Methods and devices for separating particles in a liquid flow

A method for separating particles in a compartment of a fluidic microsystem, comprising the steps:

• continuously moving through the compartment a liquid in which particles are suspended with a predetermined direction of flow,
• generating a deflecting potential wherein:
• (a) at least a part of the particles is moved relative to the liquid in a direction of deflection, and (b) the deflecting potential is formed by a direct voltage field under whose action the particles are drawn by electrophoresis to at least one of a plurality of lateral walls of the compartment,
• generating at least one focusing potential, so that at least a part of the particles is moved opposite to the direction of deflection relative to the liquid by dielectrophoresis under an effect of high-frequency electrical fields, and
• guiding particles with different electrical, magnetic or geometric properties into different flow areas in the liquid, to thereby separate the particles by combined exertion of the deflecting potential and the at least one focusing potential during the continuous moving of the liquid including the suspended particles.