Patent Publication Number: US-7897026-B2

Title: Fluid particle separating device

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 95134494, filed Sep. 18, 2006, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates in general to a fluid particle separating device, and more particularly to a fluid particle separating device which sorts the particles of a fluid by recognizing the sizes of the particles and controlling the deformation of the sieving valve. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional fluid particle separating device is capable of separating different objects or particles suspended in a fluid by means of determining, sorting and counting the particles of the fluid. Therefore, the fluid particle separating device with sorting and counting functions is widely used in the field of biomedicine for sorting and counting the blood cells or purifying a fluid. 
     Conventional fluid particle separating device guides the particles of different particle sizes to enter into a predetermined container via the designs relating to electricity or magnetism. However, it is difficult to precisely control the electrical field or the magnetic field according to the size of the particles, so errors are inevitable. Worse than that, in the presence of an external electrical field or magnetic field, the sorting of particles is interfered such that the sorting accuracy is affected. Therefore, new technologies for better and more accurately separating and collecting the particles are needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a fluid particle separating device which sorts the particles of a fluid by recognizing the sizes of the particles and controlling the deformation of the sieving valve. Moreover, according to the location of the sieving valve of the fluid particle separating device, the characteristics and the sizes of the particles are determined and the impurities in the fluid are filtered out. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, a fluid particle separating device including a sorting channel, a first diverting channel, a second diverting channel, a detector, a microprocessor, a first actuator, a second actuator, a first sieving valve and a second sieving valve is provided. The sorting channel receives a first fluid containing a first particle and a second particle, wherein the first particle and the second particle sequentially pass through the sorting channel. The first diverting channel is connected to the sorting channel for guiding the first particle. The second diverting channel is connected to the sorting channel for guiding the second particle. The detector is disposed around the sorting channel for sequentially recognizing the sizes and numbers of the first particle and the second particle and accordingly outputting a first recognition signal and a second recognition signal. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the detector for sequentially receiving the first recognition signal and the second recognition signal and accordingly outputting a first control signal and a second control signal. The first sieving valve is deformable and disposed inside the first diverting channel for allowing the first particle to pass through the first diverting channel. The second sieving valve is deformable and disposed inside the second diverting channel for allowing the second particle to pass through the second diverting channel. The first actuator is electrically connected to the microprocessor for receiving the first control signal and accordingly controlling the deformation of the second sieving valve such that the first particle cannot pass through the second diverting channel. The second actuator is electrically connected to the microprocessor for receiving the second control signal and accordingly controlling the deformation of the first sieving valve such that the second particle cannot pass through the first diverting channel. 
     The invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A˜1D  are operational diagrams of a fluid particle separating device according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a structural diagram of a first sieving valve of the invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a structural diagram of a second sieving valve of the invention; 
         FIG. 2C  is a structural diagram of a third sieving valve of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a deformation vs. time relationship diagram of a conductive macromolecule layer of the invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a structural diagram of a sieving valve of the invention with two valve portions; 
         FIG. 4B  is a diagram of the sieving valve of  FIG. 4A  after being deformed; 
         FIG. 5A  is a top view of a filtering channel and a sorting channel of the invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a longitudinal view of the filtering channel; 
         FIG. 5C  is a transversal view of the filtering channel; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective of a fluid particle separating device according to a second embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 6B  is a circuit block diagram of a fluid particle separating device according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     First Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A˜1D , operational diagrams of a fluid particle separating device according to a first embodiment of the invention are shown. As indicated in  FIG. 1A , the fluid particle separating device  10  at least includes a filtering channel  19 , a sorting channel  11 , two diverting channels  12   a  and  12   b , a detector  13 , a microprocessor  14 , two actuators  15   a  and  15   b , two sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  and two containers  20   a  and  20   b . The filtering channel  19  receives and filters a fluid  18   b , and then outputs a fluid  18   a  that includes at least two particles  17   a  and  17   b . One end of the sorting channel  11  is connected to the filtering channel  19 . The sorting channel  11  is for receiving the fluid  18   b  and guiding the particle  17   a  and  17   b  to sequentially pass through the sorting channel, such that the particles are sequentially arranged one by one and move forward. One ends of the diverting channels  12   a  and  12   b  are respectively connected to the other end of the sorting channel  11 , and the other ends of the diverting channels  12   a  and  12   b  are respectively connected to the containers  20   a  and  20   b . The particles of different sizes are guided to pass through the diverting channels  12   a  and  12   b  and then are collected in the containers  20   a  and  20   b , so as to achieve the object of sorting and collecting the particles. The fluids  18   a  and  18   b  can be liquid, gas or supercritical fluid. 
