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). <EOS>