A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process that includes obtaining a porous medium comprising a porous material having a first shape and an initial porosity profile. The porous medium is engaged with a cavity in a fluidic device, wherein the cavity is in fluid communication with a channel of the fluidic device. The first shape of the porous material can be adjusted to a second shape resulting in the initial porosity profile being adjusted to a target porosity profile. Such adjustment can be accomplished by the engaging of the porous medium with the cavity, by pre-adjusting a shape of the porous media before insertion into the cavity, or by some combination thereof. Other embodiments are disclosed.