Centrifuge for preparing platelet rich plasma

Claim 2

A centrifuge device comprising a centrifuge head mounted for rotation, sample holder means arranged on said centrifuge head for receiving at least one elongate sample container on the circumference of said centrifuge head, each sample container having an open end and being oriented on said centrifuge head with its open end closer to the rotational axis of said centrifuge head and such that the long axis of said container intersects a plane normal to said rotational axis at an angle between approximately 70* and 90*, drive means including a drive motor, for rotating said centrifuge head, timing means operative on said drive means for rotating said centrifuge head in timed cycles and said drive means including spinner means coaxially mounting said centrifuge head to enable free rotation of said centrifuge head, said spinner means having engaging means mounted thereon and said centrifuge head having depending post means arranged to be engaged by said engaging means to drive said centrifuge head only when the spinner means is rotated and to be released therefrom when rotation of said spinner means ceases, means to effect cessation of rotation of said spinner means immediately upon de-energization of said drive motor whereby to permit free rotation of said centrifuge head on a gradually diminishing rate to assume a rEst condition.

Claim 3

The centrifuge device as claimed in claim 1 in which said means to effect cessation of rotation of said spinner means comprises, first pulley means coupled to said drive motor and arranged to be driven thereby, second pulley means coupled to said spinner means, means for transmitting rotational drive between said first and second pulley means to enable said pulleys to operate substantially simultaneously whereby said spinner means stops substantially instantaneously with deenergization of said drive motor.

Claim 4

A centrifuge device comprising a centrifuge head mounted for rotation, sample holder means arranged on said centrifuge head for receiving at least one elongate sample container on the circumference of said centrifuge head, each sample container having an open end and being oriented on said centrifuge head with its open end closer to the rotational axis of said centrifuge head and such that the long axis of said centrifuge head and such that the long axis of said container intersects a plane normal to said rotational axis at an angle between approximately 70* and 90*, drive means including a drive motor, for rotating said centrifuge head, timing means operative on said drive means for rotating said centrifuge head in timed cycles and means for enabling gradual diminishing of the rotation of said centrifuge head to a rest condition upon deenergization of said motor, said drive means includes spinner means arranged to drive said centrifuge head, first pulley means coupled to said drive motor and arranged to be driven thereby, second pulley means coupled to said spinner means, means for transmitting rotational drive between said first and second pulley means to enable said pulleys to operate substantially simultaneously whereby said spinner means stops substantially instantaneously with deenergization of said drive motor, and said spinner means includes spring means mounted for rotation therewith to place end portions thereof extending outwardly of said spinner means on rotation thereof, and said centrifuge head includes depending posts arranged in the rotational path of said spring means whereby to be drivingly engaged thereby on rotation of said spinner means, said spring means capable of being driven by said depending posts inwardly out of said intercepting path with said depending posts when said spinner means ceases rotation, thereby permitting said centrifuge head gradually to diminish its rotation to assume a rest condition on deenergization of said drive motor.

Claim 5

A centrifuge device comprising a centrifuge head mounted for rotation, sample holder means arranged on said centrifuge head for receiving at least one elongate sample container on the circumference of said centrifuge head, each sample container having an open end and being oriented on said centrifuge head with its open end closer to the rotational axis of said centrifuge head and such that the long axis of said centrifuge head and such that the long axis of said container intersects a plane normal to said rotational axis at an angle between approximately 70* and 90*, drive means including a drive motor, for rotating said centrifuge head, timing means operative on said drive means for rotating said centrifuge head in timed cycles and means for enabling gradual diminishing of the rotation of said centrifuge head to a rest condition upon deenergization of said motor, said drive means includes spinner means arranged to drive said centrifuge head, first pulley means coupled to said drive motor and arranged to be driven thereby, second pulley means coupled to said spinner means, means for transmitting rotational drive between said first and second pulley means to enable said pulleys to operate substantially simultaneously whereby said spinner means stops substantially instantaneously with deenergization of said drive motor, and said spinner means includes spring means mounted for rotation therewith to place end portions thereof extending outwardly of said spinner means on rotation thereof, and said centrifuge head includes depending posts arranged in the rotational path of said spring means whereby to be drivingly engaged thereby on rotation of said spinner means, said spring means capable of being driven by said depending posts inwardly out of said intercepting path with said depending posts when said spinner means ceases rotation, thereby permitting said centrifuge head gradually to diminish its rotation to assume a rest condition on deenergization of said drive motor.

Claim 6

The centrifuge device as claimed in claim 1 in which said timing means includes a timer motor, first switch means operative on said drive motor, second switch means operative on said timer motor and cam means coupled to said timer motor and operative successively on said first and second switch means whereby to energize said drive motor for a predetermined time duration thereafter to deenergize said drive motor and thereafter to deenergize said timer motor.

Claim 7

The centrifuge device as claimed in claim 4 and alarm means for indicating an elapsed time duration, third switch means operative to energize said alarm means immediately subsequent to expiration of said elapsed time duration and said cam means also being coupled to said third switch means to operate same on expiration of said time duration.

Claim 8

The centrifuge device as claimed in claim 5 in which said alarm means comprises audible buzzer means.

Claim 9

The centrifuge device as claimed in claim 5 and indicator lamp means operable until the expiration of said elapsed time duration and coupled to said third switch means for deenergization on closing of said third switch means.

Claim 10

The centrifuge device as claimed in claim 6 and indicator lamp means energized until the expiration of said elapsed time duration and coupled to said third switch means for deenergization on closing of said third switch means.

Claim 11

The centrifuge device as claimed in claim 1 in which said drive means operates To rotate said centrifuge head sufficiently to apply a centrifugal force of about 35 G to each sample container in a direction traversely of the long axis of said container for a time period duration less than one minute.

Claim 12

The centrifuge device as claimed in claim 1 in which the sample container is adapted to be filled partially with whole blood.