Bucket insert for use in a centrifuge

Abstract

To provide a bucket insert for improving localization of separation and a separation interface, and avoiding blurring or inclination of the separation interface in a sample processed by centrifugation especially in an automated centrifuge system, and to provide a bucket insert kit, a bucket kit, a centrifuge, and a centrifugal method.SOLUTION: A bucket insert 120 for use in a centrifuge comprises an insert body 138, the insert body 138 comprising a plurality of elongated receptacles 122 for receiving elongated sample vessels. The bucket insert 120 is configured to orient the elongated sample vessels in a tilted orientation. In the tilted orientation, at least some of the elongated sample vessels are oriented in a non-parallel fashion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7B

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a bucket insert, a bucket insert kit, and a bucket kit for use in a centrifuge. The present invention further relates to a centrifuge and a centrifugation method. The apparatus and method according to the present invention can be specifically used in the fields of high-throughput sample preparation and sample analysis, such as the field of automated diagnostic sample processing. However, for example, it can also be realized in other application fields, such as the field of biological processing, for preparing and processing biological samples.

Background Art

[0002] Among many other sample preparation techniques, centrifugation is an important technique for sample preparation in fields such as medical technology, diagnosis, biology, or chemistry. In recent years, high-throughput processing of samples, such as high-throughput diagnosis or screening, has become increasingly important.

[0003] In an automated system, usually, a large-capacity centrifuge is used to ensure high throughput of sample processing. Among them, usually, buckets are used for sample holding, and the buckets are connected to the rotor. In some cases, the samples are loaded into buckets or bucket inserts outside the centrifuge. The bucket or bucket insert usually provides a rigid structure for placing sample tubes. The loading can be performed in an automated manner. After the sample tubes are loaded into the bucket or bucket insert, the bucket in which the sample tubes are placed is subjected to a centrifugation process. During the centrifugation process, the bucket can usually swing from the centrifuge rotor.

[0004] European Patent Application Publication No. 1369179 discloses a compressible and expandable sample tube holder that includes a housing with a plurality of adjacent section members that are movable to approach or separate from each other. The biasing member generally maintains the section members in an expanded state. In the compressed state, the spacing between the section members is reduced.

[0005] U.S. Patent No. 9,757,739 discloses a centrifuge and its rotor. The centrifuge swings by rotating a sample container and performs centrifugation while being mounted in a notch portion of a rotor body. The sample container includes a bucket that houses a container filled with a sample and a lid for sealing the bucket and having a rotating shaft. A longitudinally extending groove is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the lower bucket with respect to the seating surface of the bucket. The grooves are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The formation of the grooves prevents an increase in the weight of the bucket and realizes a highly rigid sample container that can withstand deformation.

[0006] U.S. Patent No. 4,670,004 discloses a swing bucket centrifuge rotor that includes a seating surface having a shape such that the bucket seated thereon is released from a lateral load force. Each bucket is symmetric and is rotatably supported by a bucket pin in each spring-loaded carrier assembly. The spring constant of the spring of the carrier assembly is selected such that the front edge of the bottom of each bucket is on a curved surface and its trailing edge passes through its respective seating surface before contacting it. The resulting orientation of the bucket ensures that each bucket rotates until its bucket pin slightly lifts off the surface of its respective carrier assembly when seated.

[0007] U.S. Patent No. 9,731,301 discloses a swing rotor for a centrifuge. The centrifuge includes a swing-type rotor body having a plurality of holding pins and a plurality of buckets held in a swingable manner by the holding pins. A connection portion is formed in the rotor body for connecting two branch arms branching from an arm portion on the outer peripheral side. A thickness reduction portion penetrating in the same direction as the drive shaft is formed in a region surrounded by the two branch arms on the inner peripheral side of the connection portion.

[0008] International Publication No. WO 2007 / 039523 pamphlet discloses a fluid treatment method and a fluid treatment apparatus for use in a centrifuge, the fluid treatment method and the fluid treatment apparatus including: (a) a first holder conforming to the shape of a first tube to hold the first tube, whereby the first tube has a first cross section; and (b) a second holder conforming to the shape of a second tube to hold the second tube, whereby the second tube has a second cross section different from the first cross section.

