Patent ID: 7175810

Claim:
A method for processing particles comprising the steps of: A) placing a sample containing said particles dispersed in a liquid into a processing chamber comprising: i) an inlet; ii) an elongate particle retention passage (EPRP) having first and second ends, said EPRP being in liquid communication with said inlet; iii) an elongate particle receptor located between said first and second EPRP ends, said elongate particle receptor comprising: an elongate barrier member for permitting liquid passage while preventing passage of particles to be processed, said barrier being a weir and the only way in which liquid can pass said barrier member being over said weir; and, iv) an elongate retention member adjacent said weir and forming an elongate corner with said weir; B) causing at least some of said particles in said placed sample to be received by said particle receptor so that said received particles are all in the same plane; and, C) processing at least some of said particles received by said particle receptor.