Methods of analysis/separation
AssigneeScientific Generics Limited
InventorsColin D. Ager, Andrew N. Dames, Duncan R. Purvis, Nicholas A. Safford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Particles are separated according to their dielectrophoretic characteristics and electrorotation characteristics by the use of a travelling wave separation in which they flow from a departure point at an inlet (18) towards at least two destinations at outlets (16, 20) and are deflected toward one or other outlet according to their characteristics by a travelling wave field set up on an array of electrodes, each electrode running generally in the direction of flow.
Claims10
Apparatus for use in separating particles contained in a liquid, comprising a departure point and at least two destinations, means defining a path for liquid flow between said departure point and said destinations, an array of electrodes spaced from one another in a direction transverse to said path and each extending generally in the direction of said path, and means for applying a travelling electrical field to said electrode array to produce travelling wave field migration of selected particles in said liquid in said path in a direction transverse to said path such that said selected particles are preferentially directed to a respective one of said destinations, each of said destinations having an outlet.
A method of separation of particles contained in a liquid comprising passing a liquid containing a mixture of particles to be separated through a separator having a departure point for said liquid containing said particles to be separated and at least two destinations for liquid containing separated particles, in which the liquid containing the particles to be separated is caused to flow along a path from said departure point to each said destination such that a first portion of said fluid flows to a first said destination and an adjacent portion of said fluid flows to a second said destination and particles in said liquid are subjected to a travelling wave field producing particle movement transverse to said path and to said liquid flow so as to separate said particles from said first portion of the liquid into said adjacent portion of the liquid such that differing particle populations reach respective ones of said destinations, each of said destinations having an outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.