Method and apparatus for fractionation using conventional dielectrophoresis and field flow fractionation
First Claim
1. A method of discriminating matter in a chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port, said chamber defined by a pair of side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, and an electrode element adapted to said chamber, said chamber having a substantially greater width than thickness, utilizing dielectrophoresis and field flow fractionation, comprising:
- introducing a carrier medium including said matter into said inlet port and directing said carrier medium from said inlet port to said outlet port, such that said carrier medium travels through said chamber according to a velocity profile;
applying a programmed voltage signal to said electrode element to create a spatially inhomogeneous electric field which causes a dielectrophoretic force on said matter having components normal to the direction of said carrier medium traveling through said chamber; and
controlling said spatially inhomogeneous electric field to balance said dielectrophoretic force with a gravitational force on said matter to displace said matter to positions within said velocity profile in said carrier medium to discriminate said matter.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for discriminating matter in a chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port utilizing dielectrophoresis and field flow fractionation. A carrier medium is introduced into the inlet port and is directed from the inlet port to the outlet port according to a velocity profile. A programmed voltage signal is applied to an electrode element coupled to the chamber to form a dielectrophoretic force on the matter. The dielectrophoretic force is balanced with a gravitational force to displace the matter to positions within said velocity profile in the carrier medium to discriminate the matter. A chamber having a top and bottom outlet port may be utilized to withdraw a first portion of a carrier medium from the top outlet port at a first, controllable fluid flow rate and to withdraw a second portion of the carrier medium from the bottom outlet port at a second, controllable fluid flow rate.
-
Citations
40 Claims
-
1. A method of discriminating matter in a chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port, said chamber defined by a pair of side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, and an electrode element adapted to said chamber, said chamber having a substantially greater width than thickness, utilizing dielectrophoresis and field flow fractionation, comprising:
-
introducing a carrier medium including said matter into said inlet port and directing said carrier medium from said inlet port to said outlet port, such that said carrier medium travels through said chamber according to a velocity profile;
applying a programmed voltage signal to said electrode element to create a spatially inhomogeneous electric field which causes a dielectrophoretic force on said matter having components normal to the direction of said carrier medium traveling through said chamber; and
controlling said spatially inhomogeneous electric field to balance said dielectrophoretic force with a gravitational force on said matter to displace said matter to positions within said velocity profile in said carrier medium to discriminate said matter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of discriminating matter, utilizing dielectrophoresis and field flow fractionation, in a chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port, said chamber defined by a pair of side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, and an electrode element adapted to said chamber, said chamber having a substantially greater width than thickness, comprising:
-
introducing a carrier medium from said inlet port into said chamber;
introducing said matter into said inlet port;
introducing a transport fluid into said inlet port and directing said transport fluid from said inlet port to said outlet port, such that said transport fluid travels through said chamber according to a velocity profile;
applying a programmed voltage signal to said electrode element to create a spatially inhomogeneous electric field which causes a dielectrophoretic force on said matter having components normal to the direction of said transport fluid traveling through said chamber; and
controlling said spatially inhomogeneous electric field to balance said dielectrophoretic force with a gravitational force on said matter to displace said matter to positions within said velocity profile in said transport fluid to discriminate said matter. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of discriminating matter utilizing dielectrophoresis and field flow fractionation in a chamber defined by a pair of side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, said method comprising:
-
introducing a carrier medium including said matter into an inlet port of said chamber and directing said carrier medium from said inlet port toward top and bottom outlet ports coupled to said top and bottom walls, respectively;
applying an electrical signal to an electrode element coupled to said chamber to create a spatially inhomogeneous electric field to generate a dielectrophoretic force on said matter having components normal to the direction of said carrier medium traveling through said chamber;
controlling said spatially inhomogeneous electric field to balance said dielectrophoretic force with a gravitational force on said matter to displace said matter to different heights within said chamber to discriminate said matter;
withdrawing a first portion of said carrier medium from said top outlet port; and
withdrawing a second portion of said carrier medium from said bottom outlet port. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A method of discriminating matter utilizing dielectrophoresis and field flow fractionation in a chamber defined by a pair of side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, said method comprising:
-
introducing a carrier medium including said matter into an inlet port of said chamber and directing said carrier medium from said inlet port toward top and bottom outlet ports coupled to said top and bottom walls, respectively;
applying an electrical signal to an electrode element coupled to said chamber to create a spatially inhomogeneous electric field to generate a dielectrophoretic force on said matter having components normal to the direction of said carrier medium;
controlling said spatially inhomogeneous electric field to balance said dielectrophoretic force with a gravitational force on said matter to displace said matter to different heights within said chamber to discriminate said matter;
withdrawing a first portion of said carrier medium from said top outlet port at a first fluid flow rate; and
withdrawing a second portion of said carrier medium from said bottom outlet port at a second fluid flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. An apparatus for discriminating matter, comprising:
-
a chamber defined by a top and bottom wall;
an outlet port coupled to said chamber;
an inlet port coupled to said chamber and in spaced relation with outlet port;
an electrode element coupled to said chamber and configured to create a spatially inhomogeneous electric field to generate a dielectrophoretic force on said matter; and
two or more sensing electrode elements coupled to said chamber and defining a detector integral with said chamber.
-
Specification