Patent ID: 8550604

Claim:
A method for selectively directing a particulate sample along one or more branches of a multi-branch traveling wave grid assembly, the method comprising: providing a multi-branch traveling wave grid assembly including (i) a substrate, (ii) a common electrode region disposed on the substrate, (iii) a plurality of traveling wave electrode grid branches extending from the common electrode region, and (iv) at least one electronic controller in electrical communication with the common electrode region and the plurality of traveling wave electrode grid branches and adapted to induce traveling waves on the common electrode region and the plurality of traveling wave electrode grid branches; applying a particulate sample on at least one of the common electrode region and one or more branches of the plurality of traveling wave electrode grid branches; operating the at least one electronic controller to induce traveling waves upon selected regions of the common electrode region and one or more branches of the traveling wave electrode grid branches; whereby at least a portion of the particulate sample is selectively directed along one or more branches of the multi-branch traveling wave grid assembly.