Apparatus for centrifuging

Abstract

A centrifuge comprising a rotor 12, which may be driven to rotate during a centrifuging process, the rotor having an axis of rotation and an outer edge, wherein: the rotor has an aperture (14, fig. 2)

Claims

23 05 251. A centrifuge comprising a rotor, which may be driven to rotate during a centrifuging process, the rotor having an axis of rotation and an outer edge, 5 wherein:the rotor has an aperture for receiving a sample holder, the aperture being formed in a first surface of the rotor and being positioned between the axis of rotation and the outer edge, the aperture having an internal surface on which the sample holder may be received;10 the aperture has an end wall which faces generally towards the axis ofrotation;the rotor includes a lip, which overlies a part of the aperture in the region of the end wall, the lip being spaced apart from the internal surface and defining a region between the internal surface and an underside of the lip; and15 a deflecting surface is formed, extending between the end wall and theunderside of the lip, the deflecting surface subtending an angle with both the end wall and the underside of the lip.

2. A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the aperture has an inner end, 20 which lies closest to the axis of rotation, an outer end, which lies closest to the outer edge, and wherein the lip overlies a part of the aperture at or near the outer end.

3. A centrifuge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the internal surface is offset 25 from the first surface of the rotor.

4. A centrifuge according to claim 3 wherein, in the region of the lip, the lip is parallel or substantially parallel with the first surface of the rotor.30 5. A centrifuge according to claim 3 or 4 wherein, in the region of the lip, anupper surface of the lip is aligned or substantially aligned with the first surface of the rotor.23 05 256. A centrifuge according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the aperture does not pass all the way through a thickness of the rotor.

7. A centrifuge according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the first surface 5 of the rotor is an upper surface thereof.

8. A centrifuge according to claim 7, when dependent upon claim 6, wherein the rotor has a lower surface, the thickness of the rotor being defined between the upper and lower surfaces.

109. A centrifuge according to any preceding claim, wherein the lip adjoins the end wall.

10. A centrifuge according to any preceding claim, wherein in the region of the 15 lip the aperture has a width, and the lip extends all or substantially all of the way across the width.

11. A centrifuge according to any preceding claim, wherein the length of the lip is at least 5% of the length of the aperture.2012. A centrifuge according to any preceding claim, further comprising a housing, in which the rotor is mounted, and a drive arrangement to drive rotational motion of the rotor.25 13. A centrifuge according to any preceding claim, wherein the centrifuge doesnot have a cover which is placed directly over the aperture during a centrifuging process.

14. A centrifuging apparatus, comprising:30 a centrifuge according to any preceding claim; anda cuvette, wherein the cuvette may be received in the aperture.23 05 2515. A centrifuging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the cuvette may be placed into an initial position in the aperture by being advanced into the aperture in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor, so that the cuvette is received in regions of the aperture which are not the region5 between the internal surface and an underside of the lip.

16. A centrifuging apparatus according to claim 15 wherein, from the initial position, the cuvette may be moved in a direction passing from the axis of rotation of the rotor towards the outer edge thereof, without being removed from the10 aperture, into a second position, in which a part of the cuvette is received in the region between the internal surface and an underside of the lip.

17. A centrifuging apparatus according to claim 16 wherein, when the cuvette is in the initial position, rotation of the rotor about the axis of rotation at a sufficient15 rate will drive the cuvette into the second position.

18. A centrifuge apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 17 wherein the aperture comprises one or more finger holes, comprising regions of the aperture which are not occupied by the cuvette when the cuvette is received in the20 aperture.

19. A centrifuge apparatus according to claim 18, when dependent upon claim 18, wherein the finger holes comprise regions of the aperture which are not occupied by the cuvette in either the initial position or the second position.2520. A centrifuge apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the aperture comprises two finger holes, which extend from the aperture from substantially opposite sides thereof.30 21. A centrifuge apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein theor each finger hole extends from the aperture in a direction which is generally perpendicular to a direction passing from the axis of rotation of the rotor to the outer edge thereof.

22. A centrifuge apparatus according to claim 16 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the cuvette has one or more projecting ridges, and the internal surface of the rotor has one or more corresponding grooves formed therein, and wherein, when the cuvette is placed in the first or second position, the one or more 5 projecting ridges are received in the respective grooves.

23. A centrifuge apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the cuvette may slide with respect to the internal surface from the first position to the second position, with the one or more grooves remaining in the respective grooves.23 05 25

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