     The entrance of the sorting channel  11  is exactly the connecting end between the sorting channel  11  and the filtering channel  19 , and the particles  17   a  and  17   b  of the fluid  18   a  are enabled to enter the sorting channel  11  from the filtering channel  19  sequentially by means of the fluid focus effect. Basically, the structure of the filtering channel  19  is formed by three channels. The fluid  18   b  is injected into the sorting channel  11  via the middle channel  19   a , and then the fluid  18   a  is outputted, and the sheath fluid is injected into the sorting channel  11  via the other two lateral channels. By appropriately controlling the speed of injecting the fluid into each channel of the filtering channel  19 , the sheath fluid filled in the two lateral sides squeezes the fluid  18   a  at the nozzle of the middle channel  19   a  near the sorting channel  11  to generate fluid focus effect. Thus, the range of the fluid  18   a  is narrowed. The faster the sheath fluid flows at the two lateral sides, the more centralized the fluid  18   a  becomes. By appropriately controlling the flowing speed and the squeezing of the sheath fluid from the two lateral sides, the range of the fluid  18   a  is substantially downsized to the width of a single particle, such that the particles  17   a  and  17   b  of the fluid  18   a  are enabled to sequentially enter the sorting channel  11  from the filtering channel  19 , thereby producing the effect of sorting single particle. Furthermore, the fluid focus effect is generated when the middle fluid is centralized by the sheath fluid from the two lateral sides and it forces the outflowing width of the middle fluid to be reduced to the expected size of the invention. 
     The detector  13  is disposed around the sorting channel  11  and forms a detecting area depicted by dotted line in the sorting channel  11  for recognizing the sizes and numbers of the particle passing through. When the particles pass through the detecting area of the detector  13 , the detector  13  transforms the instant change of the detecting values into a recognition signal. The instant change of the detecting values arises due to different characteristics between the particles and the fluid (such as conductivity and permittivity). Thus, the determination about whether a to-be-detected particle passes through the detecting area of the detector  13  or not is made. Moreover, the sizes and numbers of the particles passing through the detecting area of the detector  13  can also be determined according to the intensity and number of the recognition signals and used as a reference for subsequent sorting. The microprocessor  14  is electrically connected to the detector  13 , and the actuators  15   a  and  15   b  are also electrically connected to the microprocessor  14  respectively. The sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  are deformable and disposed inside the diverting channels  12   a  and  12   b  respectively. The microprocessor  14  outputs corresponding control signals to at least one of the actuators  15   a  and  15   b  according to the detecting results of the detector  13 , thereby controls the deformations of the sieving valves  16   b  and  16   a . Besides, the deformations of the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  are respectively used for determining the dimensions of the diverting channels  12   a  and  12   b . If the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  are disposed inside the diverting channels  12   a  and  12   b  with the volume being expanded or the thickness thereof being increased, then the dimensions of the diverting channels  12   a  and  12   b  will be reduced when the volume of the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  is expanded or the thickness thereof is increased. When the size of the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  or the thickness thereof remains the same or the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  are restored to the original state, then the dimensions of the diverting channels  12   a  and  12   b  will be unchanged or the diverting channels  12   a  and  12   b  will be restored to the original state for allowing the particles to enter the containers  20   a  and  20   b.    
