Process Patents (Class 494/37)
  • Patent number: 8343025
    Abstract: A centrifugal concentrator in which there is a common shaft for the drive motor and concentrator bowl. The cost of bearing assemblies is thereby minimized. The bowl is driven and suspended from above to keep the motor out of the slurry area and maximize the simplicity of the design. A fluidizing fluid is delivered through the common shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: Steven A. McAlister, Mark Henry Vinchoff
  • Publication number: 20120329631
    Abstract: A screen bowl centrifuge having first and second conically diverging screen sections. And a method of separating solids from liquid of a slurry includes feeding a slurry from a conveyor hub to a cylindrical section of a bowl extending about the conveyor hub; scrolling the solids along the cylindrical section in a first direction and a majority of the liquid in a second direction opposite the first direction using at least one helical blade extending from the conveyor hub; and sliding the solids from the cylindrical section along a conically diverging screen section of the bowl that includes a first conically diverging section and a second conically diverging section, the first conically diverging section extending at a first angle to the axis and the second conically diverging section extends at a second angle to the axis, and the first angle is different from the second angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: ANDRITZ SEPARATION INC.
    Inventors: Timothy S. QUINN, Michael REICHENBACH
  • Patent number: 8337379
    Abstract: A centrifuge for separating blood having a camera observing fluid flow, and a controller controlling the flow. The location of an interface is detected by image processing steps, which may comprise the steps of “spoiling” the image, “diffusing” the image, “edge detection”, “edge linking”, “region-based confirmation”, and “interface calculation”. “Spoiling” reduces the number of pixels to be examined preferentially on orthogonal axis oriented with respect to the expected location of the interface or phase boundary. “Diffusing” smoothes out small oscillations in the interface boundary, making the location of the interface more distinct. “Edge detection” computes the rate of change in pixel intensity, or. “Edge linking” connects adjacent maxima. “Region-based confirmation” creates a pseudo image of the regions that qualify as distinct. “Final edge calculation” uses the points where the shade changes in the pseudo image, averages the radial displacement of these points for the interface position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Fletcher, William Sweat, Jeremy Kolenbrander, Aditya Dalvi, John R. Linder
  • Patent number: 8337378
    Abstract: A continuous self-cleaning centrifuge assembly having a feed inlet for unclarified liquid and first and second outlets for clarified liquid. Solids are discharged out of a solids holding space in the centrifuge in response to comparison of a measured turbidity to a predetermined turbidity parameter of clarified liquid bled in a detection line in communication with the centrifuge at the second outlet. The turbidity is affected by the degree of build up of solids in the centrifuge. A method of optimizing the clarified liquid outflowing from the centrifuge includes the steps of controlling the flow rate of unclarified liquid into the centrifuge in response to the turbidity of the clarified liquid flowing out of the centrifuge and discharging solids out of a solids holding space in the centrifuge in response to the turbidity measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: GEA Westfalia Separator GmbH
    Inventor: Chris Kwok On Chan
  • Patent number: 8333725
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for separating a bodily fluid, in particular blood platelet concentrate, into fractions under centrifugal force. The device comprises a flexible container system which comprises at least a first container for the fluid to be separated and a second container for a separated fraction, wherein the containers are mutually connected using a connecting conduit for a fluid, wherein a widened portion is arranged in the connecting conduit between the first and second container, wherein during use a detectable separating layer is created in the widened portion. The invention also relates to a flexible container system intended for the device, a method for separating blood platelet concentrate into fractions under centrifugal force, and a blood platelet concentrate with low leukocyte content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Klip Consultancy B.V.
