Patent ID: 6972080

Claim:
An electrochemical device for moving particles covered with a protein comprising: at least two electrodes and a liquid that contains particles covered with a protein, the liquid being capable of transporting the particles to at least one of the electrodes and the particles being selected from microorganisms and blood cell components, wherein the at least two electrodes oppose each other with a space therebetween, each is at least partially immersed in the liquid and each comprises a metal material having a different oxidation/reduction potential; and a circuit capable of connecting the electrodes outside the liquid to generate a potential difference between the electrodes in a range such that the potential difference does not cause the electrolysis of the liquid, and an electrically insulating structural member through which the liquid moves, the electrically insulating structural member being disposed in the liquid in the space between the at least two electrodes, wherein the device moves the particles in the liquid by electrophoresis in a direction of the electrode having the lower oxidation/reduction potential of the at least two electrodes, wherein the electrode having the higher oxidation/reduction potential of the at least two electrodes has a first structure selected from one of a porous structure, a mesh structure, and a brush structure, another one electrode of the at least two electrodes has a second structure that allows the liquid to flow into the space, provided that where the device has at least three electrodes, the electrode having the second structure does not have the lowest oxidation/reduction potential of the electrodes, and wherein the device gives a condensed concentration of the microorganisms and/or blood cell components in the liquid.