Patent ID: 7837944

Claim:
A flow unit for microfluidic particle separation and concentration, the unit comprising: a first member and a second member wherein each of the members is in the form of a wedge, each of said wedges comprising a first corner which flares outwardly to define a turn segment; a second corner at which point the wedge is more narrow than at the first corner; and a flat edge acting as a diffuser segment; wherein the first and second members are arranged such that a channel is formed; wherein the channel is laid out such that each of the members' second corners define a nozzle segment having an opening through which fluid and microfluidic particles enter the flow unit, and such that downstream of the nozzle segment the channel defines a narrowing portion at which the distance between the first and second members narrows from the opening to increase momentum of the fluid through the nozzle segment; wherein the edge which defines the diffuser segment of the second member extends past the corner which defines the turn segment of the first member along an axis defined by the flow through the channel; and wherein the turn segment defined by the first corner of the first member changes the flow direction of the fluid consistent with the first member causing a separation based on the relative size of particles contained within the fluid.