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Publication Number
US-12239978-B2
Publication Date
2025-03-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
There is provided a sample preparation device comprising a sample preparation vessel and a bead manipulation mechanism for manipulating sample preparation beads in the vessel. The bead manipulation mechanism comprises: one or more magnets arranged to produce a magnetic field for manipulating, in use, one or more beads in the vessel. Each magnet is attached to a support frame by a biasing support arranged to support the magnet in contact against an outer surface of the vessel such that the magnet maintains contact with the vessel during relative movement between the magnets and the vessel.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a sample preparation system for manipulating one or more magnetic beads in a sample preparation vessel using magnetic elution. The system includes a bead manipulation mechanism with two magnets arranged to produce a magnetic field for manipulating magnetic beads in the sample preparation vessel. The magnets are positioned at laterally opposing sides of the sample preparation vessel and are attached to a support frame by biasing supports so that each magnet maintains contact against an outer surface of the vessel during relative movement.
A driving member causes movement of the support frame relative to the sample preparation vessel such that the support frame provides relative vertical movement along a central longitudinal axis of the sample preparation vessel. The driving member drives the support frame between a first configuration in which the two magnets are at a bottom vertex of the sample preparation vessel and a second configuration in which the two magnets are on side walls of the sample preparation vessel. In the first configuration, the resulting magnetic field attracts the one or more magnetic beads to the bottom vertex, and in the second configuration the resulting magnetic field attracts the one or more magnetic beads to the vessel side walls.
The sample preparation device further includes a moveable pipette arm that rotates around a central axis of a central housing to position a pipette tip above the sample preparation vessel. The moveable pipette arm is arranged to lower towards and raise from the sample preparation vessel in use.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims: a device claim and a method claim. Across both, four inventive features are emphasized: two laterally opposing magnets mounted to a support frame via biasing supports, vertical relative movement driven along a central longitudinal axis, switching bead attraction between a bottom vertex and side walls, and a moveable pipette arm for positioning a pipette tip over the vessel.
Two laterally opposing magnets on a support frame with biasing supports maintaining vessel contact
A bead manipulation mechanism with two magnets arranged to produce a magnetic field for manipulating one or more magnetic beads, wherein each magnet is attached to a support frame by a biasing support arranged to support the magnet in contact against an outer surface of the sample preparation vessel such that the magnet maintains contact during relative movement, with the two magnets positioned at laterally opposing sides of the sample preparation vessel.
Driving member for vertical relative movement along the central longitudinal axis
A driving member arranged to cause movement of the support frame relative to the sample preparation vessel, wherein the driving member is arranged to cause relative vertical movement of the support frame along a central longitudinal axis of the sample preparation vessel, and to drive the support frame to a first configuration with the magnets at a bottom vertex and to a second configuration with the magnets on side walls.
Bottom-vertex versus side-wall magnetic bead attraction configurations
In the first configuration, the two magnets are arranged such that the resulting magnetic field attracts the one or more magnetic beads in the sample preparation vessel to the bottom vertex of the sample preparation vessel; in the second configuration, the two magnets are positioned on side walls of the sample preparation vessel such that the resulting magnetic field attracts the one or more magnetic beads to the side walls.
Moveable pipette arm for positioning and lowering/raising a pipette tip over the vessel
A moveable pipette arm arranged to rotate around a central axis of a central housing to position a pipette tip above the sample preparation vessel in use, wherein the moveable pipette arm is arranged to lower towards and raise from the sample preparation vessel in use.
Both independent claims cover manipulating magnetic beads in a sample preparation vessel using two laterally opposing magnets mounted to a support frame via biasing supports that maintain contact during relative vertical movement along a central longitudinal axis, switching the magnets between bottom-vertex and side-wall configurations to control where magnetic bead attraction occurs, and using a moveable pipette arm to position and lower/raise a pipette tip over the vessel.
Stated Advantages
Improved bead capture efficiency.
Higher eluent concentration.
Documented Applications
Point-of-care diagnostics using magnetic elution and bead manipulation within a sample preparation vessel.
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