    Inventors: Evert Jan Klip, Carl Gustav Figdor
  • Publication number: 20120316050
    Abstract: A cartridge is configured for insertion and centrifugation in a centrifuge. The cartridge includes a first drum which has a first chamber, and a displacement device which is designed to rotate the first drum about a center axis thereof to selectively and conductively connect the first chamber to a second or a third chamber. In another embodiment, the cartridge includes a first drum which has a first chamber and a second chamber, and a displacement device which is designed to rotate the first drum about the center axis thereof to selectively and conductively connect the first chamber to a third chamber or the second chamber to the third chamber. The displacement device has an actuator which directly or indirectly moves the first drum about the center axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martina Daub, Juergen Steigert
  • Publication number: 20120308435
    Abstract: A centrifuge to which sample tubes can be introduced while the centrifuge is in motion. The centrifuge comprises a carousel having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the carousel has a plurality of positions for sample tubes for a centrifugation operation, a plurality of drive mechanisms attached to the upper portion of the carousel, a movable element mounted upon each drive mechanism, the movable element capable of traversing the length of the drive mechanism when the drive mechanism is actuated, a sample tube-holding assembly comprising a sample tube holder and a bearing attached to each movable element, and at least one balancing element capable of contributing to a force vector that cancels an imbalance vector generated by rotation of the centrifuge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: ABBOTT LABORATORIES
    Inventor: Patrick P. Fritchie
  • Publication number: 20120309636
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems, devices, and methods for point-of-care and/or distributed testing services. The methods and devices of the invention are directed toward automatic detection of analytes in a bodily fluid. The components of the device can be modified to allow for more flexible and robust use with the disclosed methods for a variety of medical, laboratory, and other applications. The systems, devices, and methods of the present invention can allow for effective use of samples by improved sample preparation and analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Ian Gibbons, Anthony J. Nugent, Anthony Delacruz, Daniel Young, Elizabeth Holmes, Andrew Drake, Timothy Michael Kemp, Sunny Balwani, Chinmay Pangarkar
  • Publication number: 20120301957
    Abstract: A method and apparatus can separate and concentrate a selected component from a multi-component material. The multi-component material may include a whole sample such as adipose tissue, whole blood, or the like. The apparatus generally includes a moveable piston positioned within a separation container and a withdrawal tube that is operable to interact with a distal end of the collection container past the piston. Material can be withdrawn through the withdrawal tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Biomet Biologics, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Leach, James M. McKale
  • Publication number: 20120302420
    Abstract: What is proposed is a centrifugal droplet separator for separating liquid droplets out of a feed gas stream comprising them, with a vertical longitudinal axis and circular cross section, with a jacket (1) and with hoods (2) at the upper and lower ends of the jacket (1), with tangential supply (3) of the feed gas stream comprising liquid droplets at the jacket (1) and with an outlet stub (4) for the liquid separated out in the centrifugal droplet separator in the region of the lower hood (2), and with a gas outlet stub (7) for the gas stream cleaned in the centrifugal droplet separator in the region of the upper hood (2), wherein two, three or more inlet orifices (9) arranged symmetrically on the circumference of the upper hood (2) for tangential supply of cleaning liquid are provided in the same direction as the supply of the feed gas stream comprising liquid droplets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Jörg Halpap, Andreas Bode, Eberhard Hermann, Markus Linsenbühler, Bernd Sachweh, Michael Pilz, Michael Mertler, Matthias Wilhelm Meier
  • Patent number: 8318507
    Abstract: A method for the separation of particles of different densities using a step-wise gradient density extraction method as described herein where a sample is suspended in a liquid volume of an extracting medium of specific density and the particles that have a density less than or equal to that of the extracting medium of specific density can be recovered from a horizonatally rotatable hollow disk or a removable receptacle within a horizontally rotatable hollow disk designed for such purposes while the particles that have a density greater than the extracting medium of specific density form a deposit which can be cycled through the extraction process in an iterative fashion by varying the density of the extracting medium allowing the recovery of discrete particles of differing densities from a test sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Horn, Wenkui Lan
  • Publication number: 20120295781
    Abstract: A CD-based device for separating plasma from whole blood includes a substrate, a sedimentation chamber disposed in the substrate, and a collection chamber disposed in the substrate and in fluidic communication with the sedimentation chamber through a siphon channel. The sedimentation chamber includes a plurality of finger-like structures disposed along a radially outward edge of the sedimentation chamber, and protruding radially inward relative to the axis of rotation of the substrate. A method for separating plasma from whole blood using the CD-based device includes introducing a blood sample into the sedimentation chamber, rotating the substrate about an axis of rotation at a first rotational speed to separate the plasma from blood cells, and rotating the substrate about the axis of rotation at a second rotational speed, which is lower than the first rotational speed, to move the plasma from the sedimentation chamber into the collection chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Mary Amasia, Marc Madou
