Patent ID: 8208138

Claim:
A spiral microchannel particle separator comprising: an inlet for receiving a solution containing particles; a microchannel arranged in a plurality of loops, the microchannel comprising a spiral radius of curvature R, a microchannel length L, and a hydraulic diameter D h ; and at least two outlets; wherein: particles within a solution flowing through the spiral microchannel experience a lift force F L and a Dean drag force F D ; the spiral radius of curvature R and the hydraulic diameter D h of the spiral microchannel are such that for a flow rate U of the solution, the lift force F L and a Dean drag force F D are approximately equal and act in opposite directions for particles of a first size; the particles of the first size are focused in a single stream located at an equilibrium position near an inner wall of the microchannel; and the microchannel length L is such that the particles of the first size exit the spiral microchannel particle separator at a first outlet of the at least two outlets.