Flow-through centrifuge for centrifuging biological fluids

A centrifuge comprising:

• a stand;
• a frame rotatably mounted on the stand;
• a separation unit rotatably mounted on the frame;
• a first drive train for transmitting a first torque to the separation unit;
• a line for supplying and/or removing at least one fluid, the line leading from a stationary connection point and connected to the separation unit on a side of the separation unit facing away from the stationary connection point;
• and
• a second drive train for transmitting a second torque to the rotating frame, the separation unit and the rotating frame being driven so that the separation unit rotates in a same direction of rotation as rotating frame but at double speed;
• the first and second drive trains having at least one stator, the at least one stator having a first and a second coil arrangement for directly transmitting the first and second torques to the separation unit and to the rotating frame, respectively, using magnetic forces.

A centrifuge comprising:

• a stand;
• a frame rotatably mounted on the stand;
• a separation unit rotatably mounted on the frame;
• a first drive train for transmitting a first torque to the separation unit;
• a line for supplying and/or removing at least one fluid, the line leading from a stationary connection point and connected to the separation unit on a side of the separation unit facing away from the stationary connection point;
• a second drive train for transmitting a second torque to the frame, the separation unit and the rotating frame being driven so that the separation unit rotates in a same direction as the frame but at double speed;
• coupling elements arranged at a distance on at least one of the first and second drive trains, so that at least one of the first and the second torques can be transmitted through magnetic forces, wherein the coupling elements include a first coupling element having first magnets arranged on a circle, and a second coupling element having second magnets arranged in a circle, so that first magnetic poles of the first magnets are aligned opposite to adjacent second magnetic poles of the second magnets;
• and
• a drive shaft for driving the frame, the drive shaft being mounted rotatably and coaxially in a hollow shaft of the frame and being connected to the first coupling element, the second coupling element being magnetically engaged with the first coupling element and being connected to the separation unit.

A centrifuge comprising:

• a stand;
• a frame rotatably mounted on the stand;
• a separation unit rotatably mounted on the frame;
• a first drive train for transmitting a first torque to the separation unit;
• a line for supplying and/or removing at least one fluid, the line leading from a stationary connection point and connected to the separation unit on a side of the separation unit facing away from the stationary connection point;
• a second drive train for transmitting a second torque to the frame, the separation unit and the rotating frame being driven so that the separation unit rotates in a same direction as the frame but at double speed;
• and
• coupling elements arranged at a distance on at least one of the first and second drive trains, so that at least one of the first and the second torques can be transmitted through magnetic forces, wherein the coupling elements include a first coupling element having first magnets arranged on a circle, and a second coupling element having second magnets arranged in a circle, so that first magnetic poles of the first magnets are aligned opposite to adjacent second magnetic poles of the second magnets, and
• wherein the separation unit is connected to the first coupling element, the second coupling element being magnetically engaged with the first coupling element and being arranged in the frame to rotate about an axis parallel to a frame axis of the rotating frame, a second diameter of the second coupling element being larger than a first diameter of the first coupling element, and the rotating frame defining a third coupling element magnetically engaging the second coupling element.

A centrifuge comprising:

• a stand;
• a frame rotatably mounted on the stand;
• a separation unit rotatably mounted on the frame;
• a first drive train for transmitting a first torque to the separation unit;
• a line for supplying and/or removing at least one fluid, the line leading from a stationary connection point and connected to the separation unit on a side of the separation unit facing away from the stationary connection point;
• a second drive train for transmitting a second torque to the frame, the separation unit and the rotating frame being driven so that the separation unit rotates in a same direction as the frame but at double speed;
• coupling elements arranged at a distance on at least one of the first and second drive trains, so that at least one of the first and the second torques can be transmitted through magnetic forces, wherein the coupling elements include a first coupling element having first magnets arranged on a circle, and a second coupling element having second magnets arranged in a circle, so that first magnetic poles of the first magnets are aligned opposite to adjacent second magnetic poles of the second magnets, wherein the separation unit is connected to the first coupling element, the second coupling element being magnetically engaged with the first coupling element and being mounted in the frame for rotation about a frame axis of the rotating frame;
• and
• a third coupling element of the coupling elements connected to the second coupling element by gear members mounted in the frame for rotation about an axis parallel to the frame axis, the frame defining a fourth coupling element magnetically engaging the third coupling element.