# US 2014/0360269 A1 · Acceleration sensitive indicator

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- Number: US 2014/0360269 A1
- Document ID: US20140360269A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/286,194
- Filed: 2014-05-23
- Published: 2014-12-11
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-06
- Assignees: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
- Applicants: Roche Diagnostics Operations, In.c
- Inventors: Geza Burghardt; Michael Glauser; Oliver Gutmann; Daniel Mueller; Edwin Oosterbroek; Roger Sandoz; Emad Sarofim; Goran Savatic
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360269A1

## CPC

- G01P 15/02: by making use of inertia forces {using solid seismic masses}(G01P15/14 takes precedence)
- B01L 3/5021: {Test tubes specially adapted for centrifugation purposes}
- B01L 3/5453: {for test tubes}
- B01L 2200/14: Process control and prevention of errors
- B01L 2200/143: Quality control, feedback systems
- B01L 2300/021: Identification, e.g. bar codes
- B01L 2300/025: Displaying results or values with integrated means
- B01L 2300/0663: Whole sensors
- B01L 2400/0409: centrifugal forces
- G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G})
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

## Abstract

An acceleration sensitive indicator for indicating a centrifugation status of a biological sample, a sample container comprising the indicator, a centrifuge for centrifuging samples and an analytical system for analyzing centrifuged samples are disclosed. The indicator comprises at least one closed chamber, formed between two opposite surfaces, that comprises an indication zone that comprises at least two fluid transfer zones or at least one particle transfer zone. The at least one fluid transfer zone comprises a solid carrier phase and a fluid stabilized in the solid carrier phase or at least one non-stabilized non-Newtonian fluid having thixotropic and/or shear thinning properties. The at least one particle transfer zone comprises a particle stabilizing fluid comprising stabilized dispersed particles. The fluid or particles have a distribution with respect to the indication zone changeable upon application of a g-force above a threshold value, the change of distribution indicating the centrifugation status.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An acceleration sensitive indicator for indicating a centrifugation status of a biological sample, the acceleration sensitive indicator comprising:
at least one closed chamber formed between two opposite surfaces, wherein the chamber comprises at least one indication zone, the at least one indication zone comprising at least two fluid transfer zones or at least one particle transfer zone, wherein at least one fluid transfer zone comprises,
at least one solid carrier phase made of a porous adsorbing material and at least one fluid stabilized in the porous adsorbing material, wherein a g-force above a threshold-value is required in order for the at least one fluid to move out of the fluid transfer zone and to change distribution with respect to the at least one indication zone, or
at least one non-stabilized non-Newtonian fluid having thixotropic and/or shear thinning properties wherein a shear stress induced by a g-force above a threshold-value is required in order for the non-Newtonian fluid to move out of the fluid transfer zone and to change distribution with respect to the at least one indication zone;
wherein the at least one particle transfer zone comprises,
at least one particle stabilizing fluid comprising stabilized dispersed particles, the particle stabilizing fluid having a particle stabilizing yield value, which allows the particles to be stabilized below a g-force threshold value, and to change distribution with respect to the at least one indication zone only upon application of a g-force above a threshold value, the change of distribution of the at least one fluid or particles indicating the centrifugation status.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The acceleration sensitive indicator according to claim 1, wherein the particle stabilizing fluid is a plastic fluid, a hydrogel, an organogel or combinations thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The acceleration sensitive indicator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid comprises a dye and/or is colored.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The acceleration sensitive indicator according to claim 1, wherein the indication zone comprises a fluid barrier between adjacent fluid transfer zones and wherein the at least one fluid is transferable at least in part between the fluid transfer zones via the fluid barrier only upon application of a g-force above the threshold value.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The acceleration sensitive indicator according to claim 1, wherein at least one fluid transfer zone comprises at least one fluid, which is replaceable at least in part by at least another fluid of a different color and/or different opacity from another fluid transfer zone.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The acceleration sensitive indicator according to any of the claim 5, wherein the at least one fluid is adsorbable by the porous solid carrier phase such as to remain adsorbed at least in part to the solid porous material of a fluid transfer zone when the fluid is transferred.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The acceleration sensitive indicator according to claim 1, wherein the particles are deformable upon application of a g-force above the threshold value.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The acceleration sensitive indicator according to claim 1, further comprising,
at least two indication zones different from each other, wherein the at least one fluid or particles have a distribution with respect to the respective indication zone which is differently changeable upon application of a g-force above a threshold value.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The acceleration sensitive indicator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one indication zone further comprises a pattern which becomes distinguishable or indistinguishable from a background or is otherwise altered upon changing the distribution of the at least one fluid or particles.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A sample container for centrifuging a biological sample contained therein, the sample container comprising:
an upper end;
a lower end;
a symmetry axis from the upper end to the lower end; and
an acceleration sensitive indicator according to claim 1 for indicating the centrifugation status of the biological sample upon application of a g-force above a threshold value to the sample container in a direction parallel to the symmetry axis or at an angle (cc) from the symmetry axis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The sample container according to claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises at least two indication zones symmetrically arranged on either side of a reference line parallel to the symmetry axis such as to be simultaneously subjected to the same g-force upon application of a g-force in the direction of the symmetry axis, wherein the at least two indication zones are identical in order to provide indication redundancy and confirmation of the centrifugation status under the same conditions.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The sample container according to claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises at least two indication zones symmetrically arranged on either side of a reference line parallel to the symmetry axis such as to be simultaneously subjected to the same g-force upon application of a g-force in the direction of the symmetry axis, wherein the at least two indication zones are different in order to confirm the centrifugation status under different conditions.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The sample container according to claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises at least two indication zones symmetrically arranged on either side of a reference line parallel to the symmetry axis or at least one elongated indication zone with a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the reference line such that the at least one fluid or particles have a distribution with respect to the at least one indication zone, which is differently changeable upon application of a g-force above a threshold value in a direction at an angle (α) from the symmetry axis with respect to the application of the same g-force in the direction of the symmetry axis.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The sample container according to claim 10, wherein the indicator is a label formed between two opposite foils and attached to a side wall of the sample container.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The sample container according to claim 10, wherein the indicator is formed between a surface of a cavity on a side wall of the sample container and a foil.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

