Patent ID: 6051146
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: A61M,B04B

Abstract:
A method of separating first particles and second particles having different sedimentation velocities, comprising:rotating a fluid chamber about an axis of rotation;passing, into the fluid chamber, a first liquid carrying the first and second particles;forming, in the fluid chamber, a saturated fluidized bed including the first particles, to thereby retain the second particles in the fluid chamber;flowing into the fluid chamber a second liquid, the second liquid having a density less than that of the first and second particles so that the second liquid reduces an overall density of substances separated in the fluid chamber and thereby limits Coriolis jetting of at least one of the first and second liquid in the fluid chamber, wherein the flowing of the second liquid includes flowing the second liquid into the fluid chamber when the saturated fluidized bed is in the fluid chamber; andallowing the first liquid, the second liquid, and at least a portion of the first particles to flow from the fluid chamber.