Patent ID: 9645060
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: B01D,B01L,B04B,G01N,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method for separating a supernate from a suspension and transporting the supernate, the method comprising: holding the suspension in a sample zone; preventing the suspension in the sample zone from flowing into an observation zone by a controllable barrier, the controllable barrier separating the sample zone from the observation zone; detecting, by a separation detector, separation of a supernate from the suspension in the sample zone; generating a detection signal after the supernate has separated from the suspension; sending the detection signal to a controller; triggering, by the controller, the controllable barrier after the detection signal has been received by the controller, thereby allowing the supernate to passively flow into the observation zone; and promoting, by capillary transport, the flow of the supernate through the observation zone.