[0009] Despite the advantages of known methods and devices, several technical problems remain. Therefore, by means of a centrifugation process, phase separation and / or separation of media having different densities are carried out. However, this separation is often insufficient or shows undesirable effects of blurred or inclined phase separation levels. This insufficient or unsatisfactory phase separation can lead to several detrimental consequences. Thus, especially in automated systems, the separation line in the sample tube may be blurred or inclined, which may reduce the usable sample amount of the separated sample aliquot. Furthermore, for example, the automatic detection of the separation interface by means of laser liquid level detection such as laser-based liquid level detection and / or camera-based liquid level detection is hindered, which is usually compensated by using a higher safety tolerance and thus also reduces the amount of the actually usable separated sample. Moreover, especially in the case of quantitative preparation or measurement, a blurred separation interface leads to the detrimental effect that accurate volume determination is difficult or even impossible, especially in automated systems. Finally, inappropriate phase separation can even lead to the instability of the separation medium.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0010]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0011] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an apparatus and method that at least partially address the above-described problems of known centrifugation devices and methods, particularly in an automatic centrifuge. Specifically, in an automated system in particular, an apparatus and method must be provided that improve separation and localization of the separation interface and at least partially avoid blurring or tilting of the separation interface in samples processed by centrifugation.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0012] This problem is addressed by a bucket insert, a bucket insert kit, and a bucket kit for use in a centrifuge, having the features of the independent claims, as well as by a centrifuge and a method of centrifugation. Advantageous embodiments, which can be implemented alone or in any combination, are described in the dependent claims.

[0013] As used hereinafter, the terms "having", "comprising", or "including" or any grammatical variations thereof are used in a non-exclusive manner. Thus, these terms may refer to both situations where no additional features exist in the entity described in this context in addition to the features introduced by these terms, and situations where one or more additional features exist. By way of example, the expressions "A has B", "A comprises B", and "A includes B" all refer to both situations where no other elements exist in A other than B (i.e., the situation where A consists solely and exclusively of B), and situations where one or more additional elements, such as element C, elements C and D, and even further elements, exist in entity A in addition to B.

[0014] Furthermore, it should be noted that terms such as "at least one", "one or more", which indicate that a feature or element can be present one or more times, are usually only used once when introducing each respective feature or element. In the following, in most cases, when referring to each respective feature or element, the expressions "at least one" or "one or more" are not repeated, despite the fact that each respective feature or element can be present one or more times.

[0015] Furthermore, as used hereinafter, terms such as "preferably", "more preferably", "in particular", "more particularly", "specifically", "more specifically" or similar terms are used in conjunction with any feature without limiting the possibility of alternatives. Thus, the features introduced by these terms are any features and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. The present invention can be implemented, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, by using alternative features. Similarly, features introduced by "in an embodiment of the present invention" or similar expressions are any features without any limitation regarding alternative embodiments of the present invention, without any limitation regarding the scope of the present invention, and without any limitation regarding the possibility of combining the features introduced in such a way with any other optional or non-optional features of the present invention.

[0016] In a first aspect of the present invention, a bucket insert for use in a centrifuge is disclosed. The bucket insert comprises an insert body. The insert body comprises a plurality of elongated receptacles for receiving elongated sample containers. The bucket insert is configured to orient the elongated sample containers in an inclined orientation. In the inclined orientation, at least some of the elongated sample containers are oriented non-parallel.

[0017] As used herein, the term "centrifuge" is a broad term and should be given its ordinary and customary meaning to those skilled in the art and should not be limited to a special or customized meaning. Specifically, without limitation, this term can refer to an apparatus configured to expose at least one sample to centrifugal force. A centrifuge can specifically be configured to separate two or more components of a sample by centrifugal force. A centrifuge can specifically include at least one rotor, such as at least one device configured to rotate a sample, and further can include at least one holder for holding at least one sample, also referred to as a "bucket".

