Abstract: Devices for the separation of components within a fluid are disclosed herein. The device typically includes layers of spacers and separation surfaces. The separation panels have channels with functionalized surfaces to attract and retain components within the fluid. The separation panels include a border (housing) to constrain the fluid.

Abstract: Absorbent microstructure panels are described herein. An example filter device includes a plurality of microstructure panels each having a front surface and a back surface, and a plurality of capillary ridges protruding from the front surface. The plurality of capillary ridges are each spaced apart from one another. The plurality of microstructure panels form an absorbent microstructure array by layering the plurality of microstructure panels together such that the plurality of capillary ridges of one microstructure panel contacts the back surface of an adjacent microstructure panel to create capillary tubes that draw fluid into the absorbent microstructure array.

Abstract: Various structures for catalytic convertors are disclosed herein. The device includes an outer housing enclosing a catalytic core. The catalytic core can be formed in a myriad of ways. Flow paths through the core are constructed so that they are not straight-line paths from the inlet of the device to the outlet of the device. Pleated conformations and stacked core arrays are described that maximize the catalytic surface area in a given volume of housing. The application of the core to exhaust from diesel engines is also disclosed.

Abstract: A layered porous film with a fluidic path through orthogonally oriented ribbed layers of varying size and spacing for the filtering or separation of particles or compounds. Any number of additional layers and materials may be added to modify the flow characteristics through the film.

Abstract: Microstructure separation filters are provided herein, as well as chromatography and other separation devices. An exemplary filter device includes a microstructure filter has a plurality of layers of alternating sacrificial and/or structural material which have been etched to create inlet channels and outlet channels. Adjacent ones of the inlet channels and the outlet channels are spaced apart from one another by cross channels that filter a fluid from the inlet channels to the outlet channels. The cross channels include filter features formed by etching away of a portion of the layers. The device also includes a housing configured to receive the microstructure filter.

Abstract: This disclosure relates a fluid filter whose pores are created by raised structures on a base. The raised structures may be macro, micro and/or nanometer scale structures. The structures can be configured in myriad ways to control flow rate and extracted particle size of a filtering system. Typically a plurality of filter panels will be stacked to form a filtering unit.

Abstract: Various structures for catalytic convertors are disclosed herein. The device includes an outer housing enclosing a catalytic core. The catalytic core can be formed in a myriad of ways. Flow paths through the core are constructed so that they are not straight-line paths from the inlet of the device to the outlet of the device. Zigzag conformations and stacked panel arrays are described that maximize the catalytic surface area in a given volume of housing.

Abstract: Three dimensional filter devices and devices are provided herein. An example substrate includes a primary inlet boundary and a primary outlet boundary, as well as a plurality of filter rows that include microstructure filter members that remove particulate matter from a fluid flowing across or through the substrate; the fluid entering through the inlet boundary and exiting through the outlet boundary. Each of the microstructure filter members includes a secondary inlet channel and a secondary outlet channel that couple to adjacent microstructure filter members.

Abstract: Micro-channel fluid filters and methods of use are provided herein. In one embodiment a fluid film may include a plurality of dividing walls extending from an upper surface of a film, the plurality of dividing walls forming a plurality of tapered inlet channels, a plurality of cross channels formed along a length of each of the plurality of dividing walls, an inlet channel for each of the plurality of tapered inlet channels, and an outlet channel for each of the plurality of tapered inlet channels.

Abstract: Multiple staged filters are provided herein. A filter may include a plurality of panels that each include a filtering front surface and a flat back surface, the filtering front surface having a first row of vertically extending protrusions spaced apart from one another to form vertical channels, a second row of vertically extending protrusions spaced apart from one another to form vertical channels, and one or more rows of filtering protrusions, where the one or more rows are vertically spaced apart from one another and extending between the first and second rows of vertically extending protrusions. Further, each row of filtering protrusions may include filtering protrusions that are spaced from one another to form filter channels having a size that is configured to receive and retain objects of a given size.

Abstract: Microstructure flow mixing devices are disclosed herein. An example device a first panel, a first plurality of raised features extending from a first surface of the first panel, a second plurality of raised features extending from the first surface of the first panel and a plurality of divider microstructures extending from the first surface of the first panel in line with and in between the first plurality of raised features and the second plurality of raised features. At least a portion of adjacent divider microstructures are spaced apart to form feed pathways or cross channels.

