Abstract: A biomedical centrifuge having a rotor in the form of a body having rotational symmetry wherein, from a surface area thereof, cavities are provided which accommodate substantially cylindrical vessels. The cavities--as viewed in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the rotor--are located at the angular points of a regular polygon. There is also provided a motor for rotating the rotor at a speed of many tens of thousands r.p.m. The rotor body is made of a cap-shaped frame of synthetic plastics material and the cavities are provided in the plastics material. The remainder of the frame is substantially hollow. On its radially outer the periphery, the frame is surrounded by reinforcing rings or a reinforcing envelope made of substantially tangentially oriented long fibres of suitable material.

Abstract: A centrifuge, including a motor assembly with a low-speed brushless induction motor connected to the spindle assembly and controlled by an electrical circuit for gently shifting phases of operation but with rapid acceleration and deceleration, the centrifuge rotor for use on the spindle assembly having interlocks with the electrical circuit and being completely enclosed for safety, the resulting motor mechanism and rotor being comparatively quiet in operation, the motor and spindle assemblies being capable of use with rotating devices and loads other than centrifuges and the centrifuge rotor being capable of holding various insertable tube carriers to provide operation with wide variety of test samples while also being substantially free of corrosion from sample spillage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism for bolting a rotor to a hub without introducing excessive radial stress around the bolt holes when the rotor is operating at high speed. The rotor has a slot cut through its center to eliminate radial stress perpendicular to the slot and thereby avoid the problem of stress cracking of the otherwise weak section. The mounting bolts are necked down and not threaded at the surface of the hub. The bolts are threaded into the hub at a substantial distance from the top surface of the hub so that they can flex and so that the center of the rotor can move out relative to the hub. The hub rotor interface is lubricated to facilitate radial motion of the center of the rotor.

Abstract: An improved centrifuge. The centrifuge may be a conventional centrifuge having a rotor and a plurality of tube receiving adaptors inserted into the rotor in a circular configuration. The improvement comprises a flexible flap having a fixed end mounted on the rotor at an adaptor and having an opposing free end. The free end extends radially inward toward the center of the rotor when the rotor is not rotating and is folded by centrifugal force back to cover the opening in the adaptor when the rotor is rotating. By covering the opening in the adaptor, the flexible flap eliminates the high pitch whistle otherwise generated by the adaptor when rotating without a tube inserted.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor includes a central disc formed of a plurality of laminates each having an array of fibers arranged at predetermined annular orientations with respect to the axes of the fibers in the next vertically adjacent laminate. A rim having a higher stiffness than that of the disc surrounds the disc so that a radially inwardly compressive stress is imposed on the disc by the rim when the rotor is rotated at any speed.

Abstract: This invention relates to the ultrasound enhancement of sedimentation of particulates in a particulate-bearing fluid medium while the fluid medium is undergoing centrifugation. The ultrasound energy forms standing waves in the fluid and cause particulates in the fluid, whether solids, liquids, or gases, to agglomerate in bands. The bands approximate either the nodes or antinodes of the standing wave, depending on the density of the particulate relative to the fluid. The banded or agglomerated particulate enhances the rate of sedimentation as well as the reverse flow of suspernatent by removing particulate which would otherwise impede this flow.

Abstract: An angular cap for a centrifuge, in which test tubes containing material to be centrifuged are disposed in vertically inclined holders, the cap having a hub adapted to be mounted on a motor shaft of the centrifuge, said cap including a vertically inclined, continuous annular groove extending along the circumference of the cap and a plurality of breaker-like vertically inclined inserts adapted to be positioned in the annular groove disposed in a row for holding the test tubes, the breaker-like inserts each having protrusions disposed on the outside of an upper part of the insert, facing one another, which when the inserts are dipsosed in a row in the annular groove produce a continuous, smooth, annular surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved rotor for a centrifuge that operates by centrifugal elutriation. The rotor consists of a chamber assembly, a disk assembly, and a quick release mechanism. The chamber assembly is relatively light and it includes one or two separation chambers, tubing and a rotating seal. The disk assembly consists of the relatively heavy support structure. The two piece construction facilitates handling the parts of the rotor that generally need to be autoclaved. The chamber assembly has a novel structure that allows the rotor to easily be configured for operation with one or two chambers. The disk assembly has a unique strain relief that prevents structural cracking. The quick release mechanism is held in the latched position by centrifugal force during operation of the rotor.

