Centrifuge apparatus
AssigneeSeparex
InventorJohan Eric Hayden Westberg
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims34
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 hollow jacket;
- (b) bearing means, adapted to be mounted on the centrifuge rotor remotely from said first axis and engaging said jacket 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) holder means for holding said jacket against rotation about said second axis, said holder means being adapted to be held stationary by a fixed reference remote from the rotor, and being positively connected to said jacket;
- (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.
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 adapted to be rotatably supported on the rotor for movement about a second axis;
- (b) flexible inlet and outlet conduits for liquid connected at one end to said jacket;
- (c) a separation vessel disposed in and rotatably supported by said jacket for relative rotation about said second axis and communicating with said conduit;
- and
- (d) orientation means acting on said vessel for maintaining it in a fixed angular position about said second axis during rotor rotation.
Apparatus for use with a centrifuge having a rotor in a stationary housing for separating a liquid mixture into fractions of different densities, comprising:
- (a) a closed separation vessel to be supported on the centrifuge for rotation therewith;
- (b) flexible inlet and outlet conduits each fixedly connected at one end to said separation vessel for passing liquid into and out of said separation vessel, the other end thereof being adapted to be fixedly secured to the centrifuge housing;
- and
- (c) a flexible torque-transmitting member extending along and combined with said conduits and connected at one end to said separation vessel, the other end thereof being fixedly secured with said other end of said conduits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.