Abstract: The latch assembly is utilized in a centrifuge device wherein a receptacle is received and held between first and second platens which have elastomeric linings and which are held generally upright in respective inner and outer parallel planes spaced radially outwardly from a vertical axis of rotation of the centrifuge device. The first platen is situated in the inner plane and the second platen is fixed in the outer plane. The first platen is mounted for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis extending along a lower edge of the platens. The latch assembly includes first and second keeper members fixed respectively to adjacent opposite sides of the second platen. The latch assembly further includes a shaft journalled to the outer surface of the first platen. First and second latch mounting members are fixed, respectively, to opposite ends of the shaft.

Abstract: The reflectivity compensating apparatus is utilized in a dual wavelength spectrophotometer wherein a chopper mirror, having alternating mirror segments and open spaces equal in area, cuts through a light beam from a light source and the mirror segments reflect light through a liquid sample in a sample container to a photodetector having an output channel. The reflectivity of each mirror segment varies slightly from the other segments.

Abstract: The cover is made from a sheet of transparent plastic material and has a generally annular shape, i.e., the general shape of a flat ring, which is easily received over an annular rotatable sample tray having a plurality of sample cups therein. The cover has a horizontally radially extending projection adapted to engage a post on a table top supporting the sample tray to prevent rotation of the cover and an annular shoulder on the underside of the cover which fits around a circular envelope defined by the radially outwardly disposed top side edges of the sample cups in the sample tray and which engages the top side edges of the sample cups to prevent horizontal movement of the cover as the tops of the sample cups frictionally engage the underside of the cover and exert a moment force on the cover when the sample tray is rotated. The cover also has an opening therethrough for allowing liquid sample to be inserted or withdrawn from a sample cup when such sample cup is in registry with the opening.

Abstract: The method, and system for carrying out the steps of the method, are utilized in taking whole blood from a supply of blood withdrawn from a donor or from a previously banked supply of whole blood in a container, centrifuging the blood in a centrifuge device to separate the whole blood into its components, and then collecting the components, namely red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. The fractionation of the whole blood in the centrifuge device takes place in first, second and third separation chambers. The first chamber has a square shape and is positioned in the centrifuge device in a diamond position. Each corner of the first separation chamber has an opening. Whole blood is pumped into one side corner opening and red blood cells are withdrawn from the other side corner opening and returned to the container for recirculation through the first chamber.

Abstract: The blood processing method, and the apparatus for performing the steps of the method are utilized in separating whole blood into its components and include the steps of, or component parts of the apparatus for carrying out these steps of: pumping whole blood from a donor; passing the whole blood through a first chamber in a centrifuge device: centrifuging the whole blood in the centrifuge device to cause sedimentation of red blood cells from the whole blood in, and separation of platelet rich plasma from the whole blood in, the first chamber; pumping the separated platelet rich plasma from the first chamber and out of the centrifuge device where it is monitored and then back into the centrifuge device and through a second chamber in the centrifuge device where the platelet rich plasma is centrifuged to cause sedimentation of the platelets therein while passing the remaining blood fluid though the first chamber and back to the donor; recombining the plasma passed through the second chamber with the blood flui

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming novel flexible, collapsible containers from a pair of facing sheet sections, and a stiffener bar positioned between the sheet sections, is disclosed. The pair of facing sheet sections are passed along a process path through a sealing die, with a continuous length of the stiffener bar being positioned between the sheet sections and passed along with process path with the sheet sections. The sealing die forms seal lines between the facing sheet sections to define a group of collapsible containers, each carrying the stiffener bar in transverse relation thereto. Then, at least one of the sheet sections and the stiffener bar is cut through at positions adjacent the edges of the collapsible containers, to permit the separation of the formed collapsible containers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each other.