[0018] Accordingly, the term "bucket" as used herein is a broad term and should be given its ordinary and customary meaning to those skilled in the art and should not be limited to a special or customized meaning. Specifically, without limitation, this term can refer to a component of a centrifuge configured to hold a sample during a centrifugation process. By way of example, a bucket within a centrifuge can be connected to a rotor in a releasable manner or fixedly, directly or indirectly. By way of example and as further outlined in more detail below, a bucket can include at least one frame and / or at least one body into which a sample can be directly or indirectly inserted. A bucket can specifically be connected to a rotor in a tiltable or rotatable manner, whereby, by way of example, it can be oriented according to the rotational speed. A bucket can specifically remain connected to a rotor, but as further outlined in more detail below, one or more bucket inserts can be used to load a sample into the bucket and / or unload a sample from the bucket.

[0019] Accordingly, the term "bucket insert" as used herein is a broad term and should be given its ordinary customary meaning to those of ordinary skill in the art and should not be limited to a special or customized meaning. This term can specifically, but not limited to, refer to an apparatus or component configured to receive one or more samples. The bucket insert can be separable from the bucket and / or can be integrated into the bucket completely or partially. Specifically, the bucket insert can be configured to be inserted into the bucket, specifically reversibly. Thus, as will be outlined in more detail below, to load at least one sample into a centrifuge, the sample can be inserted into the bucket insert, the insertion can be done outside the centrifuge, and subsequently the bucket insert can be inserted into the bucket. By way of example, the bucket can comprise a bucket body having at least one opening and / or at least one cavity, and the bucket insert can be inserted into the opening and / or cavity and held by the bucket body. In the case of unloading, such as after centrifugation, the bucket insert can be removed from the bucket, such as by removing the bucket insert from the opening of the cavity. Thus, by way of example, the bucket insert can be transferred between a loading and / or unloading station and the centrifuge. Accordingly, the bucket insert can be specifically adapted for automatic loading, such as by enabling simplified transfer and / or handling, so the bucket insert can enable the automatic use of the centrifuge.

[0020] As used herein, the term "insert body" is a broad term and should be given its ordinary and customary meaning to those of ordinary skill in the art and should not be limited to a special or customized meaning. This term can specifically refer to, but is not limited to, at least one component that provides mechanical stability to the bucket insert. Thus, by way of example, the insert body can be at least partially composed of a rigid material that can provide sufficient mechanical strength to hold an elongated sample container. The insert body can comprise one or more components, such as one or more segments, as will be described in more detail below.

[0021] As used herein, the term "elongated" is a broad term and should be given its ordinary and customary meaning to those of ordinary skill in the art and should not be limited to a special or customized meaning. Specifically, this term can refer to, but is not limited to, the shape and / or form of any object, and the extension of the object along at least one axis of the object exceeds the extension of the object perpendicular to the axis of the object. Specifically, the term "elongated" can refer to the shape of an object. In a Cartesian coordinate system, the extension of the object along the first axis of the Cartesian coordinate system along the axis of the object exceeds the extension of the object in at least one additional axis of the Cartesian coordinate system, for example, exceeds the extension of the object in both additional axes of the Cartesian coordinate system. Specifically, the term "elongated" can refer to the form and / or shape of an element, and the extension of the element along at least one first axis of the element exceeds the extension of the element along at least one second axis of the element by at least a factor of 2, such as a factor of 2 to 10. In particular, the term "elongated" can essentially be or include a cylindrical shape and / or a tubular shape and / or form such as a polygonal tubular shape such as a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0022] As used herein, the term "receptacle" is a broad term and should be given its ordinary and customary meaning to one of ordinary skill in the art and should not be limited to a special or customized meaning. This term can specifically, but not limited to, refer to an element, a combination of elements, or a space configured to receive one or more other elements. By way of example, a receptacle can include one or more spaces completely or partially surrounded by one or more receptacle walls. Thus, a receptacle can be completely or partially surrounded by one or more walls of an insert body. Thus, an elongate receptacle can specifically include a hole having an essentially cylindrical shape, specifically a cylindrical shape and / or a polygonal cylindrical shape. Thus, the hole can have a cylindrical shape and / or a polygonal cylindrical shape such as a rectangular cross-section, specifically a square cross-section. In addition to a hole having an essentially cylindrical shape, the elongate receptacle can further include one or more other sections such as a widened front portion for receiving a lid of a sample tube and / or a rounded end for receiving a rounded end of a sample tube. Specifically, the hole can have an expansion axis or a cylindrical axis. The expansion of the elongate receptacle along the cylindrical axis can exceed the expansion of the elongate receptacle perpendicular to the cylindrical axis by at least a factor of two, such as two to ten times, for example.

