Abstract: A sample preparation device for precisely measuring a sample volume, mixing the sample with a reagent and then separating out any resulting precipitant from the sample. In using the device, the sample is nonquantitatively dispensed by the user and is volumetrically delivered by the device using a positive displacement method. No vortexing or shaking is required and the sample and reagent are precisely and reproducibly mixed automatically.

Abstract: An apparatus for conducting a blotting process comprises a support member, a first electric motor for rotating the support member about a vertical plane, a tube holder having a substantially flat surface for magnetically mounting at least one tube, a second electric motor for rotating the tube holder and a control for controlling the second electric motor. The tube holder is mounted for rotation on the support member. The tube is secured within the tube holder, the support member is rotated at a predetermined angle and the tube holder is rotated at a predetermined speed blotting reagent onto a filter.

Abstract: A device for use in a centrifuge to automatically prepare microscope slide specimens from samples of body fluids. A centrifuge tube and specimen slide are formed integrally in a unitary device. A lens clearance section is provided as a planar surface to avoid interference between the device and the rotatable lenses of a turret microscope while the device is in viewing position on the microscope stage. The device is constructed to minimize packing of sediment and other constituent elements of the sample at the entrance to the slide member and is so configured as to admit of a step during the centrifuge process which flexes the slide member to enhance the distribution of cells deposited therein.

Abstract: A centrifuge vessel for performing immunoassays, affinity chromatography, and like experiments includes a center tube and an outer waste chamber. A biomaterial is held within the center tube and is capable of binding specific analytes in test samples. In operation the centrifuge vessel is rotated at high speed about its longitudinal axis, thereby causing all fluid within the center tube to be transported into the outer waste chamber while the analyte of interest remains bound to the biomaterial positioned within the center tube In the centrifuge vessel, a cap connected to the outer waste chamber and extending over the center tube includes structure for preventing waste fluid expelled to the waste chamber from re-entering the center tube. In a first embodiment, the cap is either constructed from or the inside surface is coated with a hydrophobic material which repels fluids back into the waste chamber.

Abstract: A shaft for centrifugally separating a sample includes a first shaft element having a first end taper portion and a middle straight portion, and a second shaft element having a second end taper portion. The first shaft element and the second shaft element are coupled and rotate in opposite directions. An adapter having a ring is mounted on the rotating first taper portion of the shaft by the ring. The adapter receives a sample tube and the adapter and the sample tube are transported forward on the first end taper portion of the shaft. The adapter and the sample tube are sent to the middle straight portion of the shaft and the sample is centrifugally separated in the middle straight portion of the shaft. The adapter and the sample tube are sent to the second taper portion of the shaft and disengaged from the second end taper portion of the shaft.

Abstract: A sample preparation device for precisely measuring a sample volume, mixing the sample with a reagent and then separating out any resulting precipitant from the sample. In using the device, the sample is nonquantitatively dispensed by the user and is volumetrically delivered by the device using a positive displacement method. No vortexing or shaking is required and the sample and reagent are precisely and reproducibly mixed automatically.

Abstract: An automatic centrifuge, especially useful with the Censlide.TM. containers, enables automatic operation in the centrifuging of samples. The centrifugal speed is ramped up to a first speed for about 45 seconds, the first speed maintained for about 15 seconds, the speed is then ramped down to a second speed during a 15 second time interval, and the second speed maintained while the samples are flicked a predetermined number of times. The centrifugal speed is then ramped down to zero. The automatic operation, and flicking enables the samples to be examined in their containers as soon as the automated cycle, requiring a time period of from one and one half minutes to about two minutes, is ended.

Abstract: An adapter having a body and a cooperating cover with a seal therebetween is characterized by a stop surface provided on the exterior surface the body. The body and the cover are held together by a clamping bail that is either separate from or, more preferably, pivotally mounted to, the body. The bail is slidably movable over the body and the cover from an open to a clamping position. In the clamping position the bail abuts against the stop surface with the major axis of the bail being most preferably collinear with the major axis of the adapter. With the bail in the clamping position the cover is held to the body in a manner that compresses the seal therebetween. The bail is formed of a material having sufficient strength to withstand a vertical force created by the pressure of a liquid carried in the tube under centrifugation.