     As indicated in  FIG. 1B , when the particle  17   a  enters the detecting area of the detector  13  inside the sorting channel  11 , the detector  13  recognizes the sizes and numbers of the particle  17   a  by ways of electrical, magnetic or optical method and outputs a recognition signal S 1 . For example, the detector  13  is a Coulter counter which recognizes the sizes and numbers of the particle by way of electrical method. The optical detecting technology can recognizes the size of the particle according to how much light is shielded or scattered by the particle by projecting the light to the particle. Besides, the detector  13  has a counter for adding the counting number by 1 after the detector  13  recognizes the size of the particle. After the detector  13  detects all of the particles, the counter outputs the total counting number of the particles. The recognition signal S 1  contains the information of the size and number of the particle  17   a . The microprocessor  14  receives the recognition signal S 1 , and outputs a control signal C 1  accordingly. The actuator  15   a  receives the control signal C 1  and accordingly controls the deformation of the sieving valve  16   b  such that the particle  17   a  cannot pass through the diverting channel  12   b . The actuator  15   a  controls the deformation of the sieving valve  16   b  mechanically or by way of electrical signals. In the present embodiment of the invention, the actuator  15   a  is electrically connected to the sieving valve  16   b , and outputs a voltage V 1  to the sieving valve  16   b  after receiving the control signal C 1 . The sieving valve  16   b  receives the voltage V 1  such that the volume of the sieving valve  16   b  is expanded or the thickness is increased, thereby reducing the dimension of the diverting channel  12   b . Since the size of the particle  17   a  is larger than the dimension of the diverting channel  12   b , the particle  17   a  cannot pass through the diverting channel  12   b . Meanwhile, the size or the thickness of the sieving valve  16   a  does not change, so the dimension of the diverting channel  12   a  also remains unchanged for allowing the particle  17   a  whose size is smaller than the dimension of the diverting channel  12   a  to pass through the diverting channel  12   a  and enter the container  20   a . It is noted that when the particle  17   a  is moving within the detecting area of the detector  13 , the detector  13  continues to output the recognition signal S 1  to the microprocessor  14 , the microprocessor  14  continues to output the control signal C 1  to the actuator  15   a , and the actuator  15   a  continues to output the voltage V 1  to the sieving valve  16   b , such that the volume of the sieving valve  16   b  is expanded or the thickness thereof is increased to such a size that the particle  17   a  cannot pass through the diverting channel  12   b.    
     As indicated in  FIG. 1C , when the particle  17   a  leaves the detecting area of the detector  13  and the particle  17   b  enters the detecting area of the detector  13 , the detector  13  recognizes the size and number of the particle  17   b  and accordingly outputs a recognition signal S 2 . The recognition signal S 2  contains the information of the size and number of the particle  17   b . The microprocessor  14  receives a recognition signal S 2  and outputs a control signal C 2  accordingly. The actuator  15   b  receives the control signal C 2  and accordingly controls the deformation of the sieving valve  16   a  such that particle  17   b  cannot pass through diverting channel  12   a . The actuator  15   b  controls the deformation of the sieving valve  16   a  mechanically or by way of electrical signals. In the present embodiment of the invention, the actuator  15   b  is electrically connected to the sieving valve  16   a  and outputs a voltage V 2  to the sieving valve  16   a  after receiving the control signal C 2 . The sieving valve  16   a  receives the voltage V 2  such that the volume of the sieving valve  16   a  is expanded or the thickness thereof is increased, thereby reducing the dimension of the diverting channel  12   a . Since the size of the particle  17   b  is larger than the dimension of the diverting channel  12   a , the particle  17   b  cannot pass through the diverting channel  12   a . Meanwhile, the particle  17   a  has left the detecting area of the detector  13  for a while and is ready to enter the container  20   a , the actuator  15   a  will stop outputting the voltage V 1  to the sieving valve  16   b . Thus, the sieving valve  16   b  will be restored to the state as in  FIG. 1A . As the sieving valve  16   b  has restored to the original state, the size of the diverting channel  12   b  will also be restored to the original dimension for allowing the particle  17   b  whose size is smaller than the dimension of the diverting channel  12   b  to pass through the diverting channel  12   b  and enter the container  20   b . It is noted that when the particle  17   b  is moving within the detecting area of the detector  13 , the detector  13  continues to output the recognition signal S 2  to the microprocessor  14 , the microprocessor  14  continues to output the control signal C 2  to the actuator  15   b , and the actuator  15   b  continues to output the voltage V 2  to the sieving valve  16   a , such that the volume of the sieving valve  16   a  is expanded or the thickness thereof is increased to such a size that the particle  17   b  can not pass through the diverting channel  12   a.    