[0023] As used herein, the term "elongated sample container" is a broad term and should be given its ordinary and customary meaning to those of ordinary skill in the art and should not be limited to a special or customized meaning. Specifically, this term can refer to a container configured to receive one or more samples, and the container has an elongated shape. The elongated sample container can specifically refer to a container having an essentially cylindrical shape, such as a cylindrical shape, and / or a polygonal shape such as a rectangular or even square shape, at least in part. In addition to at least one essentially cylindrical portion, the container can include one or more additional sections, such as a lid and / or an end, which do not necessarily have the same shape as the essentially cylindrical portion. Thus, generally, the elongated sample container can specifically include sample tubes and / or sample cuvettes, such as those composed of glass and / or plastic materials.

[0024] As outlined above, the bucket insert is configured to orient the elongated sample containers in an inclined orientation, in which at least some of the elongated sample containers are oriented non-parallel. Thus, in the inclined orientation, at least two of the received elongated sample containers and their respective elongated receptacles are oriented non-parallel such that their respective axes, e.g., their cylindrical axes, have an angle greater than 2°, such as greater than 3°, further greater than 5°, or greater than 10°, etc., with respect to each other. As an example, the bucket insert can include a plurality of elongated receptacles having openings that can be arranged in the shape of a rectangular matrix when viewed from above the front or top surface of the bucket insert. Among them, as shown in the following exemplary embodiments, in the first dimension of the rectangular matrix, adjacent receptacles can be inclined such that the axes of adjacent receptacles in the direction of the first dimension are inclined with respect to each other. However, in the second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension, adjacent receptacles can be oriented parallel such that adjacent receptacles in the direction of the second dimension are not inclined with respect to each other.

[0025] As a result, since the elongated sample container is configured to be oriented in an inclined orientation, the elongated receptacle can be oriented accordingly. The inclined orientation can be configured as part of the bucket insert or provided by the configuration of the bucket insert. The configuration of the bucket insert that provides the inclined orientation can be the only configuration of the bucket insert. However, as will be outlined in more detail below, the bucket insert can specifically be configured to have at least two different configurations, one of the configurations providing an inclined orientation and another configuration of the bucket insert providing a different orientation, such as a non-inclined orientation in which the elongated sample containers, specifically all of the elongated sample containers, are oriented in parallel. Thus, as a result, the bucket insert can be configured to assume at least two configurations, in which at least two configurations, the orientation of the elongated sample container or at least two elongated sample containers, specifically the angle between the axes of these elongated sample containers, varies.

[0026] Specifically, in the inclined orientation, the elongated sample containers can all be oriented towards a common axis of rotation. Thus, a virtual axis can exist within the space, which can also be referred to as or function as the axis of rotation, and within at least a predetermined tolerance range, the axis of the elongated container and / or the axis of the elongated receptacle intersects this virtual axis. Later, when the bucket insert is attached to a centrifuge, this virtual axis can be the axis of rotation of the centrifuge. As a result, the longitudinal extension of the elongated sample container can be oriented towards the axis of rotation, and at least at high rotational speeds, the direction of the centrifugal force can be parallel to the extension axis of the elongated sample container.

[0027] The insert body can specifically include an insertion surface. As used herein, the term "insertion surface" is a broad term and should be given its ordinary customary meaning to those skilled in the art and should not be limited to a special or customized meaning. This term can specifically refer to, but is not limited to, the surface of the insert body accessible to the user and / or the loading device for inserting the sample container into the receptacle. By way of example, the insertion surface can be a flat or curved surface such as the upper surface or the upper side surface of the insert body. As outlined above, the elongated receptacle can essentially include a cylindrical hole, and the essentially cylindrical hole can form an opening in the insertion surface. Specifically, the essentially cylindrical hole can be, for example, a cubic hole or can include a cubic hole for inserting a cuvette. As outlined above, the elongated receptacle can specifically be arranged in a matrix pattern, and as a result, the openings in the insertion surface can also form a matrix pattern such as a rectangular dot matrix pattern.

[0028] As outlined above, the bucket insert can specifically be configured to assume at least two different configurations with different orientations of the elongated receptacle. Thus, in addition to a first configuration in which the elongated receptacle and / or the elongated sample container are in an inclined orientation, the bucket insert can alternatively be in at least one second configuration in which the elongated sample container and / or the elongated receptacle are oriented in a parallel orientation. Thus, generally, the bucket insert can further be configured to orient the elongated sample container in a parallel orientation, in which the elongated sample containers are oriented parallel. Thus, in other words, the axes of the elongated sample container and / or the elongated receptacle are oriented parallel, at least within an acceptable range, in the parallel orientation.

[0029] At least a part of the bucket insert, specifically at least a part of the insert body, can be configured to change its configuration, such as by providing at least one hinge and / or by providing at least one deformable section. Thus, the bucket insert, such as the insert body, can be made at least partially deformable, specifically deformable in a flexible manner. The bucket insert can be configured to reorient the elongated sample container from an inclined orientation to a parallel orientation and / or vice versa by deformation of the insert body. Thus, the bucket insert can be configured to reorient the elongated sample container from an inclined orientation to a parallel orientation by deformation of the insert body. Additionally or alternatively, the bucket insert can be configured to reorient the elongated sample container from a parallel orientation to an inclined orientation by deformation of the insert body. Thus, by way of example, a part of the insert body can be deformed such that the insert body changes its configuration from a first configuration to a second configuration, where the first configuration can be or include a configuration having an elongated sample container oriented non-parallelly, and the second configuration can be or include a configuration having an elongated sample container that is either parallelly oriented or vice versa.

[0030] Specifically, the insert body can include a plurality of body segments. Thus, by way of example, the insert body can include one body segment for each of the elongated receptacles. By way of example, each body segment can include a frame, such as a prismatic frame, made of a plastic material, such as a solid plastic material, and the elongated receptacle is disposed within the frame. By way of example, a body segment can include a prismatic block of plastic material, and a cylindrical hole is inserted into the block of plastic material from one side. However, other embodiments of the body segment are possible. Each of the body segments can include at least one of the elongated receptacles, such as exactly one of the elongated receptacles. As outlined above, the body segment can specifically have an essentially prismatic shape.

[0031] Specifically, the body segments can be made tiltable about at least one tilt axis. Thus, by way of example, adjacent body segments can be tilted relative to each other, such as by means of at least one hinge. Thus, at least two of the body segments can be made tiltable relative to each other. By way of example, the body segments can be arranged in at least one row, and adjacent segments within the row can be made tiltable relative to each other. Also, as outlined above, a rectangular matrix structure of the body segments can be provided, and by way of example, adjacent segments within the row can be made tiltable, but in a second dimension, adjacent segments within the row can be made non-tiltable relative to each other. Various geometric arrangements are possible. Thus, by tilting, the matrix can be curved such that the segments are radially oriented relative to a virtual axis, such as a rotation axis.

[0032] The body segment can include a plurality of spacer openings for inserting at least one spacer element. The spacer element can be configured to hold the body segment in an inclined orientation. Thus, a configuration in which the body segment is in an inclined orientation can be maintained by at least one spacer element. As an example, the at least one spacer element can include a rigid body that engages with the plurality of spacer openings to maintain a configuration in which the body segment is in an inclined orientation.

[0033] The insert body can include at least one connecting element that connects the body segments. As an example, the at least one connecting element can also provide deformable characteristics of the insert body and / or the bucket insert. Thus, as an example, the at least one connecting element can be deformable and / or flexible and / or can include one or more hinges for tilting two or more body segments relative to each other.

[0034] As an example, the connecting element can have a flat shape. Specifically, the connecting element can have a flat shape in a plane in at least one configuration, such as a parallel configuration of the bucket insert. In particular, the connecting element can have a bent flat shape in at least another configuration, such as an inclined configuration of the bucket insert. As an example, the connecting element can be or can include a flat element such as a disk or a flat element having, for example, a rectangular or polygonal shape and a constant thickness. The body segment can be attached to the surface of the connecting element, such as the lower surface of the connecting element.