Abstract: An angular head for centrifuges serves to receive a plurality of beakers which are arranged inclined at a fixed angle to the vertical in recesses in the angular head. The angular head is developed in at least two parts and consists of a mechanically loadable outer part and a less loadable inner part, the inner part being connected to the outer part at least in the region of the rotor hub, and the outer part having on its outer circumference in the vicinity of the bottom of the beakers an annular bottom part which is bent at an angle radially inward and the inner part having an outwardly bent part adjacent the annular bottom part. The outwardly bent part and annular bottom part define a joint therebetween for preventing transmission of a load between the outwardly bent part and annular bottom part.

Abstract: A test tube handling assembly has an elongate member with an end for engaging a test tube and an end opposite thereto driven about an axis of the member for orbital movement with its axis. The member is a slender rod with a spherical bearing about a center part thereon between the ends thereof and along its axis. An arm extends from a support to carry the spherical bearing and permit limited motion of the rod relative to the support. A gripping means on the end for engaging the test tube holds the test tube and its contents during movement of the rod relative to the axis. A drive located on the support near the end opposite causes the test tube to swing about the center part. Contacting means with a seal for closing the open end of the test tube is part of an inflatable bladder which holds the open end of the test tube by fitting in the open end of the test tube. The drive has a motor for providing orbital motion.

Abstract: A self-balancing apparatus for a centrifuge is disclosed which employs two arcuately movable counterweights. The centrifuge has a plurality of receptacles for receiving one or more assay cartridges. Control apparatus in the centrifuge determines the location and number of received cartridges. Desired counterweight positions are then calculated which will substantially balance the centrifuge. The counterweights are moved into these positions prior to the centrifuge being operated at high speeds.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for performing a relatively large number of processing steps upon a sample, such as a whole blood sample, and a diluent, such as water, includes a rotor body for rotation about an axis and including a network of chambers within which various processing steps are performed upon the sample and diluent and passageways through which the sample and diluent are transferred. A transfer mechanism is movable through the rotor body by the influence of a magnetic field generated adjacent the transfer mechanism and movable along the rotor body, and the assembly utilizes centrifugal force, a transfer of momentum and capillary action to perform any of a number of processing steps such as separation, aliquoting, transference, washing, reagent addition and mixing of the sample and diluent within the rotor body. The rotor body is particularly suitable for automatic immunoassay analyses.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a continuous solution gradient wherein solutions of differing concentrations are layered in a tube and the tube disposed at an angle with respect to the vertical and is rotated for a predetermined period of time thereby to generate a continuous solution gradient, i.e. continuous variation in concentration between the concentration of the initial solutions.

Abstract: An insert beaker for centrifuges for centrifuging blood, having a blood bag placed in the insert beaker in association with a positive displacement body that acts upon the insert beaker from outside, the blood bag communicating via connecting hoses with at least one other blood bag inside the centrifuge. The insert beaker (1) is made with two pivotable shell halves (2, 3) joined together, and retaining elements for the blood bag to be placed between the shell halves (2, 3) is disposed on the top of the shell halves (2, 3).

Abstract: An apparatus for reaction between a solid phase and a liquid phase of the present invention allows a tubular reaction vessel accommodating the liquid phase that reacts with the solid phase bound to the inside surface of said reaction vessel to hold in the peripheral region of a rotating element inclined with respect to the horizontal direction and also allows said tubular reaction vessel to repeat a predetermined number of cycles, each consisting at least of the steps of rotating continuously said rotating element in the inclined state at a predetermined constant speed for a predetermined time and loading/unloading said reaction vessel for the rest time of the rotating element. Because of these features, the apparatus of the present invention makes possible to have a simple construction which can be easily handled and can continuously promote the reaction in a plurality of the reaction vessels under identical reaction conditions for identical reaction time at a series of time.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention can be used to measure sedimentation rate of samples. The samples are placed in a sample rotor and are rotatable about a sample rotor axis. The sample rotor axis can be moved into two positions. In one position the sample rotor axis is substantially horizontal and in the other position the sample rotor axis is substantially vertical. Rotation of the sample rotor about the sample rotor axis causes stirring of the samples when the sample rotor axis is horizontal. When the sample rotor axis is substantially vertical settling of the samples occur. Step rotation of the sample rotor brings the samples to a reading means in order to analyze the samples. An optical signal sensor moves along the sides of the test tubes for measuring the sedimentation rate.

