DEVICE FOR MAGNETIC BEAD SEPARATION AND RESUSPENSION
An apparatus to separate and resuspend magnetic beads in a solution in a bottle includes a magnet assembly mounted on a moveable carriage. The carriage movable from a first position wherein the magnet assembly is proximate a bottle disposed on a rotating base to a second position wherein the magnet assembly is distal from the base. The magnet assembly is configured to impart a magnetic field amplitude gradient in the bottle when the bottle is proximate to the magnet assembly.
1 . An apparatus to separate and resuspend magnetic beads in a solution in a bottle, comprising:
a magnet assembly mounted on a moveable carriage, the carriage movable from a first position wherein the magnet assembly is proximate a bottle disposed on a rotating base, the carriage movable to a second position wherein the magnet assembly moves away from the bottle, the magnet assembly configured to impart a magnetic field amplitude gradient in the bottle when the bottle is proximate to the magnet assembly.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnet assembly comprises a half toroid.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnet assembly comprises one of a hallbach magnet assembly, a quadrature magnet assembly, an unbalanced magnet assembly, or a full toroid magnet assembly.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in signal communication with a motor arranged to move the carriage, the controller configured to automate movement of the carriage.
5 . The apparatus in claim 4 , whereby the automated movement of the carriage is controllable to optimize a carriage motion profile for use with a variety of bead solutions.
6 . The apparatus in claim 5 the apparatus is integrated into an automated liquid handling system.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnet assembly comprises at least one electromagnet.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the carriage is movable in a vertical and/or horizontal direction.
9 . A method for separating and resuspending magnetic particles in a bottle having liquid therein, comprising:
disposing the bottle proximate a magnet, the magnet configured to induce a magnetic field having an amplitude gradient in the bottle; and
rotating the bottle to separate the magnetic particles from the liquid.
10 . The method of claim 7 further comprising:
moving the bottle away from the magnet while rotating the bottle to resuspend the magnetic particles in the liquid.
11 . The method of claim 8 wherein the moving is performed along a line, a rate of the moving chosen to correspond to at least one of magnetic particle size distribution, magnetic particle distribution and a viscosity of the liquid.
12 . The method of claim 8 wherein the moving is performed automatically.