Sample preparing arrangement and a method relating to such an arrangement

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement (10, 20) for preparing samples (15, 27), submergible in a liquid medium. The arrangement comprises a section provided with a device (13, 23) for controllable generation of a magnetic field through influence of a control signal, said magnetic field being generated to trap at least part of said samples (15, 27).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A microelectromechanical system which uses an ordered array of magnetically controlled beads to regulate localization of discrete fractions of a fluid medium at discrete, predetermined elements of a substrate, said system comprising: 
 a substrate comprising (a) a surface in contact with a fluid medium and (b) an ordered array of a plurality of elements, each element comprising a discrete place on the surface:    means for generating controllable, localized magnetic fields at each element;    a plurality of beads, each disposed in the medium proximate to a corresponding element:    means for trapping the fraction with the beads;    a controller operably coupled to the localized magnetic fields generating means:    wherein the localized magnetic fields generating means controllably generates magnetic fields through influence of control signals generated by the controller, wherein said magnetic fields magnetically move each bead relative to the corresponding element, and thereby regulate localization of discrete fractions of the medium at discrete, predetermined elements of the substrate.    
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , which uses an ordered array of magnetically controlled beads to regulate localization of discrete fractions of a fluid medium at discrete, predetermined elements of a substrate, said system comprising: 
 a substrate comprising (a) a surface in contact with a fluid medium and (b) an ordered array of a plurality of elements, each element comprising a discrete place on the surface and a corresponding integrated magnetic field generating device,    a plurality of beads, each disposed in the medium proximate to a corresponding element and adsorbing a discrete fraction of the fluid medium,    a controller operably coupled to each device;    wherein each device controllably generates magnetic fields through influence of control signals generated by the controller, wherein said magnetic fields magnetically move each bead relative to the corresponding element, and thereby regulate localization of discrete fractions of the medium at discrete, predetermined elements of the substrate.    
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein each element further comprises an on-chip detector sensitive to the proximity to the element of the bead or the fraction.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the fractions comprise agents present in the medium, wherein the agents are selected from the group consisting of optionally derivatized magnetic particles, chemicals and cells.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the localization is quantitative.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein each element further comprises a discrete cavity in the surface, wherein said magnetic fields independently, magnetically move each bead between an uncapped position, opening the corresponding cavity to a fraction of the medium and a capped position, restricting the cavity to the fraction of the medium, and thereby regulate localization of discrete fractions of the medium at discrete, predetermined elements of the substrate.  
     
     
         7 . A microelectromechanical system which uses an ordered array of magnetically controlled beads to regulate localization of discrete fractions of a fluid medium at discrete, predetermined elements of a substrate, said system comprising: 
 a substrate comprising (a) a surface in contact with a fluid medium and (b) an ordered array of a plurality of elements, each element comprising a discrete place on the surface and a corresponding magnetically active material,    a plurality of beads, each disposed in the medium proximate to a corresponding element and adsorbing a discrete fraction of the fluid medium,    a plurality of magnets external to the substrate;    a controller operably coupled to the external magnets;    wherein the external magnets controllably generate magnetic fields through influence of control signals generated by the controller, wherein said magnetic fields magnetically move each bead relative to the corresponding element, and thereby regulate localization of discrete fractions of the medium at discrete, predetermined elements of the substrate.    
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein each element further comprises an on-chip detector sensitive to the proximity to the element of the bead or the fraction.  
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the fractions comprise agents present in the medium, wherein the agents are selected from the group consisting of optionally derivatized magnetic particles, chemicals and cells.  
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the localization is quantitative.  
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein each element further comprises a discrete cavity in the surface, wherein said magnetic fields independently, magnetically move each bead between an uncapped position, opening the corresponding cavity to a fraction of the medium and a capped position, restricting the cavity to the fraction of the medium, and thereby regulate localization of discrete fractions of the medium at discrete, predetermined elements of the substrate.  
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 1 , which uses an ordered array of magnetically controlled beads to regulate localization of discrete fractions of a fluid medium at discrete, predetermined elements of a substrate, said system comprising: 
 a substrate comprising (a) a surface in contact with a fluid medium and (b) an ordered array of a plurality of elements, each element comprising a discrete cavity in the surface and a corresponding integrated magnetic field generating device,    a plurality of beads, each disposed in the medium proximate to a corresponding cavity,    a controller operably coupled to each device;    wherein each device controllably generates magnetic fields through influence of control signals generated by the controller, wherein said magnetic fields independently, magnetically move each bead between an uncapped position, opening the corresponding cavity to a fraction of the medium and a capped position, restricting the cavity to the fraction of the medium, and thereby regulate localization of discrete fractions of the medium at discrete, predetermined elements of the substrate.    
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein each element further comprises an on-chip detector sensitive to the proximity to the element of the bead or the fraction.  
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the fractions comprise agents present in the medium, wherein the agents are selected from the group consisting of optionally derivatized magnetic particles, chemicals and cells.  
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the localization is quantitative.  
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the fractions comprise agents present in the medium, the agents are optionally derivatized magnetic particles, and the magnetic fields, in conjunction with movement of the bead, controllably move one or more of the particles into or out of the cavity.  
     