     As indicated in  FIG. 1D , after the particle  17   b  has left the detecting area of the detector  13  for a while and is ready to enter the container  20   b , the actuator  15   b  will stop outputting the voltage V 2  to the sieving valve  16   a . Thus, the sieving valve  16   a  will be restored to the state as in  FIG. 1A . At last, the particles  17   a  and  17   b  will be collected in the containers  20   a  and  20   b  respectively. After the detector  13  recognizes the sizes of the particles  17   a  and  17   b , the detector  13  outputs a counting value of the particle that is equal to 2. 
     The structural design of the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  is exemplified by the sieving valve  16   a  with accompanied drawings. However, the technology of the present embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto. Referring to  FIG. 2A , a structural diagram of a first sieving valve of the invention is shown. As indicated in  FIG. 2A , the sieving valve  16   a  includes a conductive macromolecule layer  21  and an electrolytic layer  22 . The conductive macromolecule layer  21  is disposed next to the electrolytic layer  22 . The voltage V is applied onto the conductive macromolecule layer  21  and the electrolytic layer  22  for moving the ions of the electrolytic layer  22  to the conductive macromolecule layer  21 . Thus, the conductive macromolecule of the conductive macromolecule layer  21  will form a covenant bond with the ions, such that the volume of the conductive macromolecule layer  21  is expanded or the thickness thereof is increased. The above reaction is expressed as follows: 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     The deformation of the conductive macromolecule layer  21  is stated below. During the redox reaction of the conductive macromolecule, the original structure of the conductive macromolecule interacts with external ions to form a covenant bond, thereby causing the volume or the thickness of the conductive macromolecule layer  21  to change. In the present embodiment of the invention, the conductive macromolecule layer  21  is made from an electro-deformable macromolecule material such as a conjugate conductive macromolecule material including polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PAn), polysulfone or polyacetylene (PAc). Besides, the electrolytic layer  21  includes dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid ions, perchloric acid ions and benzene sulfonic acid ions. The electrolytic layer  21  can be made from a solid material or a fluid. 
     Despite the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  of the present embodiment of the invention are exemplified by a conductive macromolecule material whose volume is expanded or thickness is increased when receiving a voltage, however the technology of the present embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  can be made from an elastic deformable material, and the actuators  15   a  and  15   b  correspondingly control the deformation of the sieving valves  16   b  and  16   a  respectively by use of static electricity, high voltage or magnetic electricity. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2B , a structural diagram of a second sieving valve of the invention is shown. As indicated in  FIG. 2B , the sieving valve  16   a  includes two conductive macromolecule layers  21  and  23  as well as the electrolytic layer  22 , wherein the electrolytic layer  22  is sandwiched by the conductive macromolecule layers  21  and  23 . The voltage V is applied onto the conductive macromolecule layers  21  and  23  for moving the ions of the electrolytic layer  22  to the conductive macromolecule layers  21  or  23 . Thus, the conductive macromolecules of the conductive macromolecule layer  21  or  23  will form a covenant bond with ions, such that the volume of the conductive macromolecule layers  21  or  23  is expanded or the thickness is increased. The conductive macromolecule layer  23  includes polypyrroles (PPy), polyaniline, polysulfone (PS) and polyacetylene. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2C , a structural diagram of a third sieving valve of the invention is shown. As indicated in  FIG. 2C , the sieving valve  16 a includes a conductive macromolecule layer  24  and an electrolyte solution  25 , wherein the conductive macromolecule layer  24  is embedded in the electrolyte solution  25  that has no contact with the fluid  18   a . The voltage V is applied onto the conductive macromolecule layer  24  and the electrolyte solution  25  for moving the ions of the electrolyte solution  25  to the conductive macromolecule layer  24 . Thus, the conductive macromolecule of the conductive macromolecule layer  24  will form a covenant bond with the ions, such that the volume of the conductive macromolecule layer  24  is expanded or the thickness thereof is increased. The conductive macromolecule layer  24  includes polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PAn), polysulfone or polyacetylene (PAc). The electrolyte solution  25  includes dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid ions, perchloric acid ions or benzene sulfonic acid ions, and can be a non-neutral fluid. As for the sieving valve  16   b , it can be the same as the design in  FIGS. 2A˜2C . However, the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  can be the same or different design. 