  • Publication number: 20120283085
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing a process having a step of centrifugation of a material contained in at least one test tube and a step of supplying a gas into the test tube. The apparatus has a centrifugation device provided with a rotor that is rotatably arranged about a central rotation axis, where at least one process housing is defined for at least one test tube, wherein at least one process housing is arranged at a peripheral position of the rotor with respect to the central rotation axis, a cover and a lock means for locking the rotor to the cover, said lock means comprising an elongated portion that is adapted to firmly engage with said rotor. The apparatus has a gas channeling means with a passageway defined in the lock member, the passageway conveying into the chamber a gas flow coming from an external source, and also a discharge passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicants: SMART HOSPITAL S.R.L., GENEDIA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Niccolo Di Pietro
  • Publication number: 20120281213
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method for sorting nanoparticles includes preparing a high-viscosity density gradient medium filled in a container, dispersing nanoparticles into an aqueous solution to form a suspension of the nanoparticles, each nanoparticle having one or more cores and a shell encapsulating the one or more cores, layering the suspension of the nanoparticles on the top of the high-viscosity density gradient medium in the container, and centrifugating the layered suspension of the nanoparticles on the top of the high-viscosity density gradient medium in the container at a predetermined speed for a predetermined period of time to form a gradient of fractions of the nanoparticles along the container, where each fraction comprises nanoparticles in a respective one of aggregation states of the nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: TIMOTHY P. TYLER, ANNE-ISABELLE HENRY, RICHARD P. VAN DUYNE, MARK C. HERSAM
  • Publication number: 20120282235
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a surgical kit for preparation of a patch for implantation into a human body, characterized in that it comprises a package containing, on one hand, a synthetic substrate (1) and, on the other hand, means for treatment of the substrate with a solution (3) including at least one biologically active component (4, 5), adapted to integrate the biologically active component with the substrate. Embodiments of the invention include a patch for implantation into the human body, comprising a synthetic substrate (1), characterized in that at least one biologically active component (4, 5) is integrated with the substrate using the surgical kit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin L. Ohashi, Dale R. Peterson, Jamal Rushdy
  • Patent number: 8298128
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a rotator comprising a receiving unit receiving materials and guiding the materials to move upward by centrifugal force to an upper portion of the receiving unit, and a rotator cover covering the upper portion of the receiving unit. The centrifuge also includes a container that is coupled to the rotator cover to be connected to the receiving unit and that receives the materials moved upward along the receiving unit. The centrifuge and a centrifuging method as disclosed herein are used for separating a fluid to which a large centrifugal force is applied and a fluid to which a smaller centrifugal force is applied by adjusting the rotation speed using the principle that centrifugal force during rotation varies according to specific components of a fluid. Thus, using the centrifuge and the centrifugal method, materials can be centrifuged and layers of the materials can be classified and collected accurately and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Medikan Inc.
    Inventors: Hee-Young Lee, Jun-Seok Lee
  • Publication number: 20120267303
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a centrifugal separator for separating solid particles from a liquid mixture, said centrifugal separator comprising a rotor body which is rotatable around an axis of rotation, the rotor body having a separation chamber with an inlet for the liquid mixture, at least one liquid outlet for a separated liquid from the liquid mixture, a sludge outlet for the separated solid particles, a screw conveyor adapted to rotate in the rotor body around the axis of rotation, at a speed differing from the rotational speed of the rotor body, for transporting the separated solid particles in the separation chamber towards and out of the sludge outlet, a drive arrangement adapted to rotate the rotor body and the screw conveyor at their respective speeds, and a control unit which is adapted to control the drive arrangement to rotate the rotor body at a first speed during a separation phase and at a second speed, which is lower than the first speed, during a particle discharge phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventors: Tomas Oldebäck, Rolf Ridderstråle, Robert Geiding, Per Fonser
  • Publication number: 20120270717
    Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating particles includes: a rotor rotatable at a speed about an axis, the rotor having an outer periphery and front and rear opposite sides; at least one chamber (50) mounted on the rotor, each chamber having an inlet and an outlet; an umbilical assembly rotatable about the axis; and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the umbilical assembly at about one-half the speed of the rotor. The umbilical assembly includes: a curvilinear guide tube (125) connecting to a drum at the rear side of the rotor; a flexible conduit (130) residing in the guide tube; and first and second elongate passageways (135) for each chamber extending through the conduit, wherein the first passageway is in fluid communication with the inlet of a respective chamber and the second passageway is in fluid communication with the outlet of the respective chamber. The passageways are held in a spaced-apart relationship relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Sunil Mehta, Tod Herman, Joe McMahon, Stephen Wilson, Ian Fitzpatrick, Timothy Craig
  • Publication number: 20120269679
    Abstract: A blood or blood component collection and processing system, apparatus and method are disclosed. One embodiment includes a vascular access device and a blood collection container having a blood inlet and first and second blood component outlets. The outlets are located at opposite ends of the container, and a blood flow conduit extends between the vascular access device and collection container. The collection container is free of attachment to other blood collection containers when in an initial collection configuration at the time of collection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Payrat, Serge Hugard, Christian Stonig, Boudewijn Erasmus, Emmanuel Mignon, Christopher D. Gassman, Clay Little, Bryan Blickhan
  • Patent number: 8292793
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method of a centrifuge using balancer wherein a balancer containing balls, a liquid, or both balls and a liquid are provided, thereby helping the rotor rotate more stably. More particularly, the centrifuge comprises a motor, a rotational shaft of the motor projected from said motor, a rotor, a main body, and a balancer which contains compensation material in a balancing space formed by a cover that is coupled to said main body, wherein the balancing for the unbalance due to the loaded samples is executed more accurately and stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hanlab Corporation
    Inventors: Heuigeun Ryu, Jong-Mok Lee, Sungha Chang
  • Publication number: 20120263777
    Abstract: An environment-friendly porous bead-satellite nanoparticles composite which has excellent recovery and repeated usage performance and can be used as a catalyst, an antiviral agent, or an antimicrobial, and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The porous bead-satellite nanoparticles composite includes a porous bead, a molecule having a first end coupled to the surface of the porous bead and including a functional group at a second end, and satellite nanoparticles coupled to the functional group, wherein the porous bead may have a core-shell structure including a cluster core of nanoparticles and a porous bead shell covering the cluster core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kyoungja WOO, Hye Hun PARK, Wooyoung PARK
  • Publication number: 20120252650
    Abstract: Centrifuges are useful to, among other things, remove red blood cells from whole blood and retain platelets and other factors in a reduced volume of plasma. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) and or platelet poor plasma (PPP) can be obtained rapidly and is ready for immediate injection into the host. Embodiments may include valves, operated manually or automatically, to open ports that discharge the excess red blood cells and the excess plasma into separate receivers while retaining the platelets and other factors in the centrifuge chamber. High speeds used allow simple and small embodiments to be used at the patient's side during surgical procedures. The embodiments can also be used for the separation of liquids or slurries in other fields such as, for example, the separation of pigments or lubricants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: John E. Nash, William T. Fisher
  • Patent number: 8278118
    Abstract: A method for the separation of particles of different densities using a step-wise gradient density extraction method as described herein where a sample is suspended in a liquid volume of an extracting medium of specific density and the particles that have a density less than or equal to that of the extracting medium of specific density can be recovered from a horizonatally rotatable hollow disk or a removable receptacle within a horizontally rotatable hollow disk designed for such purposes while the particles that have a density greater than the extracting medium of specific density form a deposit which can be cycled through the extraction process in an iterative fashion by varying the density of the extracting medium allowing the recovery of discrete particles of differing densities from a test sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Prospect Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Horn, Wenkui Lan
  • Publication number: 20120245014
    Abstract: A centrifuge, including a bowl having a composite material, a screw conveyor rotatably mounted within the bowl, and a feed pipe mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a feed port in a wall of the screw conveyor to an annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor. Also, a method of replacing a centrifuge component, including removing the centrifuge component and installing a new centrifuge component, where the centrifuge components include a bowl and a screw conveyor rotatably mounted within the bowl, and where the new centrifuge component includes a composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Bradley Jones, Thomas Geehan
  • Publication number: 20120225766
