Apparatus for separating two phases of a sample of heterogeneous liquid by centrifuging, the apparatus being particularly suitable for separating plasma from whole blood

Apparatus for separating two phases of a sample of heterogeneous liquid by centrifuging, the apparatus being particularly suitable for separating plasma from whole blood, wherein the apparatus comprises a closed assembly about an axis of revolution and comprising:

• a distributor-divider disposed centrally and provided with n compartments delimited by radial partitions, the first compartment communicating firstly with the outside via a well for receiving a sample of whole blood and secondly with the second compartment via an overflow, the second compartment similarly communicating with a third via an overflow, and so on to the n-th compartment which does not communicate with the first compartment, all of the overflows being situated at the same height, and said distributor-divider being filled progressively merely under gravity;
• a ring separator situated around said distributor-divider and incorporating n receptacles respectively communicating:
• with n compartments via respective orifices situated at a height which is significantly greater than that of said overflows to ensure that the blood contained in said compartments pours into said receptacles only under the effect of centrifuging;
• via respective restrictions with n outer separation cells for storing red corpuscles, the ratio of the volume to be contained in each cell relative to the volume of said associated compartment being not less than the volume ratio of red corpuscles relative to whole blood, thereby ensuring that the interface between the red corpuscles and the plasma which is established in each cell when centrifuging stops lies below said restriction;
• in between, a common bottom portion narrowing into a funnel;
• and
• a removable plasma collector situated centrally beneath said funnel.