     If the conductive macromolecule layer of the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  has a slow reaction in electro-deformation, for example, in the deformation vs. time relationship diagram of  FIG. 3 , there is a deformation Δ 1  during a time period Δt 1 , and generating the whole deformation Δ 2  requires a time period of Δt 2 . In the present embodiment of the invention, to go with the design of the width of the channels  12   a  and  12   b , only the deformation Δ 1  of the conductive macromolecule is required for controlling the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  and increasing the operating frequency of the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b.    
     Moreover, the thinner the conductive macromolecule layer, the faster the conductive macromolecule layer is deformed. Thus, the structures of the sieving valves  16   a  and  16   b  can be changed into other structures that are two vertically stacked and double-layered as indicated in the sieving valve  26  of  FIG. 4A˜4B  for increasing the reaction rate of deformation. In  FIGS. 4A˜4B , the sieving valve  26  includes two valve portions  26   a  and  26   b  correspondingly disposed inside the channel  12   a  and electrically connected to the actuator  15   b  of  FIG. 1A . When the valve portions  26   a  and  26   b  receive a voltage, the volume of the valve portions  26   a  and  26   b  is expanded or the thickness thereof is increased, such that the width of the channel  12   a  is largely reduced by slightly deforming the valve portions  26   a  and  26   b . Besides, the sieving valve  26  can be disposed inside the channel  12   b  to replace the sieving valve  16   b . The valve portions  26   a  and  26   b  can be a double-layered structure formed by the conductive macromolecule layer and the electrolytic layer, a three-layered structure formed with an electrolytic layer being sandwiched by two conductive macromolecule layers or a structure formed with a conductive macromolecule layer being embedded in the electrolyte solution. The valve portions  26   a  and  26   b  can have the same or different structures. For example, the valve portion  26   a  includes a first conductive macromolecule layer and a first electrolytic layer, but the valve portion  26   b  includes a second conductive macromolecule layer and a second electrolytic layer similar to the structure indicated in  FIG. 2A . The first conductive macromolecule layer and the first electrolytic layer are disposed opposite to the second conductive macromolecule layer and the second electrolytic layer. The actuator  15   b  of  FIG. 1A  is for outputting a voltage to the first conductive macromolecule layer and the first electrolytic layer as well as the second conductive macromolecule layer and the second electrolytic layer for controlling the deformation of the valve portions  26   a  and  26   b  respectively. The valve portions  26   a  and  26   b  can be made from an elastic deformable material. 
     The filtering design of the filtering channel  19  is exemplified below with accompanied drawings. However, the technology of the present embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto. Referring to both  FIGS. 5A˜5C ,  FIG. 5A  is a top view of a filtering channel and a sorting channel of the invention,  FIG. 5B  is a longitudinal view of the filtering channel, and  FIG. 5C  is a transversal view of the filtering channel. As indicated in  FIG. 5A˜5C , the fluid particle separating device  10  further includes an actuator  35  and a sieving valve  36 . The sieving valve  36  is deformable and disposed inside the middle channel  19   a  of the filtering channel  19 . The actuator  35  receives a particle distribution signal S 3  containing the information of the distribution range of the particles in the fluid  18   b . The actuator  35  then controls the deformation of the sieving valve  36  according to the distribution range of the particles of the fluid  18   b  such that the particles  17   a  and  17   b  pass through the filtering channel  19  to enter the sorting channel  11 . In the present embodiment of the invention, the actuator  35  receives a particle distribution signal S 3  and then outputs a voltage V 3  accordingly. The sieving valve  36 , disposed inside the middle channel  19   a  of the filtering channel  19  with the volume of the sieving valve  36  being expanded or the thickness thereof being increased, is electrically connected to the actuator  35 . After the sieving valve  36  receives the voltage V 3 , the volume of the sieving valve  36  is expanded or the thickness thereof is increased for enabling the particles  17   a  and  17   b  to pass through the filtering channel  19  to enter the sorting channel  11 . The sieving valve  36  includes the valve portions  36   a  and  36   b  electrically connected to the actuator  35  respectively. Thus, as the actuator  35  outputs the voltage V 3  to the valve portions  36   a  and  36   b  respectively, the volume of the valve portions  36   a  and  36   b  is expanded or the thickness thereof is increased for filtering unwanted impurities whose size is large than the particles  17   a  and  17   b . Suitable filtering dimension for the sieving valve  36  in the invention can be pre-determined according to the characteristics of the fluid (for example, the neutral fluid, the non-neutral fluid or the electrolyte) and the size of the particles to be collected so as to reduce the influence of the impurities in the fluid on the accuracy of subsequent process of ranking and sorting the particles. For example, the relative position and inter-space between the valve portions  36   a  and  36   b  and the deformation thereof can be pre-determined. Furthermore, the valve portions  36   a  and  36   b  can be a double-layered structure formed by the conductive macromolecule layer and the electrolytic layer, a three-layered structure formed with an electrolytic layer being sandwiched by two conductive macromolecule layers, or a structure formed with a conductive macromolecule layer being embedded in the electrolyte solution. The valve portions  36   a  and  36   b  can have the same or different structure. The sieving valve  36  can be made from an elastic deformable material, such that the actuator  35  can control the deformation of the sieving valve  36  in the way of using mechanical force. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Referring to both  FIGS. 6A˜6B ,  FIG. 6A  is a perspective of a fluid particle separating device according to a second embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 6B  is a circuit block diagram of a fluid particle separating device according to a second embodiment of the invention. As indicated in  FIGS. 6A˜6B , the fluid particle separating device  60  includes a filtering channel  69 , a sorting channel  61 , a plurality of diverting channels  62 ( 1 )˜ 62 ( n ), a detector  63 , a microprocessor  64 , a plurality of actuators  65 ( 1 )˜ 65 ( n ) and  71 ( 1 )˜ 71 ( n ), a plurality of sieving valves  66 ( 1 )˜ 66 ( n ) and  68 ( 1 )˜ 68 ( n ) and a plurality of containers  70 ( 1 )˜ 70 ( n ), wherein n is a positive integer larger than 2. The filtering channel  69  receives and filters a first fluid, and outputs a second fluid, wherein the second fluid contains a plurality of particles whose sizes are different. The sorting channel  61  is connected to the filtering channel  69  for receiving the second fluid and guiding the second particles of a fluid to sequentially pass through the sorting channel. One ends of the diverting channels  62 ( 1 )˜ 62 ( n ) are respectively connected to the sorting channel  61 , and the other ends of the diverting channels  62 ( 1 )˜ 62 ( n ) are correspondingly connected to the containers  70 ( 1 )˜ 70 ( n ). That is, the diverting channels  62 ( 1 )˜ 62 ( n ) are sequentially arranged at one side of the sorting channel  61 , and the containers  70 ( 1 )˜ 70 ( n ) are also sequentially arranged. The containers  70 ( 1 )˜ 70 ( n ) are for correspondingly collecting the first type to the n th  type of particles. The detector  63  is disposed around the sorting channel  61  and forms a detecting area (depicted in dotted line) inside the sorting channel  61  for recognizing the sizes and numbers of the particles passing through. The microprocessor  64  is electrically connected to the detector  63 , and the actuators  65 ( 1 )˜ 65 ( n ) and  71 ( 1 )˜ 71 ( n ) are electrically connected to the microprocessor  64  respectively. The sieving valves  66 ( 1 )˜ 66 ( n ) are deformable and correspondingly disposed inside the diverting channels  62 ( 1 )˜ 62 ( n ) and are correspondingly and electrically or mechanically connected to the actuators  65 ( 1 )˜ 65 ( n ). The sieving valves  68 ( 1 )˜ 68 ( n ) are deformable and correspondingly disposed inside the sorting channel  61  and are correspondingly and electrically or mechanically connected to the actuators  71 ( 1 )˜ 71 ( n ). The sieving valve  68 ( 1 ) is disposed inside the sorting channel  61  located between the diverting channels  62 ( 1 )˜ 62 ( 2 ). That is, the sieving valve  68 ( i ) is disposed inside the sorting channel  61  located between the diverting channels  62 ( i )˜ 62 ( i +1), wherein i is a positive integer ranging from 1˜n. 