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to tube and float systems that can be used to detect target materials in a variety of different suspensions. The tube is filled with a suspension suspected of containing a target material. When the tube, a float, and suspension are centrifuged, and the various materials suspended in the suspension are separated into different material layers along the axial length of the tube according to associated specific gravities. The float includes an insert and a float exterior that can be combined so that the float is to be positions at approximately the same level as the layer containing the target material. The float is to be positioned in, and expand the axial length of, the target material layer so that nearly the entire quantity of target material is to be positioned between the float outer surface and the inner surface of the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Ronald C. Seubert, Paul C. Goodwin, Martha Stone
  • Patent number: 8251883
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic balance adjusting centrifuge which calculates the magnitude and the location of imbalance of itself based on the vibration generated in the dynamic state and automatically compensate for the imbalance based on the calculation, and the control method thereof. The method includes: (a) measuring the amount of vibration of a rotor of a centrifuge, supporting buckets that load samples, at a predetermined rotational velocity; (b) determining whether the amount of vibration measured in step (a) is greater than an allowed value; and (c) when the amplitude of the vibration is greater than the allowed value, compensating for a weight imbalance of the rotor by an amount calculated based on the vibration amount measured in step (a) and returning to step (a), otherwise, performing a centrifugal separation by accelerating the rotor to a working velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hanlab Corporation
    Inventors: Heuigeun Ryu, Ohhun Kwon, Sunghyuk Lee, Jaehong Oh
  • Patent number: 8246842
    Abstract: A centrifuge (2) for separating solids from liquid of a slurry with a conveyor (12) having a hub (14) rotatable about an axis (34) and at a helical blade (16) extending axially and radially from the hub. A bowl (4) including a cylindrical section (6) extending from an upstream end of the conveyor and a conically diverging screen section (10) extending to a downstream end of the conveyor extends about the conveyor and is rotatable about the axis. The conically diverging screen section includes an angle (40) that reduces the coefficient of friction of the solids to allow a cake formed of the solids to slide in a controlled manner forward on the conically diverging screen section with minimal back pressure, but without allowing the solid cake to break loose from the conically diverging screen section and slide out of the centrifuge in an uncontrolled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Andritz Separation, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Robert Frohlich, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120202673
    Abstract: A rotor is provided for use in a centrifuge system configured to spin the rotor for separating complex fluids. The rotor includes a housing configured to be secured by the centrifuge system and several chambers formed in the housing. Each chamber includes a first chamber portion having a port formed therein and a second chamber portion in fluid communication with the port of the first chamber portion. The second chamber portion may be disposed generally below the port of the first chamber portion. Other rotor designs and methods for separating complex fluids are further disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Matthew K. Runyon, Daniel M. Mueth, Sergio O. Guevara, Haojun Fu
  • Publication number: 20120193305
    Abstract: Process for the continuous treatment of soot water which arises during partial oxidation of liquid hydrocarbons containing heavy metals. The soot water is centrifuged at a pressure of up to 5 bar and a temperature of up to 150° C. in a pre-dewatering stage, without the addition of additives, to 10% solids content, a pasty sludge rich in heavy metals is obtained and a centrate low in heavy metals arises. The centrate at least to some extent, is fed back into the gasification process again as useable water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Uhde GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Jass, Daniel Oryan, Andreas Alke, Sascha Wenzel
  • Publication number: 20120190528
    Abstract: A separation device with a gas inlet port that accepts an inlet gas. The inlet gas is composed of a mixture of at least two separable particle components with each component having a different mass. A rotating separation rotor accepts the inlet gas and uses a separator to substantially separate the gas according to mass into two fractions, a heavier and a lighter fraction. One of the fractions is passed to a second separator that further separates that fraction into another two fractions consisting of heavier and lighter fractions. The desired fractions are collected and exhausted from the separation device for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Tenoroc LLC
    Inventor: Michael R. Bloom
  • Publication number: 20120189711
    Abstract: Extracorporeal systems and methods for treating blood-borne diseases in a subject or for developing drugs to treat blood-borne diseases include various environmental and treatment modules that can be tailored to a specific disease or infection. In certain embodiments of the systems and methods, a blood sample is treated with hydrostatic pressure, a pulsed electrical field, a pharmaceutical agent, microwave, centrifugation, sonification, radiation, or a combination thereof, under environmental conditions that are effective for the treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Somerset Group Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Greenberg, Scott Puritz, Tatiana Koutchma, Juan N. Walterspiel
  • Patent number: 8226826
