The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 13, 2011
Filed:
Mar. 25, 2004
Axel Guenther, Somerville, MA (US);
Klavs F. Jensen, Lexington, MA (US);
Manish Jhunjhunwala, Boston, MA (US);
Martin A. Schmidt, Reading, MA (US);
Axel Guenther, Somerville, MA (US);
Klavs F. Jensen, Lexington, MA (US);
Manish Jhunjhunwala, Boston, MA (US);
Martin A. Schmidt, Reading, MA (US);
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
A method of separating a first fluid from a second fluid may include prewetting with the first fluid at least one channel defined by a separation device, the at least one channel thereby containing a column of the first fluid along its length. A combined flow of the first fluid and the second fluid may be presented to the separation device, so that the at least one channel is in fluid communication with the combined flow. Fluid pressure may be applied across the combined flow and the separation device, but the applied pressure should not exceed the capillary pressure in the at least one channel. Otherwise, the combined flow may be forced through the separation device. In this manner, the first fluid flows through the at least one channel, and the second fluid is excluded from the at least one channel, thereby separating at least a portion of the first fluid from the second fluid.