Patent ID: 8865003

Claim:
A method for removing particles from a sample of fluid comprising a particulate component suspended in a liquid component, said method comprising: providing a sample of fluid; introducing the sample of fluid into an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a flow channel defined by a first layer and a second layer, the flow channel comprising: a first section having a first width; a second section having a cross section that increases to a second width, then decreases to a third width; and a third section having the third width, a first end of the second section coupled to the first section and a second end of the second section coupled to the third section; an inlet channel extending through one of the first layer or the second layer and coupled to the first section; a first outlet channel extending through one of the first layer or the second layer and coupled to the second section; and a second outlet channel extending through one of the first layer or the second layer and coupled to the third section; providing an acoustic field within the flow channel, which field contains acoustic standing waves generated by external ultrasonic transducers; maintaining a laminar flow of the sample of fluid in the flow channel; removing near field acoustic effects; separating the particulate component from the liquid component; and collecting the liquid component.