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disk based system for separating at least two types of particulates contained in a sample fluid. The system includes a disk-like carrier board and a magnetic attraction unit. The disk-like carrier board forms at least one flow channel structure, which includes an inner reservoir, at least one separation chamber, and at least one outer reservoir arranged in sequence from a geometric center of the disk-like carrier board to an outer circumferential rim of the disk-like carrier board. A method of separation carried out with the system includes introducing the sample fluid into the inner reservoir and then rotating the disk-like carrier board to induce a centrifugal force. The sample fluid contains particulates that are labeled with immunomagnetic beads and the labeled particulates are attracted by the magnetic force generated by the magnetic attraction unit to retain in the inner reservoir or the separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Andrew M. Wo, Chen-Lin Chen, Ken-Chao Chen, Yu-Cheng Pan
  • Patent number: 8221301
    Abstract: Provided are a centrifuge that rotates about a rotation axis to separate a material and a method of centrifugal separation. The container is coupled to the centrifuge to freely pivot upward and downward on a pivoting axis vertical to a rotation plane. The container has an opening at an upper end thereof and holds a material inside. An angle adjuster raises the central axis of the container beyond a perpendicular angle with the rotation axis while the centrifuge is rotating in order to arrange the opening of the container downward with respect to the rotation plane and point an end of the container opposite to the opening of the container upward with respect to the rotation plane, and allow a portion of layers formed during centrifugal separating to flow down through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Hyun-Jin Yang
  • Publication number: 20120165177
    Abstract: To provide a vertical centrifugal separation apparatus which recovers a centrifuged liquid with a reduced loss and is suitable for when a target is the centrifuged liquid, and a method of recovering the centrifuged liquid. In performing centrifugation, the liquid to be processed is supplied from a lower portion of a cylindrical rotational tube which rotates about a vertical axis, and the centrifuged liquid is discharged and recovered from an upper portion of the cylindrical rotational tube. When the centrifugation is stopped for cleaning the cylindrical rotational tube, for example, the cylindrical rotational tube is set to a first overturn position to recover the remaining centrifuged liquid, and then the cylindrical rotational tube is set to a second overturn position to pull the tube out of the casing. Such a structure allows the recovery of the centrifuged liquid as the target with a reduced loss and without waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tsugawa, Kokichi Dohi, Atsushi Sada
  • Publication number: 20120165176
    Abstract: This invention provides a blood processing filter including a flexible container having an inlet and an outlet for blood, and a sheet-like filter member arranged so as to divide the inside of the flexible container into one side and another side. An annular seal part is formed at which an entire circumference that is adjacent to a peripheral portion of the filter member is integrally sealed to the flexible container. The blood processing filter is retained in a curved shape that curves as viewed from a predetermined one direction that is orthogonal to the thickness direction by the rigidity of the seal part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: ASAHI KASEI MEDICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michiyo Andou
  • Publication number: 20120142514
    Abstract: A syringe for fat tissue components distinction including a specific gravity distinction member, and a fat tissue components separating method using the syringe. The syringe for distinguishing crude fat tissue components extracted from the human body into several fat tissue layers by specific gravity includes: a syringe main body in a cylindrical shape for storing the crude fat tissue components extracted from the human body, the syringe main body having a fat intake hole at a front end and an opening at a rear end; and a specific gravity distinction member disposed in the syringe main body and having a specific gravity smaller than about 1.0, wherein the specific gravity distinction member is movable into one of the fat tissue layers that has the same specific gravity as that of the specific gravity distinction member, thereby enabling fat tissue components distinction by specific gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: MEDIKAN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hee Young LEE
  • Patent number: 8192342
    Abstract: A separator having a conical separator drum mounted rotatably at only one of its axial ends and having a vertical axis of rotation. The drum includes a rotary spindle for driving the separator drum. The separator includes an inflow pipe for a product to be processed and at least two liquid outlets. The first liquid outlet is for a lighter phase and the second liquid outlet is for a heavier phase. The first liquid outlet includes a stripping disk. Further included is a solids discharge port and a separation plate stack in the separator drum. The second liquid outlet is followed outside the drum by a settable throttle device having an annular disk for displacing a liquid radius of the heavier phase by a throttling in an outflow cross section for the heavier phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventors: Kim Träger, Herbert Kunz
  • Patent number: 8187477