Abstract: A means of sealing a centrifuge tube which makes use of the hydrostatic pressure of the sample solution contained in the tube to perfect a tight seal during centrifugation. The filler stem is plugged with a plug which is supported in the rotor cavity. The hydrostatic pressure forces the filler stem against the plug to effect a seal with a sealing force which is dependent on the hydrostatic pressure which is in turn dependent on the centrifugal force on the sample solution.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention includes a plurality of cartridges (1) each containing serum, and reagents in a sachet. The cartridges are inserted into the automatic processing device (40) enabling the serum to be put into contact with the various reagents and then enabling the results to be read.

Abstract: A miniature laboratory (1) for performing biological analyses comprises a block (2) supporting two concentric turntables (3 and 4). The top turntable (3) carries preparation cartridges (6) each intended to receive a blood sample and to deliver a calibrated quantity of plasma therefrom. The bottom turntable (4) carries analysis cartridges (40) for analyzing the plasma from the cartridges (60).

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor has a continuous annular groove disposed radially outwardly of each of the sample receiving cavities provided in the rotor. The groove collects any liquid spilled during operation of the rotor thereby to prevent the liquid from draining into the cavities and contaminating the same as the rotor slows.

Abstract: The device of the invention comprises a plurality of cartridges (1) containing serum, conjugate, substrate, blocking liquid, and a liquid-receiving well containing an antigen-carrying brush. A processing device (40) for simultaneously processing cartridges (1) considerably reduces the time required for the reaction compared with prior art devices.

Abstract: A centrifugal rotor for separating plasma from whole blood includes a plurality of internal chambers and passages for combining the plasma with one or more reagents and distributing the plasma to a plurality of individual test wells. The chambers and passages necessary for separating the whole blood into plasma are located on a first, upper level within the rotor and include a measuring chamber, an overflow chamber, a separation chamber, and a reagent chamber. The measuring chamber and overflow chamber have capillary dimensions so that an initial volume of whole blood partitions therebetween, with the measuring chamber filling first to provide a preselected volume. The separation chamber is located radially outward from both the measuring chamber and the reagent chamber to that spinning of the rotor causes both the reagent and the measured blood volume to flow outward into the separation chamber.

Abstract: A hybrid centrifuge rotor having a rotor core surrounded by a prestressed anisotropic reinforcement ring is disclosed. The rotor core may be made from aluminum and an anisotropic reinforcement ring may be a cylindrical filament wound ring, made from graphite fiber and epoxy resin. The rotor core is manufactured to have a nominally greater diameter than the inner diameter of the reinforcement ring. This rotor core, during the manufacturing process, is subjected to a cryogenic environment where the diameter is shrunk down so that the rotor body may fit and telescope within the reinforcement ring. The rotor body core and reinforcement ring assembly, upon attainment of ambient temperatures, have an interface fit wherein substantial outward force from the rotor body core prestresses the reinforcement ring so that a light weight and strong centrifuge rotor is disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated blood collection, separation and dispensing device is disclosed that allows a method of blood collection, serum separation and serum dispensing to occur using a single device (other than a centrifuge). The device preferably includes a transfer chamber for receiving separated serum, that has a three-dimensional shape that is reduced in volume and is configured to avoid air entrapment. A dispensing aperture in the transfer chamber fluidly connects the chamber with the atmosphere. Preferably, means are provided adjacent the dispensing aperture for generating a liquid pressure change indication of the presence of liquid advancing towards the dispensing aperture. A needle and a protective housing optionally are provided as an integral part of the device.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that causes phase separation of whole blood, using much lower centrifugal forces. As a result, lymphocytes are separated from blood cells having specific gravities of 1.08 g/ml or higher. The device features a separation chamber arranged so that its long dimension or axis is parallel, not perpendicular, to the spin axis, and a valve that allows automatic removal of the lighter phase(s). The valve is constructed to respond only to the head of liquid pressure generated by an increased centrifugal force, and not to that increased force alone.

Abstract: A test tube is closed with a plug having a cannula piercing the center of the plug. A first collar surrounds the plug and a second collar above the first collar extends away from the plug and receives a tightly fitted serum container. The serum container is separated from a top opening to the cannula by a first air space. A second air space exists between a bottom of the plug and a top layer of a blood sample. A channel along an inner edge of the second collar allows serum to move upwards into the serum container during a centrifuge process by virtue of increased air pressure within the test tube caused by the serum container pressing on the first air space.

Abstract: A generally tubular container integrally formed and communicating with a microscope slide member having an enclosed specimen chamber. The container is adapted to serve as a centrifugation tube and a permanent handle for manipulation of the microscope slide member. The back of the device is generally flat and the front and sides of the collection tube are generally rounded except for a concave region extending longitudinally from the upper face of the microscope slide member to provide clearance for rotating a lens turret for high power viewing of a specimen in the slide chamber.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor and method for gradient density separation which supports a generally cylindrical volume of sample solution with its axis inclined to the spin axis at an angle which is optimized for maximum separation efficiency while reducing contamination by undesirable centrifugates upon reorientation of the desirable centrifugates. The optimum angle is determined based on the relationship .theta.=Tan.sup.-1 (D/15L).sup.0.5 where D and L are respectively the diameter and length of the cylindrical volume of the sample solution and .theta. is the angle of inclination.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting a sample of liquid, such as blood, having a plurality of phases of differing densities. Disclosed is an apparatus for collecting a sample in an enclosed chamber, wherein said apparatus can be used with a separating means which rotates the chamber about either a longitudinal axis of the chamber, or about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber and not passing through the chamber. In addition, said apparatus facilitates automated manipulation of the sample by providing formed features for: decreasing the gas permeability of said apparatus; clot activation of a blood sample contained within said apparatus; interconnection of a multiplicity of said apparatus; automated manipulation of said apparatus; protecting markings upon said apparatus; layering the construction of said apparatus; and, encoding of information upon said apparatus in both a tactile and visual manner. Also disclosed is an apparatus for dispensing fluid from said enclosed chamber.

Abstract: A test tube handling assembly has an elongate member with an end for engaging a test tube and an end opposite thereto driven about an axis of the member for orbital movement with its axis. The member is a slender rod with a spherical bearing about a center part thereon between the ends thereof and along its axis. An arm extends from a support to carry the spherical bearing and permit limited motion of the rod relative to the support. A gripping means on the end for engaging the test tube holds the test tube and its contents during movement of the rod relative to the axis. A drive located on the support near the end opposite causes the test tube to swing about the center part. Contacting means with a seal for closing the open end of the test tube is part of an inflatable bladder which holds the open end of the test tube by fitting in the open end of the test tube. The drive has a motor for providing orbital motion.

Abstract: An ultracentrifuge rotor is characterized by a hub having radially outwardly extending curved spokes. The outer ends of the spokes are received in a groove defined on the inner peripheral surface of an annular rim. Sample carriers are affixed to the rim at circumferentially spaced locations defined between adjacent pairs of spokes. As the rotor rotates the disparity in physical properties between the hub and the rim as well as the flattening of the curvature of the spokes causes the hub to grow to an extent at least equal to that of the growth of the rim.

Abstract: A disk shaped cassette for centrifugal fluid separation, particularly blood separation, and a drive system for high speed rotation of the cassette. The cassette is driven at speeds which permit very rapid separation of the blood in times on the order of seven (7) to twenty (20) seconds by an automated control. The cassette is supported by a flexible support coupling and mounting system that permits the entire rotating mass to spin about the center of mass unique to the particular cassette as filled. The cassette typically includes a peripheral collection chamber which may be either annular, lobed or channel shaped. A cassette enabled to hold plural separation tubes is also shown. A gel can be placed in the cassette with a density between the fluid components to be separated and after centrifuging maintains the component separation that centrifuging creates.

Abstract: A protective device is provided for capillary tublets during centrifuging of blood by means of a centrifuge. The tubelets are placed on the disk of a centrifuge and pointed radially outwardly from the rotation axis of the disk in such a way the closed ends of the capillary tublets are directed towards a wall side of the disk. The protective device comprises a protective tube with a stopper. The tubelets are disposed in the protective tube. The stopper is propped against the disk wall of the disk of centrifuge during the centrifuging process.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor includes a structural member having a plurality of receptacles therein. When the covert is attached to the body of the rotor the receptacles communicate with a respective one of the cavities disposed in the body of the rotor.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an improved container rotor for use in a centrifugal separator which can serve different types of the centrifugal separating operation by the employment of a specific rotor which allows three types of bucket to be exchanged readily with one out of the swing type, the angled aperture type and the horizontal aperture type accordingly to the kind of specimen to be separated, which comprises, in combination, a rotor body and a plurality of buckets, wherein the rotor body includes receiving recesses and an opposed pair of supports for receiving operatively the plurality of buckets, the buckets being adapted to afford three different types of centrifugal separating operations, i.e., the swing type, the angled aperture type and the horizontal aperture type.

Abstract: There are described a novel removable pipette tip and pipette therefor, which provide separation of substances of a liquid within the tip by centrifuging the tip. The tip comprises a liquid-confining cavity disposed about an axis of symmetry, a dispensing aperture, and separating structure spaced along the axis away from the dispensing aperture, for separating one of the liquid substances when the tip is spun about such axis. The pipette is rotatable and either the pipette or the analyzer includes a driver for spinning the pipette tip at high speed.

Abstract: A composite rotor body has a drive hole insert attached. The drive hole insert seats along a conical surface. A disk spring bears against a washer, which in turn bears against the top surface of the composite material rotor body. The preloaded disk spring compresses the conic surface of the rotor body against the mating surface of the drive hole insert. The preload within the disk spring is activate by torquing centering nut until the disk spring is essentially flat. The centering nut captures and centers both the disk spring and washer within a counterbored recess on its bottom face. The contact surface is treated with a form of dry lubricant or release agent, typically particulate Teflon, such that axial translation is facilitated. The disk spring is sized such that the drive hole insert translates axially without rotation along the surface and, effectively, maintains constant in-plane orientation with respect to the rotor body.

Abstract: A centrifuge tube assembly comprising a centrifuge tube and an inserter for placement within the neck portion of the centrifuge tube. The insert has a rigid portion and pliable portion.

Abstract: A sample handling unit for centrifugation apparatus, especially for cytocentrifugation to produce cell monolayers is disclosed. The sample handling unit is adapted for automated protective processing, e.g. fixation, of matter deposited on a slide during the centrifugation operation. For this purpose the unit has a body defining a deposition chamber, and a treatment fluid reservoir communicating with the deposition chamber via a buffer chamber and a flow path including a weir so arranged that in the position for centrifugation, treatment fluid such as fixative placed in the reservoir is retained therein until centrifugation produces an artificial gravitational field that causes the fluid to flow to the buffer chamber in which it is then retained by the weir for so long as the artificial gravitational field is maintained. Upon decay of that field the fluid flows over the weir towards the deposition chamber.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor is fabricated of a stacked plurality of tiers where each tier is formed from a stacked array of wound arms. Each arm is formed from an array of layered turns of anisotropic fibers having parallel side portions connected through curved end turn portions.

Abstract: A cell for placing solid matter on a piece of slide glass in such a manner that it is rotated in a centrifugal separator, which is formed integrally by mold forming of synthetic resin thereby to be disposable, and a base plate of a cell portion has an elasticity so as to be easily engaged with a hook provided on a holder in which the base plate is held.

Abstract: A method and a device for separating the serum included in a certain volume of blood by way of centrifugation. The volume of blood is introduced into a test tube (1) in which a so-called separating body (5; 5') is also present, after which the test tube (1) is centrifugalized. The blood is separated into a heavy phase (11) containing red blood corpuscles and a light phase (12) containing serum or plasma. The separating body (5; 5') is given such a specific gravity that upon centrifugation it enters a position in the boundary layer between the heavy and the light phase (11 and 12, respectively).A (9; 9') stored in the separating body (5; 5') is moved out of this towards the heavy phase (11) and seals between separating body (5; 5') and test tube (1). When the mass (9; 9') is removed from the separating body (5; 5') a negative pressure will arise therein which is utilized to suck-up accumulated leukocytes and trombocytes into the separating body (5; 5').

