Claims
- 1. A device for determining one or more particle physical characteristics, the device comprising:
(a) a force field device for subjecting at least one particle to at least one force field, the force field device comprising:
(1) a first force field producing assembly comprising:
(i) a first force field producing device; and (ii) a first pole piece for concentrating the force field flux produced by the first force field producing device; (2) a second force field producing assembly comprising:
(i) a second force field producing device; and (ii) a second pole piece for concentrating the force field flux produced by the second force field producing device; (3) the first and second pole pieces each comprising a flux concentrating portion having a curved end portion for producing a region of space having a substantially constant force field and wherein the flux concentrating portions are displaced substantially opposite each other with an inter-polar air gap therebetween; (b) a substantially transparent flow channel positioned at least partially within the region of space having a substantially constant force magnitude and direction and for allowing the introduction of at least one particle; and (c) a computer system for gathering and analyzing data associated with the at least one particle.
- 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second pole pieces further comprise substantially planar top and bottom surfaces, wherein the substantially planar bottom surface of the first pole piece is at least partly in physical contact with the first force field producing device and the substantially planar bottom surface of the second pole piece is at least partly in physical contact with the second force field producing device.
- 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the flux concentrating portion of the first force field producing assembly projects from the first force field producing device and the flux concentrating portion of the second force field producing assembly projects from the second force field producing device.
- 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the curved end portions of the flux concentrating portions comprises:
(a) a first distal end having a substantially curved surface; (b) a second distal end having a substantially curved surface; and (c) wherein the first and second distal ends are configured so as to be contiguous with each other.
- 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second force field producing devices are magnets.
- 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second force field producing devices are electro-magnets.
- 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second force field producing devices are electric force field producing devices.
- 8. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one utility space positioned near the region having a substantially constant force field
- 9. The device of claim 2 further comprising a force field control device for controlling the magnitude of the force field.
- 10. The device of claim 4 wherein:
(a) the substantially curved surface of the first distal end comprises a portion having a substantially constant radius and wherein the radius is in the range of approximately 3 mm; and (b) the substantially curved surface of the second distal end comprises a portion which is substantially hyperbolic and wherein the hyperbolic portion is approximately defined as y(x)=9.544/x2−12.719, wherein x and y are Cartesian coordinates with the origin placed at the intersection of the plane of symmetry separating the pole pieces and a plane tangent to the radial portion of the distal ends of the pole pieces.
- 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the particle is selected from a group consisting of: cells, cell organelles, platelets, inorganic, organic, biological, and polymeric particles which are optically visible.
- 12. A system for determining one or more particle physical characteristics, the system comprising:
(a) a force field device for generating at least one force field having a predetermined force field magnitude and direction and for subjecting at least one particle to the at least one force field; (b) a flow system for regulating the introduction of the at least one particle into the force field device; and (c) a computer system for gathering and analyzing data associated with the at least one particle, the computer system comprising:
(1) a digital image system for acquiring at least two temporally defined digital images of the at least one particle; (2) logic for identifying and locating the at least one particle and its coordinates within the at least two temporally defined images; (3) logic for determining the velocity of the at least one particle within the force field; and (4) logic for determining at least one particle physical characteristic from the determined velocity and the predetermined force field magnitude and direction.
- 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the logic for determining at least one particle physical characteristic comprises logic for determining magnetic susceptibility.
- 14. The system of claim 12 wherein the logic for determining at least one particle physical characteristic comprises logic for determining the surface label density of the at least one particle.
- 15. The system of claim 12 wherein the logic for determining at least one particle physical characteristic comprises logic for determining the at least one particle's diameter.
- 16. The system of claim 12 further comprising a switching device for controlling the force field device's generation of the at least one force field.
- 17. The system of claim 14 wherein the switching device comprises logic for switching the force field device between a first and a second state.
- 18. The system of claim 12 wherein the force field device comprises a force field which is substantially orthogonal to a gravitational field and wherein the force field is selected from the group consisting of: flow, magnetic, electric, and electromagnetic fields.
- 19. The system of claim 12 wherein the logic for determining at least one particle physical characteristic comprises logic for determining a first particle characteristic while the force field device is in a first state and for determining a second particle characteristic while the force field device is in a second state.
- 20. A pole piece assembly for producing a region of space having a substantially constant magnetic force field, the assembly comprising:
(a) a first pole piece having a substantially curved flux concentrating portion, the substantially curved flux portion comprising:
(i) a first distal end having a curved portion, wherein the curved portion of the first distal end of the first pole piece comprises a radius; and (ii) a second distal end having a curved portion, wherein the curved portion of the second distal end of the first pole piece comprises an approximately hyperbolic function, and wherein the hyperbolic function comprises y(x)=9.544/x2−12.719, wherein x and y are Cartesian coordinates with the origin placed at the intersection of the plane of symmetry separating the pole pieces and a plane tangent to the radial portion of the distal ends of the pole pieces; (b) a second pole piece having a substantially curved flux concentrating portion, the substantially curved flux portion comprising:
(i) a first distal end having a curved portion, wherein the curved portion of the first distal end of the second pole piece comprises a radius; and (ii) a second distal end having a curved portion, wherein the curved portion of the second distal end of the second pole piece comprises an approximately hyperbolic function, and wherein the hyperbolic function comprises y(x)=9.544/x2−12.719, wherein x and y are Cartesian coordinates with the origin placed at the intersection of the plane of symmetry separating the pole pieces and a plane tangent to the radial portion of the distal ends of the pole pieces; (c) wherein the first and second pole pieces are configured to form an inter-polar air gap wherein
(i) the first distal end of the first pole piece is approximately opposite the first distal end of the second pole piece; and (ii) the second distal end of the second pole piece is approximately opposite the second distal end of the second pole piece; and (d) a device for producing a magnetic flux in flux communication with the first and second pole pieces.
- 21. The pole piece assembly claim 20 wherein the inter-polar air gap comprises a width of at least approximately 2 mm.
- 22. The pole piece assembly of claim 20 wherein the radius of the curved portion of the first distal end of the first pole piece and wherein the radius of the curved portion of the first distal end of the second pole piece comprise a radius in the range of approximately 3.18 mm.
- 23. The pole piece assembly of claim 20 wherein:
(a) the first pole piece further comprises a substantially rectangular body having:
(i) a first substantially planar surface, wherein the first substantially planar surface of the first pole piece is contiguous with the first distal end of the first pole piece; and (ii) a second substantially planar surface and wherein the second substantially planar surface of the first pole piece is contiguous with the second distal end of the first pole piece; and (b) the second pole piece further comprises a substantially rectangular body having:
(i) a first substantially planar surface, wherein the first substantially planar surface of the second pole piece is contiguous with the first distal end of the second pole piece; and (ii) a second substantially planar surface and wherein the second substantially planar surface of the second pole piece is contiguous with the second distal end of the second pole piece.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is related to patent application Ser. No. ______, filed Feb. 6, 1998, titled “Method for Determining Particle Characteristics” which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Government Interests
[0002] Federal sponsorship or this invention has been provided by Contract No. CA623349.
Divisions (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09607702 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Child |
10187457 |
Jul 2002 |
US |
Parent |
09020327 |
Feb 1998 |
US |
Child |
09607702 |
Jun 2000 |
US |