A centrifuge for centrifuging sample containers, the centrifuge comprising:
a reading device for reading an acceleration sensitive indicator on a sample container according to claim 10, wherein the acceleration sensitive indicator is indicative of the centrifugation status of the sample container;
a processor; and
a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having stored computer-interpretable instructions, which, when executed by the processor, use information read by the reading device to determine,
if the sample container has been centrifuged to a predetermined degree,
if the sample container has been centrifuged to a predetermined degree interrupting centrifugation of the sample container, and/or
if the sample container has not been centrifuged to a predetermined degree, continuing centrifugation for at least a predetermined time or a calculated time and/or adapting the applied g-force.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

An analytical system for analyzing centrifuged samples, the analytical system comprising:
a reading device for reading a g-force sensitive indicator on a sample container according to claim 10, wherein the g-force sensitive indicator is indicative of the centrifugation status of the sample container;
at least one analyzer electrically coupled to the reading device;
a processor electrically coupled to the at least one analyzer; and
a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having stored computer-interpretable instructions, which, when executed by the processor, use information read by the reading device to determine:
if the sample container has been centrifuged to a predetermined degree and/or with what type of centrifuge, the predetermined degree and/or type of centrifuge being appropriate for withdrawing an aliquot of sample from the sample container and for analyzing the sample,
if the sample container has been centrifuged to a predetermined degree and/or an appropriate centrifuge has been used, instructing the system to withdraw an aliquot of the sample and the analyzer to analyze the aliquot for the presence of one or more analytes, and/or
if the sample container has not been centrifuged to a predetermined degree and/or an inappropriate centrifuge has been used, conducting a non-analytical process step and/or flagging the sample.