Abstract: A system for separating fluids by centrifuging, the system including: a rotor assembly for rotating in a centrifugation device, the rotor assembly including: (a) a first rotor for housing a plurality of tubes, each of the tubes containing a sample for separation by centrifuging; (b) a second rotor having a plurality of collection compartments, each compartment corresponding to a particular tube, and (c) a plurality of conduits, each corresponding to a particular compartment, each conduit for providing fluid communication, upon demand, between a particular tube and a particular compartment, so as to enable transfer of a fraction of each sample from the tubes to the compartments.

Abstract: A system for separating fluids by centrifuging, the system including: a rotor assembly for rotating in a centrifugation device, the rotor assembly including: (a) a first rotor for housing a plurality of tubes, each of the tubes containing a sample for separation by centrifuging; (b) a second rotor having a plurality of collection compartments, each compartment corresponding to a particular tube, and (c) a plurality of conduits, each corresponding to a particular compartment, each conduit for providing fluid communication, upon demand, between a particular tube and a particular compartment, so as to enable transfer of a fraction of each sample from the tubes to the compartments.

Abstract: A system and a method for positioning a drill, having a drill bit with a central axis, for drilling a subsequent hole in a bone at a predetermined distance from and in a predetermined orientation in respect to a reference hole, is disclosed. The system comprises a reference insert, configured to be inserted into the reference hole, and adapted to establish a reference guideline, the reference guideline being of the predetermined orientation; and, an alignment mechanism, configured to be attached to the drill, the alignment mechanism adapted to be fixed at the predetermined distance from and parallel to the central axis of the drill bit, the alignment mechanism including an optical device for colinearly aligning an alignment axis of the alignment mechanism with the reference guideline.

Abstract: A system and a method for positioning a drill, having a drill bit with a central axis, for drilling a subsequent hole in a bone at a predetermined distance from and in a predetermined orientation in respect to a reference hole, is disclosed. The system comprises a reference insert, configured to be inserted into the reference hole, and adapted to establish a reference guideline, the reference guideline being of the predetermined orientation; and, an alignment mechanism, configured to be attached to the drill, the alignment mechanism adapted to be fixed at the predetermined distance from and parallel to the central axis of the drill bit, the alignment mechanism including an optical device for colinearly aligning an alignment axis of the alignment mechanism with the reference guideline.

Abstract: The method of rapidly separating plasma or serum from red blood cells comprising the steps of mounting a pair of spaced apart tubes coaxially related to one another head-to-head with a sharp-ended hollow needle disposed generally along the tube axes and between them, arranging the tubes in a vertical position one above the other in a centrifuge with the tubes closed with self-sealing stoppers, providing a partial vacuum in the upper tube, rotating the tubes at high speed about an axis parallel to and spaced from the axis of the tubes and needle, after separation of the red blood cells from the plasma and serum causing the tubes while still being rotated to be moved relative to one another such as to cause the needle to enter both tubes through the stoppers, separating the tubes while still being rotated by the centrifuge whereby to remove the needle from both tubes.

Abstract: Red cells are separated from plasma or serum of whole blood by arranging an evacuated tube sealed by a self-sealing stopper above and preferably coaxial with a tube containing a blood sample and sealed by a self-sealing stopper. A hollow double ended needle is held by a fixture and is disposed between and coaxial with the tubes and the tubes are placed in the fixture in a vertical position in a centrifuge and rotated about and spaced from an axis parallel to the axis of the tubes and needle. After the red cells are separated from the serum and/or plasma the tubes are pushed toward one another so that the needle penetrates both stoppers and the serum and/or plasma is drawn into the upper tube. The tubes and needle are separated while still being rotated so that the whole blood components are separated as required.

Abstract: A wide format scanner moves a substrate to be scanned along a first axis and at a first predetermined speed, and moves a scanning head across the substrate obliquely with respect to the first axis at an angle and at a speed coordinated with the first predetermined speed so as to provide a scan trace perpendicular to the first axis.