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US4814282A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Centrifuge for two-dimensional centrifugation

Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
•
Filing: 1987-08-31
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Granted: 1989-03-21
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Expires: 2007-08-31
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Abstract

Abstract Method and apparatus for generating centrifugal forces, including a plate rotatable about an axis, and at least one holding means mounted on the plate for rotation therewith, the holding means being adapted to receive an article to be subjected to centrifugal force and being rotatable relative to the plate member to permit the direction of centrifugal force acting on the article to be changed.

Inventors

  • 👤 James T. Holen
  • 👤 Charles R. Burke

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 23:14
CPC Classifications
B; B04; B04B; B04B5/00; B04B5/02; B01; B01D; B01D21/00; B01D21/26; B01D21/262; B04B5/04; B04B5/0407; B01D2221/00; B01D2221/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/25375; Y10T436/2575

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 153 words
Apparatus for carrying out analysis of a sample under centrifugal force, comprising: (a) a plate member adapted for rotation about an axis, (b) at least one holding means mounted on said plate member for rotation therewith and means for rotating said holding means relative to the plate member as the plate member rotates about said axis, (c) a sample processor card mounted on said holding means and having means for containing a reagent, at least two chambers and a series of channels through which the sample and/or reagent can be moved under the influence of centrifugal force generated by said plate member, and (d) means for mixing the sample and reagent while said plate member is rotating by changing the effective direction of centrifugal force acting on said processor card to transfer the reagent and sample from one of said at least two chambers to the other of said at least two chambers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 153 words
Apparatus for carrying out analysis of a sample under centrifugal force, comprising: (a) a plate member adapted for rotation about an axis, (b) at least one holding means mounted on said plate member for rotation therewith and means for rotating said holding means relative to the plate member as the plate member rotates about said axis, (c) a sample processor card mounted on said holding means and having means for containing a reagent, at least two chambers and a series of channels through which the sample and/or reagent can be moved under the influence of centrifugal force generated by said plate member, and (d) means for mixing the sample and reagent while said plate member is rotating by changing the effective direction of centrifugal force acting on said processor card to transfer the reagent and sample from one of said at least two chambers to the other of said at least two chambers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 which includes means for rotating the plate member about said axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for rotating the holding means includes a rotatable shaft fixed to and carrying the holding means, and drive means to rotate said shaft to turn the holding means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 which includes key means on the holding means to permit registry of the sample processor card on the holding means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 which includes means on the holding means to secure the sample processor card thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the means to secure the sample processor card includes a plurality of finger projections extending from the holding means adapted to engage the sample processor card.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 110 words
A method for performing analysis of a sample under centrifugal force caused by rotation of a plate member about an axis, said method comprising the steps of: (a) centrifuging a sample processor card containing a sample, at least one reagent, a plurality of chambers and channels through which liquid can be moved by centrifugal force to cause separate volumetric measurements of the sample and reagent; (b) rotating the sample processor card with respect to the plate member while the plate member is rotating to mix the measured reagent and sample together to form a reaction product; and (c) measuring a parameter of the reaction product of the reagent and sample.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 110 words
A method for performing analysis of a sample under centrifugal force caused by rotation of a plate member about an axis, said method comprising the steps of: (a) centrifuging a sample processor card containing a sample, at least one reagent, a plurality of chambers and channels through which liquid can be moved by centrifugal force to cause separate volumetric measurements of the sample and reagent; (b) rotating the sample processor card with respect to the plate member while the plate member is rotating to mix the measured reagent and sample together to form a reaction product; and (c) measuring a parameter of the reaction product of the reagent and sample.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein, prior to said volumetric measurement, said centrifuging causes release of the reagent from a reagent continer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein prior to said volumetric measurements, said centrifuging causes separation of the sample into at least two components.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method according to claim 7 and comprising, prior to said rotating to mix the reagent and the sample, additionally rotating the card to transfer the reagent to a chamber where a reagent blank measurement can be made.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein said rotating to mix step is repeated to enhance mixing of the reagent and the sample.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein said measuring a parameter comprises taking optical absorbance measurements and comparing them to the reagent blank.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3211368A Cited
US3848796A Cited
EP0019038A1 Cited
US4469793A Cited
US4463097A Cited
FR2524874A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-03-20 1992-09-19 1993-03-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-03-20 1996-09-19 1997-03-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-03-20 2000-09-19 2001-03-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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