Patent ID: 6294063
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: B01F,B01L,B03C,G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for programmably manipulating a plurality of packets, said apparatus comprising:a reaction surface configured to provide an interaction site for said packets;an inlet port coupled to said reaction surface and configured to introduce said packets onto said reaction surface;means for generating programmable manipulation forces upon said packets, said forces selected from the group consisting of dielectrophoretic and electrophoretic forces, the forces capable of programmably moving said packets about said reaction surface along arbitrarily chosen paths;a position sensor coupled to said reaction surface and configured to track positions of individual packets on said reaction surface; anda controller coupled to said means for generating programmable manipulation forces and to said position sensor, said controller configured to adjust said programmable manipulation forces according to said positions so that said packets move along said arbitrarily chosen paths.