the first and second plates are generally parallel to and spaced from each other along an axis generally perpendicular to the first and second planes by a distance such that when the at least the portion of the sample is received on the first sample receiving region of the first plate and when the reagent is received on the first reagent region of the second plate:

the distance between the first plate and the second plate is sufficient to provide the air gap between the at least the portion of the sample received by first sample receiving region of the first plate and the reagent received by the first reagent region of the second plate; and

the target bound solid phase substrate in the at least the portion of the sample is drawn from the at least the portion of the sample, through the air gap, and into the reagent by the magnetic force generated by the magnetic force generator.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the first plate includes a first surface, the first sample receiving region being defined by a portion of the first surface of the first plate.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the first sample receiving region of the first plate is hydrophilic and wherein the first surface of the first plate external of the first sample receiving region thereof is hydrophobic.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the first plate includes a second surface and wherein the first sample receiving region of the first plate includes a recess in the second surface and a passageway extending between the recess and the first surface of the first plate.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein the first reagent region of the second plate includes a recess in the first surface of the second plate.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the second plate includes a first surface, the first reagent region being defined by a portion of the first surface of the second plate.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the first reagent region of the first plate is hydrophilic and wherein the first surface of the second plate external of the first reagent region thereof is hydrophobic.