Patent ID: 7220592

Claim:
A method of simultaneously processing multiple particles which have different sizes, the method comprising the steps of (A) pumping a sample from a pump site into a processing chamber through an unbranched inlet conduit which extends from the pump site to the processing chamber; the sample: (a) having a controlled volume which is the same when the sample leaves the pump site and when it enters the processing chamber, and (b) comprising (i) a liquid, and (ii) multiple particles which have different sizes and which are dispersed in the liquid; and wherein the processing chamber contains a plurality of particle retainers, the particle retainers lying in a plane, and each particle retainer having a size such that one, but only one, of each of the particles can be retained therein; (B) causing the particles in the sample to be received by the particle retainers; and (C) simultaneously processing the particles received by the particle retainers; wherein each of the particle retainers is a pocket having a size which is (i) at least 10% larger than the maximum dimension of any of the particles and (ii) less than twice the smallest dimension of any of the particles: and, wherein the pockets are placed on a weir, and there is a gap above the weir through which liquid can pass and which has a maximum dimension which is less than half the smallest dimension of the particles.