    Abstract: A platelet collection device comprising a centrifugal spin-separator container with a cavity having a longitudinal inner surface. A float in the cavity has a base, a platelet collection surface above the base, an outer surface. The float density is below the density of erythrocytes and above the density of plasma. The platelet collection surface has a position on the float which places it below the level of platelets when the float is suspended in separated blood. During centrifugation, a layer of platelets or buffy coat collects closely adjacent the platelet collection surface. Movement of a float having a density greater than whole blood through the sedimenting erythrocytes releases entrapped platelets, increasing the platelet yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Hanuman, LLC, Biomet Biologics, LLC
    Inventors: Randel Dorian, Scott R. King, Richard W. Storrs
  • Publication number: 20120129675
    Abstract: Centrifuges are useful to, among other things, remove red blood cells from whole blood and retain platelets and other factors in a reduced volume of plasma. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) and or platelet poor plasma (PPP) can be obtained rapidly and is ready for immediate injection into the host. Embodiments may include valves, operated manually or automatically, to open ports that discharge the excess red blood cells and the excess plasma into separate receivers while retaining the platelets and other factors in the centrifuge chamber. High speeds used allow simple and small embodiments to be used at the patient's side during surgical procedures. The embodiments can also be used for the separation of liquids or slurries in other fields such as, for example, the separation of pigments or lubricants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: John E. Nash, William T. Fisher
  • Publication number: 20120129676
    Abstract: A system for separating components defining a cavity for receiving the fluid. The system further includes a rigid insert slidably disposed in the cavity, the insert including a funnel-shaped upper portion and a hole therethrough. The insert has a density such that upon centrifugation a selected component of the fluid resides within the upper portion of the insert. A bone marrow aspiration device includes an introducer needle assembly and an aspiration needle assembly. The introducer needle assembly includes an introducer cannula and a removable trocar. The aspiration needle assembly includes a flexible aspiration cannula and a flexible stylet. The length of the aspiration cannula is substantially greater than the length of the introducer cannula. The aspiration needle assembly is receivable in the introducer cannula when the trocar is removed from the introducer needle assembly. The aspiration cannula forms a channel for aspirating bone marrow when the stylet is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Neil Francis Duffy, Jeffrey R. Chabot
  • Publication number: 20120122649
    Abstract: A device for separating and isolating components of a biological fluid comprising a container for containing the fluid to be processed, a tube cap assembly for closing the container while providing filling and extraction communication therewith, a float assembly disposed within the container for funneling and controlling biological fluid flow into an inverted domed shaped isolation chamber within the float and controlling the biological fluid flow out of the isolation chamber for effecting an encapsulation or a sealed isolation of at least one component or fraction of the biological fluid flow within the isolation chamber during a centrifugation process. The device further comprising a flexible tube for connecting an extraction passageway disposed within the float assembly and an extraction valve of the tube cap assembly for allowing extraction of at least the one component or fraction encapsulated or isolated within the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: John R. Chapman, Vijay Kumar, Brian K. Cinquini, Phillip D. Kingsley
  • Publication number: 20120115705
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for separation and concentration of particles from liquid and fluid samples. In some embodiments, the separation/concentration is achieved by sequential centrifugation steps. In particular, one aspect of the invention relates to a separation/concentration device which comprises at least a first chamber (101) and a second chamber (103) connected by a first valve (111), whereby operation of the first valve controls the material transfer from the first chamber to the second chamber. In some embodiments, valve operation can be manually, semi-manually or automatically. Other aspects of the invention relate to single- or multi-chambered separation/concentrator devices, and methods and systems for use. Other aspects of the invention relate to devices for operation of the valves, e.g., semi-manual actuation devices, and automatic inertial activation devices and mechanical actuation devices present in purpose-built centrifuges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicants: Fraunhofer USA, Inc., Trustees of Boston University
    Inventors: Andre Sharon, Alexis Sauer-Budge, Aaron Size, Holger Wirz
  • Patent number: 8172740
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to centrifuge systems and methods for controlling centrifuge systems, wherein the systems in certain aspects are adapted for processing material, e.g., but not limited to drilling fluids with solids therein. One illustrative method includes providing a centrifuge system that is made up of, among other things, a bowl, a bowl motor system, a bowl variable frequency drive, a conveyor, a conveyor motor, a conveyor variable frequency drive, a pump, a pump motor, and a pump variable frequency drive. Additionally, the centrifuge system includes a control system that is adapted to control the bowl variable frequency drive, the conveyor variable frequency drive, and the pump variable frequency drive. The method includes controlling the centrifuge system in the G-force differential control mode by controlling the G-force on the bowl as the bowl is rotated by the bowl motor system so that the G-force on the bowl does not exceed a pre-set maximum G-force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco L.P.