Abstract: A composite material centrifuge rotor and process of construction of the rotor is disclosed. A rotor having high stiffness of fibers, preferably carbon, bound together with resin is disclosed. The rotor includes a top disk, a bottom disk and a spacer belt spacing the two disks apart to form a rotor assembly. The top and bottom disks are fabricated by overlying multiple layers of tape, the tape being made from longitudinally extending and parallel fibers held together with resin. Successive layers of tape are oriented so as to vary the longitudinal direction of the fiber with respect to a preselected radius vector from the spin axis of the rotor. When the tape is compiled in multiple layers to a thickness of the top and bottom disk, the tape is compressed between two metal plates and cured at a temperature well above the expected autoclave temperature of sterilization of the rotor. Thereafter, the entire assembly is wound by a peripheral belt with resin impregnated high stiffness fiber.

Abstract: A method and a device for obtaining plasma from a few microliters of blood for analysis purposes. The method makes use a transfer strip (10) and a turntable for performing centrifuging operations.

Abstract: A composite material centrifuge rotor and process of construction of the rotor is disclosed. A rotor having high stiffness of fibers, preferably carbon, bound together with resin is disclosed. The rotor includes a top disk, a bottom disk and a spacer belt spacing the two disks apart to form a rotor assembly. The top and bottom disks are fabricated by overlying multiple layers of tape, the tape being made from longitudinally extending and parallel fibers held together with resin. The tapes are stacked in multiple layers normal to the spin axis of the rotor so as to lie within the plane of the centrifugal force exerted by the rotor. Successive layers of tape are oriented so as to vary the longitudinal direction of the fiber with respect to a preselected radius vector from the spin axis of the rotor.

Abstract: A centrifuge system, especially for centrifugation of pathologically dangerous material, is characterized by a centrifuge head adapted to contain a carrier liquid and so formed and shaped that upon rotation of the head about its axis of symmetry the carrier liquid is distributed in a configuration to support one or more sealed sample containers wholly by floatation. The distribution of the carrier liquid in the rotating head may be as an annular body of constant cross section, or as two or more bodies accommodated in fluidly linked chambers in the head. The sample containers may be rigid and for instance tubular, or flexible and for instance bag-like.

Abstract: Apparatus for the centrifugal fractionation and component-isolation of liquid material has a nonflexing radially-movable pressure panel disposed between a first liquid container stacked radially in front of a second liquid container. The two containers are at the same interval pressure during centrifugation, and the pressure panel avoids radial distortion of the back wall of the first container. The liquid container structure can incorporate the pressure panel. Alternatively, the panel can be part of the centrifugal separating instrument.

Abstract: A rotor and disc assembly for use in a centrifugal fast analyzer. The assembly is designed to process multiple samples of whole blood followed by aliquoting of the resultant serum into precisely measured samples for subsequent chemical analysis. The assembly requires minimal operator involvement with no mechanical pipetting. The system comprises (1) a whole blood sample disc, (2) a serum sample disc, (3) a sample preparation rotor, and (4) an analytical rotor. The blood sample disc and serum sample disc are designed with a plurality of precision bore capillary tubes arranged in a spoked array. Samples of blood are loaded into the blood sample disc in capillary tubes filled by capillary action and centrifugally discharged into cavities of the sample preparation rotor where separation of serum and solids is accomplished.

Abstract: A hand-held centrifuge apparatus for sedimenting a fluid suspension in a sample tube, the sample tube being subjected to centrifugation at an acute angle to the axis of rotation. An electronic circuit activates an electric motor for a preselected time period as a function of voltage supplied by a battery to the motor to provide a predetermined degree of centrifugation to the sample. A voltage tester periodically tests the voltage in the circuit to assure that adequate voltage is being supplied by the battery. A deactivation circuit is actuated if inadequate voltage is sensed and a disabling circuit disables the electronic circuit until adequate voltage is again available. The disabling circuit is masked during acceleration to preclude deactivating the circuit when the motor is in acceleration.

