This paper reports on a passive, high throughput approach to simultaneously separate multiple microparticles using the principle of Dean-coupled inertial migration in spiral microchannels. The design takes advantage of the particle size dependence of the inertial lift and Dean drag forces to equilibrate particles of varying sizes at distinct positions across the microchannel cross-section. The segregated particle streams are collected using an appropriately designed outlet system. The approach was demonstrated using a 5-loop 500 μm × 130 μm (W×H) Archimedean spiral channel to simultaneously separate 10 μm, 15 μm, and 20 μm diameter particles.
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