Microfluidic immunomagnetic multi-target sorting--a model for controlling deflection of paramagnetic beads.

We describe a microfluidic system that uses a magnetic field to sort paramagnetic beads by deflecting them in the direction normal to the flow. In the experiments we systematically study the dependence of the beads' deflection on bead size and susceptibility, magnet strength, fluid speed and viscosity, and device geometry. We also develop a design parameter that can aid in the design of microfluidic devices for immunomagnetic multi-target sorting.