US3877634A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cell washing centrifuge apparatus and system
Assignee: EIDP Inc
•
Filing: 1973-05-25
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1993-05-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and system for treating biological materials by alternate centrifugation and decanting steps. Predetermined equal quantities of treatment or washing liquid are automatically introduced simultaneously into each of a plurality of rotating swinging centrifuge tubes by means of a distributor that rotates with the centrifuge. After centrifugation, the centrifuge tubes descend to a restricted vertical or near vertical position in which location decantation takes place while the centrifuge rotates at a slower decanting speed. Thereafter, the cycles of centrifugation and decantation are repeated automatically. Means are also provided for preventing contamination of wash liquids during transmission thereof to the distributor.
Inventors
- 👤 Vernon C Rohde
- 👤 Josef Blum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:28
CPC Classifications
B; B04; B04B; B04B11/00; B04B11/06; B04B13/00; B04B5/00; B04B5/04; B04B5/0407; B04B5/0414; B04B5/0421; C; C12; C12M; C12M47/00; C12M47/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for treating biological materials and the like, comprising: a swinging tube centrifuge having a rotor, a plurality of swinging tube holders mounted on said rotor for holding centrifuge tubes, and a variable speed drive for said rotor; a distributor mounted on and rotating with said centrifuge, said distributor having a plurality of spaced, radially extending nozzles equal in number to said tube holders, said nozzles being aligned with but unconnected to said tube holders, said tube holders being pivotally mounted on said rotor so that the mouth of the centrifuge tubes held by said swinging tube holders is brought into close proximity with said nozzles when said rotor is in high speed rotation; a source of treatment fluid; tube means connected between said source and said distributor for transmitting said fluid to said distributor; and pulsing pump means operating upon an exterior portion of said tube means for urging said fluid from said source to said distributor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for treating biological materials and the like, comprising: a swinging tube centrifuge having a rotor, a plurality of swinging tube holders mounted on said rotor for holding centrifuge tubes, and a variable speed drive for said rotor; a distributor mounted on and rotating with said centrifuge, said distributor having a plurality of spaced, radially extending nozzles equal in number to said tube holders, said nozzles being aligned with but unconnected to said tube holders, said tube holders being pivotally mounted on said rotor so that the mouth of the centrifuge tubes held by said swinging tube holders is brought into close proximity with said nozzles when said rotor is in high speed rotation; a source of treatment fluid; tube means connected between said source and said distributor for transmitting said fluid to said distributor; and pulsing pump means operating upon an exterior portion of said tube means for urging said fluid from said source to said distributor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system according to claim 1, and further comprising valve control means between said source and said pump for adjusting and controlling the flow of said fluid between said source and said distributor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said pump means comprises a peristaltic pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said distributor is removably mounted on said centrifuge and wherein said system further comprises cooperating indexing means on said distributor and on said centrifuge for locating said nozzles opposite respective tubes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system according to claim 4 wherein said nozzles are arrayed outwardly and downwardly at an angle and wherein said tubes in the centrifuging position are at an angle for receiving fluid directly from said nozzles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said drive is a two-speed drive for said centrifuge, said tubes assuming an outwardly extended array in the high speed mode of said drive, said tubes assuming a vertical decanting position in the low speed mode of said drive and said nozzles projecting fluid into respective tubes only when the latter are in the centrifuging mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 6 and further comprising an annular trough surrounding said centrifuge, said trough receiving liquid materials from said tubes when the latter are in the vertical decanting mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said drive is a two-speed drive and said tubes are maintained in a vertical or near vertical position for decanting liquids from said tubes at low speed drive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system according to claim 8 wherein said pump means is operative only when said tubes are in the centrifuging mode to cause equal amounts of fluid to be projected by centrifugal force through said nozzles into respective tubes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system according to claim 9 and further comprising electrical circuitry for operating said two-speed drive and said pump means, and timing means in said electrical circuitry for determining the sequence and timing of filling the tubes with treatment fluid, and operating said drive at centrifuging and decanting speeds.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