Abstract: Three dimensional nanoparticle filters are provided herein. In one embodiment a filter device includes a base material, alternating layers of sacrificial material between layers of structural material being deposited onto the base material to create a layered base material, and filter sidewalls etched into the deposited alternating layers of the layered base material to remove the layers of sacrificial material between the layers of structural material to form filter slots in the filter sidewalls as well as create channels between the filter sidewalls, where a size of the filter slots is selectable based on a thickness of the layers of sacrificial material utilized.

Abstract: Absorbent microstructure panels are described herein. An example filter device includes a plurality of microstructure panels each having a front surface and a back surface, and a plurality of capillary ridges protruding from the front surface. The plurality of capillary ridges are each spaced apart from one another. The plurality of microstructure panels form an absorbent microstructure array by layering the plurality of microstructure panels together such that the plurality of capillary ridges of one microstructure panel contacts the back surface of an adjacent microstructure panel to create capillary tubes that draw fluid into the absorbent microstructure array.

Abstract: A hold-down clamping apparatus comprising a hold-down clamp with body having a top lip and pair of guide legs disposed between a central screw in the body and a support having holes in vertical alignment with the legs and the screw for securing and holding down a sheet material for processing. The screw is threaded through the support screw hole as the legs are inserted within support holes until the top lips contacts the sheet material to hold down the material and to prevent twisting of the hold-down clamp. Supports with clamps may be fastened to tools or supports. In one embodiment, the support has a grid of holes for securing a plurality of materials with hold-down clamps. In another embodiment, the hold-down clamp comprises a top lip and a guide beam slotted in a support and secured.

Abstract: Microstructure separation filters are provided herein, as well as chromatography and other separation devices. An exemplary filter device includes a microstructure filter has a plurality of layers of alternating sacrificial and/or structural material which have been etched to create inlet channels and outlet channels. Adjacent ones of the inlet channels and the outlet channels are spaced apart from one another by cross channels that filter a fluid from the inlet channels to the outlet channels. The cross channels include filter features formed by etching away of a portion of the layers. The device also includes a housing configured to receive the microstructure filter.

Abstract: Deionizing fluid filter devices and methods of use are described herein. An example filter device comprises a plurality stacked panels that comprise filter structures. The filter structures comprise filter features that filter a fluid. The fluid is processed by the filter device such that filtered fluid is output as well as a concentrate of particulate matter extracted from the fluid.

Abstract: Multiple staged filters are provided herein. A filter may include a plurality of panels that each include a filtering front surface and a flat back surface, the filtering front surface having a first row of vertically extending protrusions spaced apart from one another to form vertical channels, a second row of vertically extending protrusions spaced apart from one another to form vertical channels, and one or more rows of filtering protrusions, where the one or more rows are vertically spaced apart from one another and extending between the first and second rows of vertically extending protrusions. Further, each row of filtering protrusions may include filtering protrusions that are spaced from one another to form filter channels having a size that is configured to receive and retain objects of a given size.

Abstract: Microfluidic laminar flow nozzle apparatuses are described herein. An example apparatus includes a base having a sidewall that forms a lower plenum chamber, and a micro-fluidic nozzle panel disposed above the base to enclose the lower plenum chamber, the micro-fluidic nozzle panel including a plurality of micro-fluidic nozzles, each of the plurality of micro-fluidic nozzles having a fluid output orifice for outputting a fluid.

Abstract: Three dimensional nanoparticle filters are provided herein. In one embodiment a filter device includes a base material, alternating layers of sacrificial material between layers of structural material being deposited onto the base material to create a layered base material, and filter sidewalls etched into the deposited alternating layers of the layered base material to remove the layers of sacrificial material between the layers of structural material to form filter slots in the filter sidewalls as well as create channels between the filter sidewalls, where a size of the filter slots is selectable based on a thickness of the layers of sacrificial material utilized.

Abstract: A hold-down clamping apparatus comprising a hold-down clamp with body having a top lip and pair of guide legs disposed between a central screw in the body and a support having holes in vertical alignment with the legs and the screw for securing and holding down a sheet material for processing. The screw is threaded through the support screw hole as the legs are inserted within support holes until the top lips contacts the sheet material to hold down the material and to prevent twisting of the hold-down clamp. Supports with clamps may be fastened to tools or supports. In one embodiment, the support has a grid of holes for securing a plurality of materials with hold-down clamps. In another embodiment, the hold-down clamp comprises a top lip and a guide beam slotted in a support and secured.