International Business Machines Corporation

Robert Melroy Kellogg

Alfred P Mulzet

Victor Robert Kruger

Huntington W Curtis

Alan L Jones

Robert P Mappes

Kerry W Kissinger

Emery J Stephans

An improved centrifuge assembly comprising a channeled rotor assembly and a ring-like fluid container disposed in the channel, whereby the centrifugal separation effects in the fluid container are determined by the geometry of the channel in the rotor. The fluid container is preferably formed from semirigid plastic material in the form of a tube having a rectangular cross section and is considered a disposable item to be discarded after a single use. The rotor assembly preferably includes a removable filler piece or center piece formed from a single piece of material, such as rigid plastic, as by molding, dimensioned to form, with the wall of the centrifuge bowl, a circular channel having dimensions appropriate to receive the semirigid container, which is suitably bent and placed in the channel. Fluid connections are provided from each end of the container to an axially located multichannel rotating seal. The connections lie in a plurality of radial slots in the filler piece. Alternatively the entire assembly may be molded as a single entity, with a suitable channel and fluid line grooves being cast therein.

Centrifuge assembly

Sterile connectors which utilize tabs or strips, portions which can be withdrawn from apertures which are to be interconnected in sterile fashion are disclosed. The connectors disclosed are utilized in conditions of differential pressure between the inside of conduits to which the connectors are coupled and the surrounding ambient. Contamination resulting from air flow due to the pressure differential is prevented by encasing the tab or strip in a sleeve or extension which isolates the strip or tab from the surrounding ambient. When a pair of sterile connectors is mated, deformable washers are brought into contact and the tabs or strips are pulled through channels in the washers into the sleeves or extensions while portions of the washers remain in contact forming an hermetic seal.

Sterile connectors

Apparatus for carrying out in situ chemical analysis of biological fluids is disclosed. A test package adapted for use with spinning rotor includes a sample-compartment, an integral cuvette and compartments for prepackaged reagents. The latter are adapted to be introduced via breakable seals into the sample compartment which contains the sample to be analyzed. The sample and reagents are then introduced via another breakable seal into a cuvette. Under pneumatic and rotational forces, mixing and measuring are carried out in situ. The rotor includes a programmable pressure applying arrangement whereby the dispensing of reagents and the movement of the latter and sample into a cuvette are controlled. Optical measurements are then carried out in situ.

Chemical analysis system including a test package and rotor combination

An improved centrifuge assembly comprising a channeled rotor assembly and a fluid container disposed in the channel, whereby the centrifugal separation effects in the fluid container are determined by the geometry of the channel in the rotor. This arrangement is particularly useful for two-stage blood platelet separation. The fluid container is preferably formed from semirigid plastic material and is considered a disposable item to be discarded after a single use. The rotary assembly preferably includes a removable filler piece or center piece formed from a single piece of material, such as rigid plastic, as by machining or molding, and having therein an open-topped channel having dimensions appropriate to receive the semirigid container, which is suitably curved and placed in the channel. Fluid connections are provided from each end of the container and an intermediate point to an axially located multichannel rotating seal. The connections lie in a plurality of radial slots in the filler piece. The channel is divided into two distinct portions, the first portion of the channel being circular with a constant radius, and the second portion being spiral and having a plurality of radiuses, each measured from a different center, the spiral increasing radially outward from its juncture with the first stage. The intermediate fluid connection is established near the junction of the first stage and the second stage. The spiral portion of the channel and container may have an outward slope from bottom to top.

A centrifuge structure for automatically separating a plurality of aliquot samples of blood plasma for testing from an initial sample of whole blood. A centrifuge bowl is provided with a bottom surface sloping upwardly and outwardly and joined to a vertical circular outer wall. A plurality of radially extending vertical septa or partitions divide the outer portion of the bowl into a plurality of radially extending chambers. Each of these chambers is provided with an exit port in the bottom surface. Whole blood placed in the bowl is forced radially outward by the centrifugal action of the bowl when rotated, and separates into different fractions. The selected fractions are moved to the vicinity of the exit ports by selectively changing the rotational velocity of the centrifuge and are then valved to other containers by opening valves connected to the exit ports.

Blood fraction extracting centrifuge

An improved collecting chamber for use with centrifuges for separating particles of different density suspended in a fluid, especially for separating the various fractions in human blood. The chamber is provided with a partition or dam and a plurality of outlet tubes. These tubes are positioned so that they can draw off the various separated components of the blood. The divider prevents the mixing of the fractions after they enter the chamber. By properly regulating the output flow of the lines containing the packed red cells, and the plasma and red cells, the content of the buffy collect line is defined and can be maintained constant over relatively long periods of time without operator intervention.

Centrifuge collecting chamber

A fluid container particularly useful in a centrifuge system for separating the various fractions in blood. The container comprises two circular sheets of flexible material, having central openings therein. The outer peripheral edges are sealed together, as well as annular-like portions extending outwardly from the central opening. Concentric-like inner and outer annular-like channels are thus formed at the outer peripheral portion of the assembly. Radial arcuate portions are sealed off, thereby providing interrupted annular-like channels. At a first end of the inner annular-like channels, an inlet tube is provided, extending outwardly from the central opening and communicating with the first end of the inner annular-like channel. At the outlet or second end of the inner annular-like channel, there is provided a radially extending inter-channel connector, which comprises a sealed off portion extending between the adjacent ends of the inner and outer annular-like channels. Also at this outlet end of the inner channel, a radially enlarged region is provided, acting as a first collecting chamber, into which an outlet tube is sealed, extending from the inner opening. A second collection chamber is provided at the outlet end of the outer annular-like channel. A plurality of outlet tubes extend radially outward from the center of the bag to open within the second collection chamber at different radial distances. Through these outlet tubes, selected separated portions of the fluid are withdrawn from the bag.

Centrifuge fluid container

A fluid container particularly useful in a centrifuge system for separating the various fractions in blood. The container comprises two circular sheets of flexible material, having central openings therein. The outer peripheral edges are sealed together, as well as an annular portion extending outwardly from the central opening. A radial arcuate portion is sealed off, thereby providing an interrupted or discontinuous annular chamber. At one end of the interrupted annular chamber, an inlet tube is provided, extending outwardly from the central opening and communicating with one end of the interrupted annular chamber. At the other end of the interrupted annular chamber, there is provided a radially enlarged portion, which acts as a collection chamber for the various portions of the fluid separated by centrifugal force. The various portions, or fractions, will exist at different radial distances from the center of the bag. A plurality of outlet tubes extend radially outward from the center of the bag to open within the collection chamber at different radial distances. Through these outlet tubes, selected separated portions of the fluid are withdrawn from the bag.

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Endwell, NY, United States of America

Robert Melroy Kellogg