     When the detector  63  recognizes the first particle, the detector  63  outputs a first recognition signal to the microprocessor  64 . The microprocessor  64  outputs a first control signal to the actuator  71 ( 1 ) according to the first recognition signal. The actuator  71 ( 1 ) controls the deformation of the sieving valve  68 ( 1 ) according to the first control signal such that the first particle enters the container  70 ( 1 ) via the diverting channel  62 ( 1 ). In the present embodiment of the invention, the actuator  71 ( 1 ) outputs a first voltage to the sieving valve  68 ( 1 ) according to the first control signal for expanding the volume of the sieving valve  68 ( 1 ) or increasing the thickness thereof such that the first particle enters the container  70 ( 1 ) via the diverting channel  62 ( 1 ). 
     Similarly, when the detector  63  recognizes the second particle, the detector  63  outputs a second recognition signal to the microprocessor  64 . The microprocessor  64  outputs a second control signal to the actuators  71 ( 2 ) and  65 ( 1 ) according to the second recognition signal. The actuators  71 ( 2 ) and  65 ( 1 ) respectively control the deformation of the sieving valves  68 ( 2 ) and  66 ( 1 ) according to the second control signal correspondingly such that the second particle enters the container  70 ( 2 ) via the diverting channel  62 ( 2 ). In the present embodiment of the invention, the actuators  71 ( 2 ) and  65 ( 1 ) respectively output a second voltage to the sieving valves  68 ( 2 ) and  66 ( 1 ) according to the second control signal for expanding the volume of the sieving valves  68 ( 2 ) and  66 ( 1 ) or increasing the thickness thereof such that the second particle enters the container  70 ( 2 ) via the diverting channel  62 ( 2 ). 
     Likewise, a particle sieving process (except the first particle) is designed and stated below. When the detector  63  recognizes the (j+1) th  particle, the detector  63  outputs a (j+1) th  recognition signal to the microprocessor  64 . The microprocessor  64  outputs a (j+ 1 ) th  control signal to the actuators  71 ( j +1) and  65 ( 1 )˜ 65 ( j ) according to the (j+1) th  recognition signal. The actuators  71 ( j +1) and  65 ( 1 )˜ 650 ) correspondingly control the deformation of the sieving valves  68 ( j +1) and  66 ( 1 )˜ 660 ) according to the (j+1) th  control signal correspondingly such that the (j+1) th  particle enters the container  70 ( j +1) via the diverting channel  62 ( j +1), wherein j is a positive integer ranging from 1˜n. In the present embodiment of the invention, the actuators  71 ( j +1) and  65 ( 1 )˜ 65 ( j ) correspondingly output a (j+1) th  voltage to the sieving valves  68 ( j +1) and  66 ( 1 )˜ 66 ( j ) according to the (j+1) th  control signal for expanding the volume of the sieving valves  68 ( j +1) and 66( 1 )˜ 66 ( j ) or increasing the thickness thereof such that the (j+1) th  particle enters the container  70 ( j +1) via the diverting channel  62 ( j +1). 
