METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRIC FIELDS AND FLOW DISTRIBUTIONS FOR RAPIDLY SEPARATING MOLECULES

A method and apparatus for generating tunable, uniform electric fields in fluidic applications for rapid separation of molecules, such as DNA, is provided. A region receives the molecules to be separated, the molecules being injected into the region by an injection channel connected thereto. Fluidic microchannels or resistor arrays connected to sides of the region inject currents into the region and produce electric fields in the region that can be oriented at any angle. The electric fields can separate the molecules according to size, and can be used to move or manipulate the molecules within the region. Further, the molecules can be separated by controlling fluid flows within the region to manipulate the molecules. One or more reservoirs can be attached to the fluidic microchannels for collecting the molecules after separation, movement, or manipulation.