Patent ID: 7115230

Claim:
A device comprising: a micro-fluidic inlet channel to convey a process flow; a plurality of micro-fluidic focusing channels to each convey one of a plurality of focusing flows, wherein the plurality of focusing channels include a first channel on a first side of the inlet channel, a second channel on a second side of the inlet channel, a third upper channel over the inlet channel, and a fourth lower channel under the inlet channel, the first and second focusing channels being planar with the inlet channel and the third and fourth focusing channels being non-planar with the inlet channel; a focusing manifold coupled with the inlet channel at an inlet port, coupled with the first channel at a first focusing channel port on a first side of the inlet channel, coupled with the second channel at a second focusing channel port on a second side of the inlet channel, coupled with the third channel at a third upper focusing channel port over the inlet channel on the first side of the inlet channel, and coupled with the fourth channel at a fourth lower focusing channel port under the inlet channel on the second side of the inlet channel, wherein the third upper focusing channel and the fourth lower focusing channel approach the focusing manifold from opposite sides thereof and are angled relative to the inlet channel with substantially equal angles, an additional upper focusing channel over the inlet channel on the second side of the inlet channel, and an additional lower focusing channel under the inlet channel on the first side of the inlet channel, wherein the additional upper focusing channel and the third upper focusing channel approach the focusing manifold from opposite sides thereof and are angled relative to the inlet channel with substantially equal angles and the additional lower focusing channel and the fourth lower focusing channel approach the focusing manifold from opposite sides thereof and are angled relative to the inlet, the focusing manifold to focus the process flow by contacting four sides of the process flow with the plurality of focusing flows; and a micro-fluidic outlet channel coupled with the focusing manifold at an outlet channel port to convey the focused process flow and focusing flows from the focusing manifold.