    Inventors: Khaled El Dorry, George Edward Smith, Mallappa Ishwarappa Guggari, William L. Koederitz
  • Patent number: 8173027
    Abstract: Method for separating a volume of composite liquid into at least a first component and a second component including centrifuging a separation bag containing a volume of composite liquid and a volume of gas so as to sediment at least a first component and a second component separation bag; displacing a volume of hydraulic fluid against the separation bag to cause a transfer of at least one fraction of the content of the separation bag into at least one component bag connected to the separation bag; determining the volume of hydraulic fluid displaced and determining the volume of the composite liquid or the transferred components from the determined volume of displaced hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Niclas Högberg, Brian M. Holmes, Briden Ray Stanton, Lars Persson, Lars Strandberg, Peter Pihlstedt
  • Patent number: 8167139
    Abstract: The invention includes compositions of stem and progenitor cells recovered from bone marrow or cord blood containing most of the viable CD34+ cells and substantially depleted of red blood cells resident in the original sample, without any xenobiotic additives to aid cell separation. The invention also includes a system and method for preparing the compositions. The system includes a bag set and a processing device, which utilizes an optical sensor, microcontroller, servo motor, accelerometer, load cell, and battery. The system and method utilize centrifugation to stratify the cells into layers and then separate and transfer the stem cells into a stem cell bag. The processing device's microcontroller receives input from the device's accelerometer, load cell and optical sensor to direct the metering valve in the bag set to open and close to permit the transfer of as many stems cells as possible with as few red cells as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: ThermoGenesis Corp.
    Inventors: Philip H. Coelho, Bruce A. Baker, John R. Chapman, Junzhi Li, Prince Emmanuel, Robert S. Childers
  • Publication number: 20120100979
    Abstract: Described herein are retention systems comprising an elastic member coupled to at least one securing member, a centrifuge bucket, and at least one item in the centrifuge bucket. The elastic member is attachable to at least two points on said centrifuge bucket thereby retaining the at least one item within the centrifuge bucket. Methods of using these systems are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: NEW YORK BLOOD CENTER, INC.
    Inventor: Dennis Chin
  • Publication number: 20120088647
    Abstract: A separator for separating a multiphase mixture comprising a pressure vessel supported for rotation within a casing containing a gas which may be held at an elevated temperature or pressure. A plurality of vanes is disposed within the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel has an inlet, a first phase outlet and a plurality of second phase outlets disposed radially outwardly of the first phase outlet with respect to a separator axis. A regulator is provided in the form of pressure-activated nozzles to regulate flow through the second phase outlets. In use, a mixture of solids and liquid is fed into the pressure vessel and the pressure vessel is spun within the gas causing solids to accumulate in the vicinity of the second phase outlets. The pressure-activated nozzles are repeatedly opened and closed to expel the accumulated solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Specialist Process Technologies Limited
    Inventors: David J. Parkinson, Kevin E. Collier
  • Patent number: 8151996
    Abstract: Contemplated whole blood separators tubes include a curable composition with a density intermediate to the density of serum and the cell-containing fraction. After centrifugation, the curable composition is located between the serum and the cell-containing fraction and preferably irradiated with UV light to initiate a curing reaction in which the curable composition solidifies to a barrier that is immobilized and resistant to breakdown at freezing temperatures and extended storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Jane Emerson
  • Patent number: 8152707
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bio cell cleaning centrifuge including: a motor; a rotor rotated by the motor; holders that are equipped on the rotor and that hold test tubes to be pivotable toward a rotational radial direction of the rotor; a cleaning liquid distributor mounted on the rotor to supply a cleaning liquid to the test tubes; a locking mechanism that locks the holders so that the test tubes are in a vertical state with respect to the rotational radial direction; and a controller that controls the motor and the locking mechanism, wherein the holders are configured to hold the test tubes so that central axes thereof are inclined from a rotational axis direction toward a rotational tangent direction of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Yamada
  • Patent number: RE43547
    Abstract: A separator disk for use in centrifugal separation of components is designed to automatically position itself during separation at the interface between the supernatant and the remaining components. Preferably the interface is between plasma and red blood cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Harvest Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Ellsworth, Steven F. Levesque