Abstract: In a centrifuge rotor with defined and discrete sample receiving cells, an improvement to the fastening of a lid on top of the rotor by a bolt for preserving gas pressure on sample is provided. The rotor is of the type having a rotor body and rotor adaptor for attachment to a drive hub. Typically, a male control surface on the drive hub mates with a corresponding female mating surface on the rotor adaptor. The mating surfaces include paired opposed pins on the rotor adaptor received in grooves on the drive hub. A central aperture along the spin axis of the rotor is provided through the rotor body. This aperture is provided for viewing the rotor coupling at the pins to the grooves in the drive hub as well as providing a path through which a bolt can attach a lid on the top of the rotor to the drive hub with the rotor compressed therebetween the lid and drive hub, a sample preserving atmosphere may be maintained in the rotor during centrifugation.

Abstract: A device and a method for automated processing and separation of an unmeasured sample of whole blood into multiple aliquots of plasma. Capillaries are radially oriented on a rotor, with the rotor defining a sample chamber, transfer channels, overflow chamber, overflow channel, vent channel, cell chambers, and processing chambers. A sample of whole blood is placed in the sample chamber, and when the rotor is rotated, the blood moves outward through the transfer channels to the processing chambers where the blood is centrifugally separated into a solid cellular component and a liquid plasma component. When the rotor speed is decreased, the plasma component backfills the capillaries resulting in uniform aliquots of plasma which may be used for subsequent analytical procedures.

Abstract: An assembly for separating lymphocytes and monocytes from granulocytes in a sample of unseparated whole blood. A water insoluble, thixotropic gel-like substance, which is chemically inert to blood constituents is provided in a container. A fluid capable of altering blood cell densities and diameters is positioned above the surface of the water-insoluble thixotropic gel-like substance. Means for preventing the absorption of water by the thixotropic gel-like substance from the fluid and/or the sample of unseparated whole blood prior to separation are provided to substantially eliminate the influence of water absorption on the cell separation performance characteristics of said thixotropic gel-like substance.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for processing liquids, especially whole blood samples, is disclosed. The assembly includes apparatus for separating non-liquid components of whole blood samples from liquid components, apparatus for diluting the separated liquid component with a diluent and apparatus for transferring the diluted sample to an external apparatus for analysis. The rotor assembly employs several movable capillary tubes to handle the sample and diluents. A method for using the rotor assembly to process liquids is also described.

Abstract: A tube adapter for a centrifuge rotor is characterized by generally circumferentially extending latching surfaces which are engageable by the claws of a removal tool to extract the adapter from the recess of a rotor. The latching surfaces may be defined by a continuous groove or by a pair of groove segments formed on the body of the adapter.

Abstract: A filtration apparatus and method is disclosed, the apparatus including a container tube for holding a sample to be filtered and a filtering vessel inserted therein. The filtering vessel carries a filter over its lower end and includes a chamber portion for receiving the filtrate. The method includes forcibly immersing the filtration vessel into the container tube, limiting the relative axial position therebetween, and subjecting the apparatus to centrifugation. The apparatus and method is useful for filtering dilute, concentrated and particle-laden samples.

Abstract: A rotor for a centrifuge comprises a bottom part and a top part. The top part is formed with openings for receiving test tubes in rim engagement. The bottom part has an upwardly deformed outer rim, which constitutes a collecting trough. The test tubes are particularly indirectly inserted into the openings (3 to 5) and are biased by spring means (21), which engage the particularly indirectly inserted test tubes from the inside and urges them outwardly against a frustoconical wall (10) of the top part. For an indirect insertion of the test tubes, they may be inserted into guide inserts (6, 7) which consist of cylindrical bushings and are urged outwardly.

Abstract: Sedimentation classification of particulate material in liquid dispersion. The dispersion is centrifuged in a tubular vessel comprising at least two neighboring compartments communicating via at least one opening which may be capillary. The lowermost compartment has a sealed bottom and the uppermost has an open upper end. Upon completion of the centrifugation a liquid fraction with dispersed particulate material is decanted from the uppermost compartment. Useful products may also be recovered from other compartments.