Assembly for rapid measurement of cell layers

A system for determining the extent of compaction of a target constituent component layer in a centrifuged multi-constituent flowable material sample which is contained in a transparent tube, said system comprising:

• a) a centrifuge assembly comprising a platen and a motor for rotating the platen, said platen including means for supporting the tube during centrifugation of the material sample, said centrifuge platen including a detectable indexing device, and said centrifuge assembly further comprising a sensor for detecting proximity of said indexing device so that a rotational position of said platen can be determined;
• b) a light source for periodically illuminating the tube during centrifugation of the tube on said platen;
• c) an image dissector operatively associated with said centrifuge platen so as to create analog signals resulting from light rays imaging the sample in the tube, said analog signals being representative of signal values from a plurality of points along the tube, which when digitized, allow a microprocessor to locate and measure the distance between adjacent interfaces of the target component layer;
• d) a digitizer connected to said image dissector for converting said analog signals to digital signals;
• e) a microprocessor connected to said digitizer for receiving said digital signals from said digitizer, said microprocessor being operable to convert said digital signals into a quantification of the degree of compaction of said target constituent component layer, and thereby the volume of said target constituent component layer;
• and
• f) a time delay mechanism operably connected to said sensor and to said light source so as to trigger said light source only when said platen is in said predetermined rotational position.