A method of manipulating particles, comprising: providing: - at least one chamber on a rotor having an outer periphery, each chamber having an inlet and an outlet; each chamber including a conical body portion and a flange extending about at least a portion of a perimeter of the conical body portion, the conical body portion having an inlet situated toward an outer periphery of the rotor and an outlet situated toward the center of the rotor, the flange including an inlet fluid path and an outlet fluid path; - a flexible conduit (130; 330) with first and second spaced-apart passageways (135; 335) therein for each chamber, wherein the first passageway (135; 335) connects with the flange inlet fluid path of a respective chamber and is in fluid communication with the inlet of a respective conical body portion of a chamber and the second passageway (135; 335) connects with the flange outlet fluid path of the respective chamber and is in fluid communication with the outlet of the respective conical body portion of a chamber; - a substantially rigid curvilinear guide tube holding a portion of the conduit (130; 330) therein and curving around the outer periphery of the rotor; - rotating the rotor and the at least one chamber at a first speed, thereby creating a centrifugal force field; - rotating the guide tube and conduit (130; 330) therein at a second speed, wherein the second speed is about one-half the first speed, thereby inhibiting the first and second passageways (135; 335) for each chamber from fully twisting; - flowing media and particles into a respective chamber using the first passageway (135; 335), wherein a continuous flow of media and particles creates a fluid force that substantially opposes the centrifugal force field, thereby immobilizing at least some of the particles in a fluidized bed in the respective chamber; and - flowing media out of the respective chamber and through the second passageway (135; 335). - at least one chamber on a rotor having an outer periphery, each chamber having an inlet and an outlet; each chamber including a conical body portion and a flange extending about at least a portion of a perimeter of the conical body portion, the conical body portion having an inlet situated toward an outer periphery of the rotor and an outlet situated toward the center of the rotor, the flange including an inlet fluid path and an outlet fluid path; - a flexible conduit (130; 330) with first and second spaced-apart passageways (135; 335) therein for each chamber, wherein the first passageway (135; 335) connects with the flange inlet fluid path of a respective chamber and is in fluid communication with the inlet of a respective conical body portion of a chamber and the second passageway (135; 335) connects with the flange outlet fluid path of the respective chamber and is in fluid communication with the outlet of the respective conical body portion of a chamber; - a substantially rigid curvilinear guide tube holding a portion of the conduit (130; 330) therein and curving around the outer periphery of the rotor; - rotating the rotor and the at least one chamber at a first speed, thereby creating a centrifugal force field; - rotating the guide tube and conduit (130; 330) therein at a second speed, wherein the second speed is about one-half the first speed, thereby inhibiting the first and second passageways (135; 335) for each chamber from fully twisting; - flowing media and particles into a respective chamber using the first passageway (135; 335), wherein a continuous flow of media and particles creates a fluid force that substantially opposes the centrifugal force field, thereby immobilizing at least some of the particles in a fluidized bed in the respective chamber; and - flowing media out of the respective chamber and through the second passageway (135; 335).