Dynamic equilibrium separation, concentration, and mixing apparatus and methods
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsIgor Mezic, Frederic Bottausci, Idan Tuval
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Abstract
Particles are separated, concentrated, or mixed within a fluid by means of a fluid-containing cell having a longitudinal axis, a cross-sectional area generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and at least one particle motivating force directionally interacting with at least one recurrent circulating fluid flow generally aligned with the longitudinal axis within the fluid containing cell.
Claims29
An apparatus for separating and concentrating particles within a fluid, comprising:
- a cell designed to contain fluids, the cell having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, wherein the cell is exposed to at least one particle motivating force directionally interacting with the cell such that the at least one particle motivating force affects at least one recurrent circulating fluid flow generally aligned with said longitudinal axis within said fluid containing cell.
A method for dynamically separating and concentrating particles within a fluid, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming at least one recurrent circulating fluid flow within a particle containing fluid;
- and,
- directionally interacting at least one particle motivating force with the at least one recurrent circulating fluid flow.
An apparatus for manipulating particles within a fluid, comprising:
- a cell having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis,
- at least one particle motivating force directionally interacting with the cell, wherein the cell has at least one recurrent circulating fluid flow generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cell.
An apparatus for mixing particles within a fluid, comprising:
- a cell designed to contain fluids, the cell having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, wherein the cell is exposed to at least one particle motivating force directionally interacting with the cell such that the at least one particle motivating force affects at least one recurrent circulating fluid flow generally aligned with said longitudinal axis within said fluid containing cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.