Abstract: A composite material rotor is disclosed which is made from a plurality of stacked and bonded epoxied filament wound discs, each disc providing a specially wound construction so that the modulus of the rotor body may be varied in proportion to the maximum stress encountered by the rotor during ultracentrifugation. Such a layered disc assembly allows the rotor to be fine-tuned to respond to a variety of stress encountered during ultracentrifugation. Where upper hoop stress is greater, upper disc 28 might be wound using a higher modulus filament fiber than the fiber used by disc 26.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor is formed from an arm having a base portion with enlarged load distributing end regions. The arm and each end region are formed from a plurality of laminae themselves formed of fibers. Each lamina has a direction associated therewith, with the directions of the laminae in each end region defining a predetermined angle with a reference direction defined within the base portion.

Abstract: A device is described for preparing a standardized concentration of washed particles suspended in a fluid. The preferred method is directed to the preparation from whole blood specimens of a standardized concentration of washed red cells in isotonic solution using a device comprising a test tube formed at the bottom end with a nipple-like receptacle having a predetermined volumetric capacity. Whole blood is mixed with isotonic solution in the device which is then centrifuged causing the red cells to be first washed and then packed into the receptacle. The liquid contents of the device are then decanted without disturbing the packed red cells. Thereafter, the red cells are reconstituted to the desired concentration by adding isotonic solution to a predetermined level in the tube and mixing the cells into the isotonic solution.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor and apparatus for the determination of whole blood micro-hemotocrits for in vitro diagnostic use. The centrifuge rotor comprises a base with at least two inner tube retainers and at least two outer tube retainers. An elongated hole is provided in both of the tube retainers for securely positioning a tube containing blood onto the centrifuge rotor. As the centrifuge rotor is subjected ot rotary action, the tubes are held in place by centrifugal force in conjunction with the inner and outer tube retainers and neither central lateral support for the tubes nor a separate cover is required for use of the rotor or apparatus.

Abstract: A screw plug self-taps itself into an open filler stem of a thin plastic cylindrical centrifuge tube to press an underside of the plug against the annular top surface of the stem after the solutions to be centrifuged have been placed in the tube to seal the tube. A support crown may support the stem during the screw plug insertion into the stem and supports an upper portion of the tube adjacent the stem when the tube is inserted in a centrifuge rotor. Auxiliary seals may also be provided to ensure sealing of the tube stem. An annular fractionating plug is screwable into the tapped aperture in the stem after centrifuging, to remove the centrifuged tube contents.

Abstract: A centrifugal chamber for coating slides with a sedimentation product of a sample fluid includes an upper part with at least one cylindrical sample chambers located therein, and a slide resting in sealed fashion against one end of the sample chambers. The slide is mounted on a flat surface of a carrier plate and is releasably connected with the assembly. The releasable connection between the upper part of the centrifugal chamber and the carrier plate which holds the slide includes a locking slide operable with one hand, with locking openings, and with the slide being displaceably mounted in the carrier plate in a longitudinal direction thereof and being further connectable with matching parts of the upper part which engage the locking openings.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor having a base plate with a plurality of support posts mounted thereon. Each support post receives and supports the radially inner end of a sample container support element formed of a wound composite material. The outer end-turn of the support element receives and supports a sample container. The side walls of the support element are arranged to lie generally radially of the central vertical axis of the rotor.

Abstract: A swinging bucket centrifuge rotor including seating surfaces having shapes which cause buckets seating thereon to be relieved of side loading forces. Each bucket is symmetrical and is pivotally supported by bucket pins that rest in respective spring-loaded carrier assemblies. The spring constants of the springs of the carrier assemblies are selected so that the leading edge of each bucket bottom rests upon a curved surface and clears the respective seating surface before the trailing edge thereof contacts the same. The resulting bucket orientation assures that, upon seating, each bucket rotates until its bucket pins lift slightly off of the surfaces of the respective carrier assemblies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reaction support incorporating multiple recipients for testing liquid doses, comprising a transparent plate provided with a plurality of recesses of which each forms one of the recipient. According to the invention, this support is characterized in that the plate is in the form of a disc and in that the recesses are obturated at the top and are each in communication with the outside via an eccentric orifice opening on the upper face of the disc. The invention is particularly applicable in the domain of biology.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and process for separating selected fractions of liquids, preferably the fractions arising in density gradient centrifugation. Said device is characterized by a functional element, which is a space-enclosing element, its surface being partly formed by a net through which the free streaming of materials can occur in a liquid medium, the structure of the net ensuring that the liquid fraction entrapped in the space of the element is removable from the liquid medium by removing the element itself. For the purpose of density gradient centrifugation, a plurality of said functional elements are placed in a centrifuge tube, and after centrifugation, the specific fractions of the liquid entrapped in the inner spaces of the functional elements are separated by removing said functional elements one by one from the common housing tube.

Abstract: A microcentrifugation tube for the preparation of a sample for examination under an electron microscope is disclosed. The tube has a bore extending from the top of the tube to the base of the tube. The bore includes an upper section comprising inner walls which taper conically inwardly toward the base of the tube at an included angle of less than 25.degree. and a lower tip extending from the lower end of the upper section to the base of the tube, wherein the lower tip has a cross-sectional shape sized to accommodate the slicing of such a sample on a microtome when removed from the tube.

Abstract: The stability of buoyant density gradients in centrifuge tubes decreases rapidly when the volume of the tubes is increased beyond 50-100 ml because vortices form in large tubes on acceleration and deceleration of the centrifuge. For large-scale density gradient separation of particles, e.g. blood cells, using centrifuge tubes it is therefore necessary to distribute the material into a number of small tubes. This time consuming procedure is simplified by using a compartmentalized centrifugation chamber subdivided by radially and vertically oriented walls or lamellae into a number of hydrostatically communicating compartments. The walls stabilize the large volume density gradient without interfering with sedimentation of the particles. As the compartments communicate, it is possible to layer and fractionate the density gradient in all compartments simultaneously, which results in a considerable reduction of time and labor required to separate large volumes of material by density gradient centrifugation.

Abstract: A multifunction centrifuge consists of a rotor 1 to which a plurality of centrifuge bowls 2 are rigidly fixed. Each bowl 2 has two chambers 3a, 3b connected with each other for free flow communication from either chamber to the other. One chamber 3a lies above the other 3b and is of a sack shape with a radially outwardly projecting closed bottom so that on stoppage of rotor rotation liquid therein flows back into the more deeply-lying other chamber 3b. The bowl 2 is light-transparent for photometric measurements.

Abstract: A rotor for a centrifuge is provided with a peripheral groove having confronting slots communicating therewith. A retaining member is disposed so as to overlie each of the slots by a predetermined radial distance. The radial dimension of each slot is greater than the sum of the radial distance by which the retaining member overlies the slot and the radial thickness dimension of a tube carrier receivable within the slots. Thus, the tube carrier is movable within the slots from a first, radially inner, position to a second radially outer, position in response to centrifugal force such that when in the second position movement of the tube carrier in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation is prohibited.

Abstract: A breakaway base for use with an ultracentrifuge rotor wherein the base is designed to fracture when the rotor is above a specified speed so that the rotor will disengage from the drive spindle of the centrifuge. The base has cutout areas to establish a high stress region that is designed to fracture above a specified rotor speed. The cutout areas are designed to receive lugs projecting from the bottom of the rotor. The cutout areas have slotted ledges through which fastening bolts connect to the lugs on the rotor. The fracture of the base in the high stress region in conjunction with the slotted ledges will result in the base fracturing into two parts which will cause rotor disengagement from the drive spindle of the centrifuge and prevent the rotor from spinning at a greater speed.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor is provided with a plurality of cavities having a non-circular cross-section for receiving mating multi-angle adapters, which may be inserted in the cavities with selected rotational alignment about the cavity axes, to determine a plurality of select angle receiving chambers in the rotor for sample containers.

Abstract: A thick walled centrifuge tube with a generally constant internal diameter and having at least one circumferential groove within the exterior surface of the tube. The groove is designed to have a depth slightly less than the wall thickness of the tube. The circumferential groove is designed to assist in slicing of the tube subsequent to centrifugation in order to isolate different separated particles of a fluid sample which have formed fraction bands at certain levels in the tube. The groove reduces the cutting force required to partition the tube. The groove provides a guide for a slicing blade. The groove is formed in such a manner that a fluid tight seal is formed between the slicing blade and the tube as the blade proceeds through the tube. The centrifuge tube wall at the base of the groove, after slicing, is resilient enough to allow the tube sections to be rejoined under force and create a fluid tight seal.

Abstract: A thin-wall centrifuge tube having multiple chambers for use in fluid sample investigation with an ultracentrifuge. More particularly, the multiple chamber ultracentrifuge tube can be used, for example, in lipoprotein separation. The ultracentrifuge tube may have two or more separate chambers which, subsequent to centrifugation, can be sealed from each other to retain the separated constituents of the sample under investigation. The chambers in the tube are joined by a constricted area which permits fluid communication between the chambers. The tube is designed to be used in conjunction with a support spacer adjacent the constriction in the tube so that the tube is properly supported during high speed centrifugation.

Abstract: A fixed angle pelleting rotor is physically configured such that the clearing rate factor K.sub.R, functionally related to the volume V of each bottle carried by the rotor, the number N of bottles carried by the rotor, the minimum and maximum distance of each bottle from the central axis of the rotor and the rotor speed, is a maximum.

Abstract: A heatable centrifuge is formed of a rotor rotatable about a central axis. The rotor includes a dish shaped portion concentric to the central axis and a jacket portion extending upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the dish shaped portion and disposed in parallel with the central axis. Preferably, the dish shaped portion is formed of an electrically insulating and heat insulating ceramic material and the jacket portion is formed of a high strength electrically conductive material. Sample containers are symmetrically arranged with the rotor supported with an insert within the jacket portion. Conductive heating members, such as electro-magnets, are arranged about the outer surface of the jacket portion for transmitting heat through the jacket portion to the material being centrifuged.

Abstract: A rotor adapted for containing a plurality of sample tubes and for retaining the contents of such tubes if any should rupture while in the rotor. The rotor includes an upper shell and a lower shell connected by a central hub interposed therebetween. Provision is made for coupling the hub to a drive shaft. The upper shell has a substantially frustoconical shape and a recessed top surface. The top surface has a form generally corresponding to the interior of an inverted frustum. A plurality of sample tubes are disposed in a circular locus in the top of the rotor. The lower shell of the rotor has a bottom formed with upturned inwardly sloping conical sides. The sides are disposed such that their uppermost portion is proximate the upper shell. In the event that one or more tubes ruptures while in the rotor, the contents will be retained in the lower shell rather than spilling into the rotor chamber.

Abstract: An adapter for a swinging bucket centrifuge rotor includes a slide plate having a retaining lip and a cam surface thereon. Movement of the plate in one direction to a holding position disposes the lip to hold above the rim of a microtube to hold the same in place. Movement in an opposite direction introduces a cam surface between the rim of the tube and a flange on a closure to thereby uncap the same.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating reaction vessels in an inclined posture, comprising a plate, means for rotatably supporting the plate, means for rotating the plate at a predetermined speed, a plurality of reaction vessel holders mounted on the edge portion of the plate and adapted for mounting reaction vessels, means for rotating the reaction vessel holders around their axes at a predetermined speed, and means for fixing the plate supporting means in such a manner that the reaction vessel holders may be inclined at a predetermined angle to the horizon.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator capable of selectively mounting sedimentation tubes or capillary tubes on a rotor includes a container receptacle mounted in an outer box of the separator for receiving sedimentation tube containers. When the sedimentation tube containers are received in the container receptacle, their presence is detected to enable the rotor to rotate at a relatively high speed required when the capillary tubes mounted on the rotor.

Abstract: The conditioning device has a receptacle (5) which communicates with n calibrated analysis cells (10 to 19) in which the analysis reagents are placed the liquid to be analyzed being conveyed from the receptacle (5) towards the cells (10 to 19) by centrifuging. The device is in the form of a strip unit (1); the analysis cells (10 to 19) are preceded by tanks (20 to 29) of slightly larger volume, the cells (10 to 19) communicating with the tanks (20 to 29) via capillary orifices (30 to 39). At the time of centrifuging, the tanks are filled successively. The device is compact but allows a large number of analyses to be made rapidly.

Abstract: A rotor for a centrifuge comprises a rotatable shaft, a disc-shaped bottom plate fixed to the rotatable shaft, and a holder plate mounted on the bottom plate for holding sedimentation tubes. The holder plate is bodily constructed of a thin plate and has a bent portion positioned between a center and outer edge thereof and projecting upwardly. The bent portion includes a surface directed toward the center of the holder plate and having a plurality of holes for insertion therethrough of the sedimentation tubes. The bottom plate has a plurality of holes aligned with the holes in the holder plate for receiving the sedimentation tubes therein.

