# US 8,771,614 B2 · Method for processing a fluid and fluid processing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,614 B2 - Document ID: US8771614B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/992,616 - Filed: 2006-09-26 - Published: 2010-01-14 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-26 - Assignees: Qiagen GmbH - Applicants: Andreas Schaefer; Thomas Voit; Markus Zbinden; Andreas Schmiede - Inventors: Andreas Schaefer; Thomas Voit; Markus Zbinden; Andreas Schmiede - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771614B2 ## CPC - B01L 3/5021: {Test tubes specially adapted for centrifugation purposes} - B01L 3/50255: {Multi-well filtration} - B01L 3/56: {Labware specially adapted for transferring fluids} - B01L 9/06: Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders - B04B 5/02: Centrifuges consisting of a plurality of separate bowls rotating round an axis situated between the bowls - B04B 5/0421: {pivotably mounted} - G01N 1/405: {by adsorption or absorption} - G01N 1/4077: {by other techniques involving separation of suspended solids} - B01L 2200/023: adapted for different sizes of tubes, tips or container - B01L 2400/0409: centrifugal forces - B04B 2005/0435: {with adapters for centrifuge tubes or bags} - G01N 2035/00485: {combined with sample carriers} - G01N 2035/00504: {combined with carousels} - Y10T 436/25375: Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.] - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - B04B: CENTRIFUGES (high-speed drum mills B02C19/11; domestic spin driers D06F; analysing, measuring or monitoring physical or chemical properties of samples during centrifuging, see the relevant subclasses for these procedures, e.g. G01N) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention relates to improved methods for processing fluids and to a fluid processing device (1) for use in a centrifuge comprising: (a) a first holder (14) form-fit to the shape of a first tube (18) for holding said first tube (18) whereby said first tube (18) has a first cross section (A1); and (b) a second holder (22) form-fit to the shape of a second tube (26) for holding said second tube (26) whereby said second tube (26) has a second cross section (A2) that is different from said first cross section (A1). With the fluid processing devices and the methods according to the invention, it is possible to simplify the centrifugal processing steps for a given fluid processing sequence and to automate them. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid processing device for use in a centrifuge comprising: a) a first holder form-fit to the shape of a first tube and having a first stopper for holding said first tube; said first tube having a first cross section; and b) a second holder form-fit to the shape of a second tube and having a second stopper for holding said second tube; said second tube having a second cross section that is different from said first cross section; and c) a first container having a first container volume for holding a fluid, the first container being rigidly connected with the first holder and the second holder whereby said first holder is arranged with respect to said first container so that a fluid flowing through said first tube flows into said first container for being collected within the first container volume, wherein said first holder has a cylindrical shape and extends to a first stopper plane defined by said first stopper, wherein said second holder has a cylindrical shape and extends to a second stopper plane defined by said second stopper, wherein said first container has an inner surface that adjoins to said second holder. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid processing device according to claim 1 whereby said first cross section is smaller than said second cross section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid processing device according to claim 1 whereby at least one of said first holder and said second holder is made of one piece. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fluid processing device according to claim 1 wherein said second tube held by said second holder is a second container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fluid processing device according to claim 4 wherein said second container is shaped for holding said first tube so that a fluid flowing through said first tube flows into said second container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fluid processing device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one third holder for holding a third tube having a third cross section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fluid processing device according to claim 6 wherein said third cross section equals said first cross section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The fluid processing device according to claim 6 where the volume of said third tube equals the volume of said first tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The fluid processing device according to claim 6, further comprising a second container having a second container volume for holding a fluid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fluid processing device according to claim 9 whereby said third holder is arranged so that a fluid flowing through said third tube flows into said second container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The fluid processing device according to claim 9, whereby said first container volume is different from said second container volume. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The fluid processing device according to claim 9, whereby said first container volume is larger than said second container volume. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The fluid processing device according to claim 6, further comprising at least one fourth holder for holding said first tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fluid processing device according to claim 13, further comprising at least one fifth holder for holding said second tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fluid processing device according to claim 14, whereby at least two of said first holder, said second holder, said third holder, said at least one fourth holder and said at least one fifth holder are arranged for holding respective first and second tube parallel to each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The fluid processing device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one first cap fixture means for holding a first cap of said at least one first tube during centrifugation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The fluid processing device according to claim 16, further comprising at least one second cap fixture means for holding a second cap of said second tube during centrifugation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The fluid processing device according to claim 17 whereby at least one of said first cap fixture means and said at least one second cap fixture means include a cap enclosure structure for partially enclosing said first cap or said second cap during centrifugation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The fluid processing device according to claim 18 whereby at least one of said at least one first cap fixture means and said at least one of said second cap fixture means are integral with said first holder or said second holder. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The fluid processing device according to claim 1, wherein during centrifugation, at least one of said first tube and said second tube are exposed to an acceleration of at least 100 g. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The fluid processing device according to claim 19, further comprising connection means for removably connecting said fluid processing device with a rotor of said centrifuge. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The fluid processing device according to claim 21 whereby said connection means are arranged to define a swinging axis for said fluid processing device to swing with respect to said swinging axis when connected with said rotor. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The fluid processing device according to claim 22 wherein said swinging axis is arranged to traverse through said first container volume. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The fluid processing device according to claim 22 wherein said swinging axis is arranged to extend outside said first container volume. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The fluid processing device according to claim 22 further comprising first swing prevention means for preventing a rotation of said fluid processing device around said swinging axis during removal of said first tube from said first holder. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The fluid processing device according to claim 25 further comprising second swing prevention means for preventing a rotation of said fluid processing device around said swinging axis while connecting said first tube with said second holder. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The fluid processing device according to claim 26 further comprising third swing prevention means for limiting a rotation of said fluid processing device around said swinging axis during centrifugation to a predetermined swinging angle (αs). ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The fluid processing device according to claim 27 wherein said connection means comprise a holding structure for holding at least one of said first holder, said second holder, said first container, said connection means, said at least one first cap fixture means, said at least one second cap fixture means, said first swing prevention means, said second swing prevention means and said third prevention means during centrifugation. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The fluid processing device according to claim 28, wherein an outer face of said first container is sized and shaped for being removably receivable by an inner face of said holding structure. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The fluid processing device according to claim 28, wherein at least two of said first holder, said second holder, said first container, said connection means, said at least one first cap fixture means, said at least one second cap fixture means, said first swing prevention means and said second swing prevention means are made from the same polymeric material. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The fluid processing device according to claim 28, wherein at least one of said first holder, said second holder, said first container, said connection means, said at least one first cap fixture means, said at least one second cap fixture means, said first swing prevention means and said second swing prevention means is made of one piece. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The fluid processing device according to claim 28, wherein at least two of said first holder, said second holder, said first container, said connection means, said at least one first cap fixture means, said at least one second cap fixture means, said first swing prevention means and said second swing prevention means are integral with each other. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The fluid processing device according to claim 1, wherein said fluid processing device is made of one piece. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) A method for processing a fluid comprising the following steps: a) applying a centrifugal force to at least one fluid processing device of claim 1; each of said at least one fluid processing device having the first holder at a first holding position and the second holder at a second holding position for holding tubes; and b) automatically transferring a first tube from said first holder of one of said at least one fluid processing device to said second holder of one of said at least one fluid processing device. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method according to claim 34 whereby said automatic transfer is carried out from said first holder of one of said at least one fluid processing device to said second holder of the same fluid processing device. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The method according to claim 34 whereby said automatic first tube transfer is a direct transfer from said first holder to said second holder. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The method according to claim 34 wherein at least two fluid processing devices are provided, and wherein said method includes a step of automatically transferring said first tube from one of said first holder and said second holder of one of said at least two fluid processing devices to one of the first holder and the second holder of said respective other fluid processing device. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The method for processing a fluid according to claim 36, whereby said direct first tube transfer includes at most two movements in an axial direction of the first tube. ### Claim 39 (depends on 34) The method according to claim 34, further comprising a step of moving a first fluid from said first tube into the first container during centrifugation. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The method according to claim 39, further comprising a step of moving a second fluid from said first tube into a second container during centrifugation. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method according to claim 40 wherein said second container is a second tube. ### Claim 42 (depends on 34) The method according to claim 34, further comprising a step of centrifuging a sample fluid in a second container at a third holding position for obtaining a first fluid. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method according to claim 42 further comprising a step of transferring said first fluid from said second container into said first tube. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The method according to claim 43 wherein said first fluid transfer is carried out by withdrawing said first fluid from said second container and dispensing said first fluid into said first tube. ### Claim 45 (depends on 34) The method according to claim 34, further comprising a step of dispensing a first reagent into said first tube. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The method according to claim 45, further comprising a step of dispensing a second reagent into said first tube. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The method according to claim 46, further comprising a step of moving at least one of said first reagent and said second reagent into said first container by centrifugation. ### Claim 48 (depends on 34) The method according to claim 34, wherein said first tube includes a filter element for adhering specific molecules. ### Claim 49 (depends on 20) The fluid processing device according to claim 20, wherein during centrifugation, at least one of said first tube and said second tube are exposed to an acceleration of at least 1000 g. ### Claim 50 (depends on 20) The fluid processing device according to claim 20, wherein during centrifugation, at least one of said first tube and said second tube are exposed to an acceleration of at least 10000 g. ### Claim 51 (depends on 1) The fluid processing device according to claim 1 whereby a third holder having a cylindrical shape extends from a floor of said first container to a plane of a third stopper. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The fluid processing device according to claim 51 whereby an outer wall of said second holder and an outer wall of said third holder are in direct contact with an inner wall of said first container.