     It is noted that each of the sieving valves  66 ( 1 )˜ 66 ( n ) and  68 ( 1 )˜ 68 ( n ) can be a double-layered structure formed by the conductive macromolecule layer and the electrolytic layer, a three-layered structure formed with an electrolytic layer being sandwiched by two conductive macromolecule layers, a structure formed with a conductive macromolecule layer being embedded in the electrolyte solution or a structure formed by two or more than two valve portions. The valve portion can be a double-layered structure formed by the conductive macromolecule layer and the electrolytic layer, a three-layered structure formed with an electrolytic layer being sandwiched by two conductive macromolecule layers, or a structure formed with a conductive macromolecule layer being embedded in the electrolyte solution. The sieving valves  66 ( 1 )˜ 66 ( n ) and  68 ( 1 )˜ 68 ( n ) can be made from an elastic deformable material, such that the actuators  65 ( 1 )˜ 65 ( n ) and  71 ( 1 )˜ 71 ( n ) control the deformation of the sieving valves  66 ( 1 )˜ 66 ( n ) and  68 ( 1 )˜ 68 ( n ) by way of using mechanical force. The sieving valves  66 ( 1 )˜ 66 ( n ) and  68 ( 1 )˜ 68 ( n ) can have the same or different structures. Besides, the structure of the valve portion of the same sieving valve can be the same or different. 
     To summarize, the fluid particle separating device disclosed in the above embodiments has a sorting channel for the fluid and a container, wherein the sorting channel and the container are connected by diverting channels. A sieving valve is disposed inside a diverting channel or a sorting channel between two diverting channels. The sieving valve is a double-layered structure formed by the conductive macromolecule layer and the electrolytic layer, a three-layered structure formed with an electrolytic layer being sandwiched by two conductive macromolecule layers, a structure formed with a conductive macromolecule layer being embedded in the electrolyte solution or a structure formed by two or more than two valve portions and can be made from an elastic deformable material. The valve portion can also be a double-layered structure formed by the conductive macromolecule layer and the electrolytic layer, a three-layered structure formed with an electrolytic layer being sandwiched by two conductive macromolecule layers, or a structure formed with a conductive macromolecule layer being embedded in the electrolyte solution. The sieving valve driven by the above actuator controls the particles that are allowed to pass through the sorting channel. When the particles of the fluid enter the diverting channel via the sorting channel, if the above control valve is conductive and includes conductive macromolecule for example, then the sieving valve is regarded as an electrode. If an external circuit is provided, the sieving valve can be used for measuring the sizes and counting the number of the particles according to the Coulter theory. The containers can receive particles of different sizes. Lastly, the distribution of the particles in the fluid for a period of time is obtained according to the sorting and calculating function of the microprocessor. 
     It is noted that, according to the flowing characteristics of the middle fluid and the fluid focus effect of the fast sheath fluid at the two sides at the entrance of the sorting channel (the connecting end between the sorting channel and the filtering channel), the fluid particle separating device of the present embodiment of the invention sequentially guides the particles in the middle fluid to enter the sorting channel. Then, in the middle of the sorting channel, the sizes and numbers of the particles are detected by ways of electrical, magnetic or optical function of the detector. Lastly, the sieving valve at the rear end of the diverting channel enables the particles of specific sizes to be collected to a predetermined container. 
     Furthermore, the particle separating device disclosed in the present embodiment of the invention is applicable to the analysis of the distribution of the size of homogenic cells or particles. As the concentration of the fluid having ordinary cells or particles is already lowered, the detector recognizes single cell or particle monomer individually after the cell or particle passes through the sorting channel. The particle separating device disclosed in the present embodiment of the invention is also applicable to the analysis and recognition of xenogenic cells or particles. 
     Thus, the present embodiment of the invention provides a fluid particle separating device for sorting particles that have different physical or chemical characteristics. With the design of an elastic and deformable sieving valve, the above particles are respectively guided into different containers and are sorted accordingly. Besides, the particle separating technologies in the present embodiment of the invention are applicable to sorting the components in the blood or body fluid, measuring the qualities of different cells in the blood, or filtering the particles and impurities contained in the body fluid. Moreover, the fluid particle separating device disclosed in the present embodiment of the invention possesses specific functions. The fluid particle separating device sorts the particles in a fluid by recognizing the sizes of the particles and controlling the deformation of a sieving valve. Furthermore, according to the location of the sieving valve, the characteristics of the particle are determined and the impurities in the fluid are filtered. 
     The fluid particle separating device disclosed in the present embodiment of the invention is indeed capable of filtering, recognizing, and sorting the particles and impurities in a fluid according to the location and material chosen for the sieving valve. 
     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.