119 words
The system for treating biological materials and the like, comprising a swinging tube centrifuge, a multi-speed motor for rotating said centrifuge at a predetermined centrifuging speed, and alternately at a lower decanting speed, a source of treatment fluid, means for transmitting said fluid to said centrifuge, pulsing pump means operating on said transmitting means for urging said fluid from said source to said centrifuge, a pump motor for said pump, electrical circuit means connected between said centrifuge motor and Said pump motor for causing said centrifuge motor to operate alternately for the respective centrifuging and decanting modes of said centrifuge, and for causing said pump motor to operate to transmit treatment fluid to said centrifuge driving the centrifuging mode.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
119 words
The system for treating biological materials and the like, comprising a swinging tube centrifuge, a multi-speed motor for rotating said centrifuge at a predetermined centrifuging speed, and alternately at a lower decanting speed, a source of treatment fluid, means for transmitting said fluid to said centrifuge, pulsing pump means operating on said transmitting means for urging said fluid from said source to said centrifuge, a pump motor for said pump, electrical circuit means connected between said centrifuge motor and Said pump motor for causing said centrifuge motor to operate alternately for the respective centrifuging and decanting modes of said centrifuge, and for causing said pump motor to operate to transmit treatment fluid to said centrifuge driving the centrifuging mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system according to claim 11 and further comprising control means in said electrical circuit for predetermining the timing and sequence of each of the tube filling, centrifuging and decanting modes of the system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 12 and further comprising means in said electrical circuit for causing the system to repeat for a predetermined number of cycles the successive tube filling, centrifuging and decanting modes of the apparatus.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
136 words
The system for treating biological materials and the like, comprising a swinging tube centrifuge, a plurality of swinging tubes in circular array on said centrifuge, a source of treatment fluid, a distributor removably mounted on and rotating with said centrifuge for projecting treatment fluid into respective centrifuge tubes, said distributor comprising a plurality of spaced radially extending nozzles equal in number to said swinging tubes, said nozzles being aligned with but unconnected to said swinging tubes, means for alternately rotating said centrifuge at a centrifuging speed and at a lower decanting speed, means for transmitting a metered quantity of treatment fluid into and through said distributor and into said centrifuge tubes during the centrifuge mode of the centrifuge, said centriguge tubes being pivotally mounted to swing into close proximity with said nozzles during the centrifuging mode.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
136 words
The system for treating biological materials and the like, comprising a swinging tube centrifuge, a plurality of swinging tubes in circular array on said centrifuge, a source of treatment fluid, a distributor removably mounted on and rotating with said centrifuge for projecting treatment fluid into respective centrifuge tubes, said distributor comprising a plurality of spaced radially extending nozzles equal in number to said swinging tubes, said nozzles being aligned with but unconnected to said swinging tubes, means for alternately rotating said centrifuge at a centrifuging speed and at a lower decanting speed, means for transmitting a metered quantity of treatment fluid into and through said distributor and into said centrifuge tubes during the centrifuge mode of the centrifuge, said centriguge tubes being pivotally mounted to swing into close proximity with said nozzles during the centrifuging mode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system according to claim 14 and further comprising timing means connected between said rotating means and said fluid transmitting means to control and selectively predetermine the operational times of the separate and successive tube filling, centrifuging, and decanting functions of said system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 14 wherein said fluid transmitting means comprises a peristaltic pump connected between said source and said centrifuge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 16 and further comprising a restrictor valve connected in said fluid transmitting means between said source and said peristaltic pump.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 14 wherein said fluid transmitting means comprises a closed system between said source and said distributor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system according to claim 14 wherein said fluid transmitting means comprises a flexible tube connected between said source and said distributor and a peristaltic pump operative upon the exterior portion of said tube to cause the movement of said fluid from said source to said distributor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |