Method and apparatus for separating particles in liquid suspension utilizing oscillating electric and magnetic fields
US4911806A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 1987 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N27/44786
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Small dielectric particles such as biological cells or DNA molecules are suspended in a quantity of liquid within a container. A pair of spaced apart electrodes are immersed in the liquid and a coil surrounds the region between the electrodes. First and second electric signals are applied to the electrodes and the coil, respectively, to thereby generate substantially orthogonal oscillating electric and magnetic fields which are at the same frequency but approximately ninety degrees out of phase. By selecting the frequency, particles having different polarization relaxation frequencies and sizes will migrate at different velocities and thereby sort into various fractions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.