Planar micro-devices capable of continuously separating large volumes of dilute suspensions were designed and
modeled using a commercial CFD package. The devices consist of a single high aspect ratio spiral micro channel
with a bifurcation at the exit. The device exploits small inertial and hydrodynamic differences between particles of
dissimilar size, which arise as a result of the curvature of the flow through the device. The channel length and
location of the bifurcation were found to affect the separation achievable by the devices. Devices of varying
geometries were fabricated using conventional silicon micro fabrication processes and were tested by flowing dilute
aqueous suspensions of polystyrene particles (diameters of 1&mgr;m, 8&mgr;m and 10&mgr;m) through the devices at various
flow rates. A 3.5 fold concentration enhancement of 10&mgr;m particles was achieved in the longer devices at flow rates
of 2 ml/min, whereas the 1&mgr;m particles showed negligible concentration increases at similar flow rates. The devices
may be used as a sample preparation stage in a complex &mgr;TAS, where rapid, continuous concentration of dilute
suspensions is often required.
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