Abstract: A technique using a curved channel of a spiral device to introduce a centrifugal force upon neutrally buoyant particles flowing in a fluid, e.g. water, to facilitate improved separation of such particles from the fluid is provided. As these neutrally buoyant particles flow through the channel, a tubular pinch effect causes the particles to flow in a tubular band. The introduced centrifugal force perturbs the tubular band (e.g. forces the tubular band to flow in a manner offset from a center of the channel), resulting in an asymmetric inertial migration of the band toward the inner wall of the channel. This allows for focusing and compaction of suspended particulates into a narrow band for extraction. The separation principle contemplated herein implements a balance of the centrifugal and fluidic forces to achieve asymmetric inertial equilibrium near the inner sidewall.

Abstract: A transformational approach to water treatment is provided that incorporates membrane-free filtration with dynamic processing of the fluid to significantly reduce treatment times, chemical cost, land use, and operational overhead. This approach provides hybrid capabilities of filtration, together with chemical treatment, as the water is transported through various spiral stages.

Abstract: Fluidic structures for facilitating particle separation in curved or spiral devices are provided. The contemplated systems relate to various fluidic structures, implementations and selected fabrication techniques to realize construction of fluidic separation structures that are of a stacked and/or parallel configuration. These contemplated systems provide for efficient input of fluid to be processed, improved throughput, and, in some variations, adjustable and efficient treatment of output fluid.

Abstract: This invention is based on size and mass separation of suspended particles, including biological matter, which are made to flow in a spiral channel. On the spiral sections, the inward directed transverse pressure field from fluid shear competes with the outward directed centrifugal force to allow for separation of particles. At high velocity, centrifugal force dominates and particles move outward. At low velocities, transverse pressure dominates and the particles move inward. The magnitudes of the two opposing forces depend on flow velocity, particle size, radius of curvature of the spiral section, channel dimensions, and viscosity of the fluid. At the end of the spiral channel, a parallel array of outlets collects separated particles. For any particle size, the required channel dimension is determined by estimating the transit time to reach the side-wall. This time is a function of flow velocity, channel width, viscosity, and radius of curvature.

Abstract: Trapping structures are provided for particle separation devices that make use of traveling wave fluid flow. These trapping structures are operative to capture and collect separated particles and present them for extraction. The extraction can be accomplished in conventional manners, such as through the use of suitable sized pipettes.

Abstract: A method and system for splitting fluid flow in an outlet of a particle separation device is provided. The system may include static or passive mechanisms or subsystems. These mechanisms could also be modular and interchangeable to provide for preset fluid split divisions of 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, . . . etc. In other forms of the presently described embodiments, the system is adjustable and variable. In still another form of the presently described embodiments, the system allows for differential pressure control at the outlets to facilitate the flow of varying size particles or particle bands in the respective channels or paths.

Abstract: A system to facilitate separation and concentration of particles based on centrifugal force on suspended particles, including biological matter, which are made to flow in a vortex structure is provided. The centrifugal force urges larger particles to collect along outer portions of the vortex flow. Conversely, within a vortex structure, a radial hydrodynamic pressure drop is also amplified to urge smaller particles toward inner portions of the vortex flow. This force created by the pressure can reach magnitudes that encourage a sharp cut-off and improved resolution discrimination between particle sizes. Thus, separated streams of particles can be collected with both increased concentration and purification.

Abstract: An improved technique for particle separation is provided. A serpentine structure is utilized in a continuous fluid flow environment to allow for suitable separation of particles to occur in a manner that does not require external application of forces to initiate the separation. The geometry of the serpentine structure and associated forces generated in connection with fluid flow therein suffice.

Abstract: Trapping structures are provided for particle separation devices that make use of traveling wave fluid flow. These trapping structures are operative to capture and collect separated particles and present them for extraction. The extraction can be accomplished in conventional manners, such as through the use of suitable sized pipettes.

Abstract: Trapping structures are provided for particle separation devices that make use of traveling wave fluid flow. These trapping structures are operative to capture and collect separated particles and present them for extraction. The extraction can be accomplished in conventional manners, such as through the use of suitable sized pipettes.

Abstract: An improved technique for particle separation is provided. A serpentine structure is utilized in a continuous fluid flow environment to allow for suitable separation of particles to occur in a manner that does not require external application of forces to initiate the separation. The geometry of the serpentine structure and associated forces generated in connection with fluid flow therein suffice.

Abstract: An improved technique for particle separation is provided. A serpentine structure is utilized in a continuous fluid flow environment to allow for suitable separation of particles to occur in a manner that does not require external application of forces to initiate the separation. The geometry of the serpentine structure and associated forces generated in connection with fluid flow therein suffice.

Abstract: The present application relates to systems and methods for the desalination of water. The systems and methods receive source water containing particles therein from a source of water such as, for example, the ocean. The source water may be pre-treated to remove suspensions and/or sub-micron organics in the source water. The source water is used to generate supercritical water having a pressure and temperature above a critical pressure and a critical temperature, respectively. The supercritical water is run through a spiral separator to generate effluent water and waste water containing aggregated particles therein. Energy may be recovered from the effluent water and used to generate additional supercritical water.

Abstract: A method and system for treating a fluid stream includes inputting a fluid stream to an input section of the fluid treatment system and receiving the fluid stream via spiral mixer-conditioner. The spiral mixer-conditioner mixes and conditions the input stream. Thereafter the mixed and conditioned fluid stream is input to a spiral separator where the mixed and conditioned fluid stream is separated into at least two fluid streams, a first fluid stream having particulates in the input stream removed, and the second fluid stream having the particulates in the input fluid stream concentrated.

Abstract: In one aspect of the presently described embodiments, the system comprises an inlet to receive at least a portion of the fluid containing algae, a curved channel within which the fluid containing algae flows in a manner such that the neutrally buoyant algae flow in a band offset from a center of the curved channel, a first outlet for the fluid with algae within which the band flows, and, a second outlet for the remaining fluid.

Abstract: A non-filtration pre-separation device and method for the removal of algae using the same, comprising a system having a hydrodynamic separator including at least one curved structure for the removal of bio-organisms from seawater, such structure having an inlet in operative connection with a source of raw seawater and a bifurcated outlet operative for passing pre-treated effluent fluid to a downstream filtration system and the removal of waste fluid. Various fluidic structures, implementations and selected fabrication techniques to realize such a device, whether singular or in stacked and/or packed parallel configuration are also provided.

Abstract: Method and systems provide improved cell handling in microfluidic systems and devices using lateral cell trapping and methods of fabrication of the same that allow for selective low voltage electroporation and electrofusion.

Abstract: Method and systems provide improved cell handling in microfluidic systems and devices using lateral cell trapping and methods of fabrication of the same that allow for selective low voltage electroporation and electrofusion.

Abstract: The present application relates to systems and methods for the desalination of water. The systems and methods receive source water containing particles therein from a source of water such as, for example, the ocean. The source water may be pre-treated to remove suspensions and/or sub-micron organics in the source water. The source water is used to generate supercritical water having a pressure and temperature above a critical pressure and a critical temperature, respectively. The supercritical water is run through a spiral separator to generate effluent water and waste water containing aggregated particles therein. Energy may be recovered from the effluent water and used to generate additional supercritical water.

Abstract: Method and systems that provide improved cell handling and assays in microfluidic systems and devices particularly using lateral cell trapping and methods of fabrication of the same.