     
         17 . A microelectromechanical system which uses an ordered array of magnetically controlled beads to regulate localization of discrete fractions of a fluid medium at discrete, predetermined elements of a substrate, said system comprising: 
 a substrate comprising (a) a surface in contact with a fluid medium and (b) an ordered array of a plurality of elements, each element comprising a discrete cavity in the surface and a corresponding magnetically active material,    a plurality of beads, each disposed in the medium proximate to a corresponding cavity,    a plurality of magnets external to the substrate;    a controller operably coupled to the external magnets;    wherein the external magnets controllably generate magnetic fields through influence of control signals generated by the controller, wherein said magnetic fields independently, magnetically move each bead between an uncapped position, opening the corresponding cavity to a fraction of the medium and a capped position, restricting the cavity to the fraction of the medium, and thereby regulate localization of discrete fractions of the medium at discrete, predetermined elements of the substrate.    
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 17 , wherein each element further comprises an on-chip detector sensitive to the proximity to the element of the bead or the fraction.  
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 17 , wherein the fractions comprise agents present in the medium, wherein the agents are selected from the group consisting of optionally derivatized magnetic particles, chemicals and cells.  
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 17 , wherein the localization is quantitative.  
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 17 , wherein the fractions comprise agents present in the medium, the agents are optionally derivatized magnetic particles, and the magnetic fields, in conjunction with movement of the bead, controllably move one or more of the particles into or out of the cavity.  
     
     
         22 . A method of using a system according to  claim 2 , comprising the step of controllably generating magnetic fields through influence of control signals generated by the controller, wherein said magnetic fields independently, magnetically move each bead relative to the corresponding element, and thereby regulate localization of discrete fractions of the medium at discrete, predetermined elements of the substrate.  
     
     
         23 . A method of using a system according to  claim 7 , comprising the step of controllably generating magnetic fields through influence of control signals generated by the controller, wherein said magnetic fields independently, magnetically move each bead relative to the corresponding element, and thereby regulate localization of discrete fractions of the medium at discrete, predetermined elements of the substrate.  
     
     
         24 . A method of using a system according to  claim 12 , comprising the step of controllably generating magnetic fields through influence of control signals generated by the controller, wherein said magnetic fields independently, magnetically move each bead between an uncapped position, opening the corresponding cavity to a fraction of the medium and a capped position, restricting the cavity to the fraction of the medium, and thereby regulate localization of discrete fractions of the medium at discrete, predetermined elements of the substrate.  
     
     
         25 . A method of using a system according to  claim 17 , comprising the step of controllably generating magnetic fields through influence of control signals generated by the controller, wherein said magnetic fields independently, magnetically move each bead between an uncapped position, opening the corresponding cavity to a fraction of the medium and a capped position, restricting the cavity to the fraction of the medium, and thereby regulate localization of discrete fractions of the medium at discrete, predetermined elements of the substrate.