Patent US3885735A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3885735A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Centrifuge apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-08-27
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1993-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A centrifuge apparatus, primarily for use in the continuous or semi-continuous separation of blood, has a disposable separation unit which is orbited on a centrifuge rotor. The separation unit has a sealed jacket which is held against rotation during the orbiting and communicates with a stationary and nonrotatable liquid inlet and outlet connector on the rotor axis. A separation vessel rotatably mounted in the jacket communicates with liquid inlet and outlet passages in the jacket and is rotationally unbalanced to orient itself relative to the rotor during the orbiting of the jacket.
Inventors
- 👤 J Eric H Westbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:44
CPC Classifications
B; B04; B04B; B04B5/00; B04B5/02; B04B5/04; B04B5/0407; B04B5/0442; B04B9/00; B04B9/14; B04B2005/0492
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
Apparatus for use with a centrifuge having a rotor rotatable about a first axis for separating a liquid mixture into fractions of different densities, comprising: a. a jacket; b. bearing means, adapted to be mounted on the centrifuge rotor remotely from said first axis, for supporting said jacket for relative rotation with respect to the rotor about a second axis; c. flexible inlet and outlet conduits for liquid connected at one end to said jacket; d. an elongated flexible holder adapted at one end remote from the rotor to be held stationary by a fixed reference, and connected to said jacket for holding it against rotation about said second axis; e. a separation vessel disposed in and rotatably supported by said jacket for relative rotation about said second axis and communicating with said conduit; and f. orientation means acting on said vessel for maintaining it in a fixed angular position about said second axis during rotor rotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus for use with a centrifuge having a rotor rotatable about a first axis for separating a liquid mixture into fractions of different densities, comprising: a. a jacket; b. bearing means, adapted to be mounted on the centrifuge rotor remotely from said first axis, for supporting said jacket for relative rotation with respect to the rotor about a second axis; c. flexible inlet and outlet conduits for liquid connected at one end to said jacket; d. an elongated flexible holder adapted at one end remote from the rotor to be held stationary by a fixed reference, and connected to said jacket for holding it against rotation about said second axis; e. a separation vessel disposed in and rotatably supported by said jacket for relative rotation about said second axis and communicating with said conduit; and f. orientation means acting on said vessel for maintaining it in a fixed angular position about said second axis during rotor rotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the jacket and the separation vessel define between them an annular space having approximately the same axial extent as the separation vessel and communicating with one of the conduits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the orientation means comprises an unbalanced mass on the separation vessel causing rotational unbalance of the separation vessel with respect to the second axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the inlet and outlet conduits open into the separation vessel at locations spaced along the second axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said conduits have portions protruding axially in the same general direction from end of said jacket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which a rigid tube held concentric with the second axis by the jacket and extending axially into the separation vessel journals the separation vessel for rotation about the second axis and defines a section of a flow passage between one of the flexible conduit portions and a location in the separation vessel axially remote from said one end of the jacket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the flexible conduits are helically wound about the flexible holder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the flexible holder comprises a torsionally rigid rod secured to said one end of the jacket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which during centrifuging, the locations where said conduits open into the separation vessel are disposed such that they are at different radial distanceS from the first axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the inlet and outlet conduits include a third flexible conduit communicating with one end of said jacket, one of said locations where said conduits open into the separation vessel being adjacent the end of the jacket remote from said one end of the jacket and the other two locations being adjacent said one end of the jacket and on opposite sides of the second axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including connector means connected fluidly to the other end of said conduits and mechanically to said one stationary end of said holder adjacent said first axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said conduits have portions protruding axially in opposite directions from said jacket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a centrifuge rotor supporting said bearing means, and stationary means nonrotatably holding said one end of said holder in a stationary position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 in which said second axis defines an acute angle with said first axis of rotation of the centrifuge rotor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |