Patent ID: 8206590

Claim:
A method to fractionate and process a liquid aliquot containing particles of varying sizes and compositions comprising the steps of: A. selecting the aliquot to be processed; B. providing a channel comprising i) a port through which a mobile phase may enter and flow along said channel continuously, ii) an injection port though which said aliquot is injected into said mobile phase, iii) an exit port through which constituents of said aliquot may leave said channel after interactions therewith, and iv) an accumulation wall comprising a porous structure through which a portion of said mobile phase flow transverse to said flow along said channel may pass, wherein said accumulation wall is divided into a plurality of distinct regions, and flow transverse thereto passes through each said distinct region of said accumulation wall into a separate compartment, each said compartment provided with independent means to regulate said transverse flow there into; C. controlling said means to regulate transverse flow into each said compartment to achieve aliquot processing desired; D. injecting said aliquot into said mobile phase, and E. collecting said processed aliquot.