Abstract: A rotor unit for a centrifugal analyzer comprises a rotatably driven circular rotor base; and a rotor head comprising a plurality of insert elements each having at least one chamber sample for the reception of a sample liquid, at least one measuring chamber radially outwardly from the associated sample chamber for the measurement of characteristic parameters for the detection of components of the sample, at least one liquid channel connecting the sample chamber with the measuring chamber and each insert element is releasably mounted on the rotor base at any one of a plurality of different selectable angular positions wherein the insert element is positionally stable when the rotor base is rotating.

Abstract: An adapter for supporting a centrifuge container from the inside surface thereof includes a bore extending through a portion thereof. The bore exhibits generally confronting planar surfaces each arranged to lie coincident with the radius of the rotor in which the container is disposed.

Abstract: A decanting centrifuge for processing liquid material in cylindrical open-topped sample tubes supported on the rotor and movable from a first position with the open ends directed towards the rotor axis and a second position for decanting supernatant from the sample tubes under the influence of the centrifugal force. In the second position the sample tubes are horizontal or include a relatively small angle with the horizontal, and the radially outermost generatrix of the inner surface of the sample tubes is tangent to an imaginary circular cylindrical surface concentric with the rotor, the tangent point being spaced by a predetermined distance from the closed bottom end of the sample tubes, so that a predetermined volume is retained between the tangent point and the bottom end.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shell type centrifuge rotor formed as a frustoconical shell having a circular rim adjacent at least one end thereof. The lower end of the shell is open, whereas the upper end has a conical recess and a central opening. The recess has an inverted frustoconical sidewall, with a plurality of apertures equally spaced therein and disposed an equal distance from the central opening.A tube holder is mounted in each of the apertures for receiving a centrifuge test tube. The tube holder has a flange configured so as to fit the surface contour of the conical recess so that the flange fully contacts the wall of the conical recess when the tube holder is mounted in the aperture. A hub is mounted in the central opening of the conical recess and couples the frustoconical shell to the centrifuge drive shaft. Means are secured to the hub for partially enclosing the lower end of the frustoconical shell to reduce the windage of the rotor to a predetermined level.

Abstract: A centrifuge with swinging sample vessels has a rotor with curved rolling support faces on which the sample vessels may be rolled as they are moved into and out of a horizontal position by centrifugal force on centrifuging. Because of the use of a system with rolling structures for swinging of the vessels, a design of centrifuge is produced which is simple in structure, needs little upkeep and whose rotor is low in weight and does not have any cup supports or the like for supporting the sample vessels.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analytical rotor comprising a set of analytical cells disposed at its periphery, a central distribution chamber, portioning cavities corresponding to the respective cells and disposed between the cells and the chamber periphery, the cavities each having an inlet connected to the chamber and an outlet connected to one of the cells by a transfer passage, and at least one overflow reservoir connected to the inlets of the cavities by at least one communication passage.

Abstract: A one piece integrally formed sectional shaped liner for use in combination with similarly shaped sectional liners in a generally cylindrical chamber of a centrifuge rotor. The utilization of a plurality of similarly shaped plastic liners within a single rotor chamber allows for the placement of different fluid samples in a single rotor during one centrifuge run. The liners are designed in such a manner that they do not require a separate capping means and are preferably made through a blow molding process. The liners are designed to provide adjacent support to each other during the centrifugation run.

Abstract: A blood collection device for receiving whole blood adapted to be centrifuged into phases of lighter and heavier specific gravity includes a container with proximal and distal ends and a penetrable stopper at the proximal end. A separator assembly inside the container includes a receptacle with a thixotropic barrier material therein. An aperture in the receptacle faces toward the distal end of the container. The barrier material has a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the lighter and heavier phases of blood and is adapted to flow under its own influence through the aperture during centrifugation. The barrier material then travels to a position intermediate the lighter and heavier phases of blood separated during centrifugation and adheres to the inside wall of the container to form a barrier.

Abstract: A method of preparing neocyte-enriched blood is disclosed wherein a contained sample of whole blood is centrifuged at high speed so as to distribute the blood components in said chamber along a density continuum. Following the high-speed centrifuging step, the blood components in the first chamber are partitioned by transferring those components beyond a selected partition line in the first chamber from the spin axis to a second chamber so that the blood components in the first and second chambers can be used independently. Apparatus for effecting the separation and partitioning of the blood in a completely sterile environment is also disclosed.