Centrifuge rotor head and sample holder assembly

Claim 1

In a centrifuge apparatus which includes a rotor member rotatable about a selected axis, the combination of: a trunion ring pivotally mounted on said rotor having an inner edge circumscribing an oval-shaped area; and a removable cup having an oval cross-section of constant dimensions throughout its length suspended in said trunion ring and extending through the area circumscribed thereby, said cup being mounted on said trunion with the long axis of the cup being normal to a radius extending from said selected axis presenting a minimum surface to air resistance as the centrifuge is rotated and being shaped to reduce wind friction, said cup serving to support a flat plastic bag containing a whole blood sample or the like for the separation of the red blood cells from the plasma therein, said oval-shaped cup substantially obviating any tendency for the bag to fold, kink, or double-over during the operation of the centrifuge, and said oval-shaped cup reducing swirl of said sample during deceleration to obviate any tendency for the constituents of the sample to recombine subsequent to the centrifuge operation.