US3908893A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic serum preparation station
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-07-10
•
Granted: 1975-09-30
•
Expires: 1994-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A centrifuge apparatus for centrifugally separating the lighter components of a sample mixture from its heavier components is disclosed. The apparatus includes a centrifuge drum having vertically aligned separation and aspiration chambers separated by a common wall having valve means therein for connecting the two chambers. The separation chamber has a truncated conical side wall with a larger diameter trap portion located at the base thereof. A motor is included for spinning the centrifuge drum to force the heavier components into the transportion while the lighter components are forced up the conical side wall. A trigger mechanism opens the valve means to pass the lighter components through the common wall into the aspiration chamber while the centrifuge drum is spinning, closing the valve means when the rate at which the centrifuge drum is spinning falls below a desired level. An automatic sample loading mechanism is also provided which utilizes centrifugal forces to load a sample into the separation chamber of the centrifuge drum.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:04
CPC Classifications
B; B04; B04B; B04B13/00; B04B5/00; B04B5/04; B04B5/0407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A centrifuge apparatus for centrifugally separating a sample mixture into its lighter and heavier components, the apparatus comprising: a centrifuge drum having a separation chamber and an aspiration chamber positioned directly above the separation chamber, the centrifuge drum further having a common wall separating the separation chamber and the aspiration chamber, the separation chamber having a bottom end wall and a truncated conical interior side wall having a top edge adjacent the common wall and a larger diameter bottom edge and further having a trap portion located at the bottom edge of the interior side wall and adjacent the bottom end wall, the trap portion having a larger diameter than the bottom edge of the interior side wall; valve means in the common wall for selectively interconnecting the separation chamber and the aspiration chamber; a motor for spinning the centrifuge drum to force the heavier components into the trap portion while the lighter components are forced up The conical interior side wall; and a trigger mechanism for opening the valve means to pass the lighter components through the common wall while the centrifuge drum is spinning and closing the valve means when the rate at which the centrifuge drum is spinning falls below a desired level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A centrifuge apparatus for centrifugally separating a sample mixture into its lighter and heavier components, the apparatus comprising: a centrifuge drum having a separation chamber and an aspiration chamber positioned directly above the separation chamber, the centrifuge drum further having a common wall separating the separation chamber and the aspiration chamber, the separation chamber having a bottom end wall and a truncated conical interior side wall having a top edge adjacent the common wall and a larger diameter bottom edge and further having a trap portion located at the bottom edge of the interior side wall and adjacent the bottom end wall, the trap portion having a larger diameter than the bottom edge of the interior side wall; valve means in the common wall for selectively interconnecting the separation chamber and the aspiration chamber; a motor for spinning the centrifuge drum to force the heavier components into the trap portion while the lighter components are forced up The conical interior side wall; and a trigger mechanism for opening the valve means to pass the lighter components through the common wall while the centrifuge drum is spinning and closing the valve means when the rate at which the centrifuge drum is spinning falls below a desired level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A centrifuge apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the aspiration chamber has a top end having an aperture therein for aspirating the lighter components from the aspiration chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A centrifuge apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the bottom end wall of the separation chamber includes an aperture and including means for initially loading the sample mixture into the separation chamber through the bottom end wall aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A centrifuge apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the valve means comprises an orifice in the common wall and a corresponding plug, the plug being removable from the orifice by the trigger mechanism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A centrifuge apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the trigger mechanism comprises an L-shaped rod extending through the common wall and attached to the plug and includes means for selectively moving the L-shaped rod in an up-down direction to selectively remove the plug from the orifice.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A centrifuge apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sample mixture to be centrifugally separated is whole blood and the lighter components thereof comprises plasma while the heavier components comprise red blood cells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a centrifuge apparatus including a centrifuge drum having an aperture in its bottom end and a motor for spinning the centrifuge drum, an automatic sample loading mechanism comprising: a sample cup having end open top and corresponding to the aperture in the centrifuge drum, the sample cup containing the sample to be loaded into the centrifuge drum, and transport means for selectively moving the centrifuge drum and the sample cup into juxtaposition during loading so that the open end of the sample cup is coincident with the aperture in the bottom end of the centrifuge drum, the sample cup being rotated by the spinning centrifuge drum causing the sample to flow from the sample cup into the centrifuge drum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a centrifuge apparatus including a centrifuge drum having an aperture in its bottom end and a motor for spinning the centrifuge drum, an automatic sample loading mechanism comprising: a sample cup having end open top and corresponding to the aperture in the centrifuge drum, the sample cup containing the sample to be loaded into the centrifuge drum, and transport means for selectively moving the centrifuge drum and the sample cup into juxtaposition during loading so that the open end of the sample cup is coincident with the aperture in the bottom end of the centrifuge drum, the sample cup being rotated by the spinning centrifuge drum causing the sample to flow from the sample cup into the centrifuge drum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
An automatic sample loading mechanism in accordance with claim 7 wherein the sample cup is rotatably mounted on the transport means, the transport means comprising a plate having means attached thereto for vertically repositioning the plate relative to the centrifuge drum, the sample cup being aligned with the aperture in the bottom end of the centrifuge drum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An automatic sample loading mechanism in accordance with claim 7 wherein the top edge of the sample cup is beveled to fit the correspondingly beveled edge of the aperture in the centrifuge drum.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of loading a sample into a centrifuge drum having an aperture in its bottom end comprising: pouring the sample into a sample cup having an open top end corresponding to the aperture in the bottom end of the centrifuge drum; moving the sample cup and the centrifuge drum into juxtaposition so that the open top end of the sample cup is coincident with the aperture in the bottom end of the centrifuge drum; and, spinning the centrifuge drum and the sample cup about a common longitudinal axis to cause the sample to flow from the sample cup into the centrifuge drum.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of loading a sample into a centrifuge drum having an aperture in its bottom end comprising: pouring the sample into a sample cup having an open top end corresponding to the aperture in the bottom end of the centrifuge drum; moving the sample cup and the centrifuge drum into juxtaposition so that the open top end of the sample cup is coincident with the aperture in the bottom end of the centrifuge drum; and, spinning the centrifuge drum and the sample cup about a common longitudinal axis to cause the sample to flow from the sample cup into the centrifuge drum.
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) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |