Rotor with elastic diaphragm for liquid-separation system

A rotor for use in a centrifuge system having means for spinning the rotor, the rotor comprising:

• a rigid mounting member for being held and spun by the spinning means;
• an elastic, stretchable and resilient diaphragm mounted on the rigid mounting member so as to spin with the rigid mounting member, the diaphragm defining a chamber of varying volume, wherein the rigid mounting member defines a first conduit and a second conduit, such that uncentrifuged fluid may enter the chamber through the second conduit, while centrifuged fluid may exit the chamber through the first conduit;
• and
• outlet-control means for controlling the flow of liquid out of the chamber into the conduit, wherein the rotor further includes an imperforate interior wall, which directs fluid entering the chamber through the second conduit towards the periphery of the chamber, the imperforate interior wall also defining the first conduit so that fluid may flow from the outlet-control means to the first conduit.

A rotor for use in a centrifuge system having means for spinning the rotor, the rotor comprising:

• a rigid mounting member for being held and spun by the spinning means;
• an elastic, stretchable and resilient diaphragm mounted on the rigid mounting member so as to spin with the rigid mounting member, the diaphragm defining a chamber of varying volume;
• a conduit in fluid communication with the chamber and defined by the rigid mounting member;
• and a set of tubes, wherein each tube provides fluid communication between the chamber and the first conduit, such that the set of tubes provide fluid communication from a variety of points within the chamber.

A rotor for use in a centrifuge system having means for spinning the rotor, the rotor comprising:

• a boundary wall, the boundary wall being substantially rigid and defining at least one conduit therethrough, the wall being capable of being held and spun by the spinning means;
• an elastic, stretchable and resilient diaphragm mounted on the boundary so as to spin with the boundary wall and so that the diaphragm and the boundary wall define a chamber of varying volume, the conduit in fluid communication with the chamber;
• and
• an outlet-control means for controlling the flow of liquid out of the chamber into the conduit, the outlet-control means including a perforate, substantially rigid interior wall, mounted adjacent to the boundary wall
• wherein the diaphragm is substantially parallel to the rigid mounting member when the diaphragm is in an unstretched state and wherein the chamber and the rigid mounting member have outer diameters and the outer diameter of rigid mounting member is proximate to the outer diameter of the diaphragm in the unstretched state.

A rotor for use in a centrifuge system having means for spinning the rotor, the rotor comprising:

• a boundary wall, the boundary wall being substantially rigid and defining at least one conduit therethrough, the wall being capable of being held and spun by the spinning means, the wall including a top radial portion, a bottom radial portion and a circumferential portion attached to the circumferences of the top and bottom radial portions, the wall further including a core located inside the circumferential portion;
• and
• an elastic, stretchable and resilient diaphragm mounted on the boundary wall so as to spin with the boundary wall and so that the diaphragm and the boundary wall define a chamber of varying volume, the diaphragm located within the circumferential portion and between the top and bottom radial portions, wherein the conduit is in fluid communication with the chamber,
• wherein the diaphragm is substantially parallel to the rigid mounting member when the diaphragm is in an unstretched state and wherein the chamber and the rigid mounting member have outer diameters and the outer diameter of rigid mounting member is proximate to the outer diameter of the diaphragm in the unstretched state.