Patent ID: 7150834
Filing Date: 2006-12-19
Classification: A61M,B01L,B03C,G01N,G03H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of separating a fluid mixture into constituent, non-motile components, the method comprising: providing a substantially laminar first flow having the fluid mixture, the fluid mixture having a plurality of components, the plurality of components having a corresponding plurality of sedimentation rates; providing a substantially laminar second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region, the first flow and the second flow having a substantially non-turbulent interface within the separation region; differentially sedimenting from the first flow a first component of the plurality of components into the second flow to form an enriched second flow and a depleted first flow, while concurrently maintaining a second component of the plurality of components in the first flow, the first component having a first sedimentation rate of the plurality of sedimentation rates and the second component having a second sedimentation rate of the plurality of sedimentation rates, wherein the first sedimentation rate is comparatively greater than the second sedimentation rate; differentially removing the enriched second flow from the depleted first flow; and holographically manipulating the second component in the depleted first flow.