[0035] As used herein, the term "flat shape" is a broad term and should be given its ordinary and customary meaning to those skilled in the art and may not be limited to a special or customized meaning. Specifically, but not limited to, this term can refer to the form of a three-dimensional object having a smooth and / or uniform surface. In particular, an object with a flat shape can be a three-dimensional object, and the extension of the object in two dimensions exceeds the extension of the object in three dimensions by at least 2 times, specifically at least 3 times, more specifically at least 5 times.

[0036] Specifically, when the elongated sample container is oriented in a parallel orientation, the connecting element can have a planar flat shape. In particular, when the elongated sample container is oriented in an inclined orientation, the connecting element can have a curved flat shape. As an example, the term "planar flat" can refer to the shape of any flat object that spreads uniformly over one plane, such as having a uniformly flat shape, while the term "curved flat shape" can refer to the shape in which the same arbitrary flat object is bent in at least one dimension.

[0037] As an example, the connecting element can be made deformable, specifically flexibly deformable, such as by using at least one flexible or deformable material such as a plastic sheet material. The connecting element can include a plurality of holes corresponding to the elongated receptacle. Thus, the insertion of the elongated sample container into the receptacle received within the body segment can be performed through the holes and the connecting element. Further, the connecting element can include at least one hinge joint, and at least one hinge joint can be configured to connect the body segments. Specifically, the connecting element can include a plurality of hinge joints.

[0038] The bucket insert can be composed entirely or partly of at least one plastic material. By way of example, the bucket insert, specifically the body segment of the bucket insert, can be composed entirely or partly of at least one thermoplastic material. Further, at least one connecting element can also be composed of at least one thermoplastic material.

[0039] In a further aspect of the invention, a bucket insert kit for use in a centrifuge is disclosed. As used herein, the term "kit" can specifically refer to an assembly of at least two components that can be handled independently, but which are configured to interact to achieve a common purpose. The bucket insert kit comprises at least one bucket insert according to the invention, such as any one of the embodiments disclosed above and / or any one of the embodiments disclosed in more detail below. Further, the bucket insert kit comprises at least one spacer element configured to hold the bucket insert in a configuration in which the elongated sample container and / or the elongated receptacle are oriented in an inclined orientation.

[0040] For possible definitions and options of the spacer element, reference can be made to the description of the bucket insert given above. By way of example, the spacer element can comprise a base such as a flat base that can be inserted into the bucket of the centrifuge. Further, there can be a plurality of protrusions projecting from the base into the internal space of the bucket. The protrusions can be configured to engage with the body segment of the bucket insert. By way of example, the protrusions can project into an opening in the body segment and / or into a space between adjacent body segments. By way of example, the protrusions can have a conical shape in order to maintain the inclined orientation. Examples are given below.

[0041] In a further aspect of the present invention, a bucket kit for use in a centrifuge is disclosed. The bucket kit comprises at least one bucket insert according to the present invention, such as any one of the above-disclosed embodiments and / or any one of the embodiments disclosed in further detail below. The bucket kit further comprises at least one bucket, and the bucket insert is insertable into the bucket. The bucket kit can further comprise at least one spacer element that is insertable into or fixed to the bucket, specifically fixedly attached to the bucket. The spacer element is configured to hold the bucket insert within the bucket in a configuration in which the elongated sample container and / or the elongated receptacle is oriented in an inclined orientation. For further possible definitions and options, reference can be made to the description of the above bucket insert and bucket insert kit.

[0042] In a further aspect of the present invention, a centrifuge, also referred to as a centrifuge assembly, is disclosed. The centrifuge comprises at least one bucket kit according to the present invention, such as any one of the above-disclosed embodiments and / or any one of the embodiments disclosed in further detail below. Further, the centrifuge comprises at least one rotor for rotating the bucket kit about at least one axis of rotation. During rotation, specifically, the elongated sample container can be oriented towards the axis of rotation such that, for example, the axis of the elongated sample container received in the elongated receptacle intersects the axis of rotation.

[0043] The centrifuge can specifically be an automatic centrifuge having at least one actuator for the automatic processing of a plurality of elongated sample containers. Thus, specifically, the advantages of the present invention, such as options to change the configuration of the bucket insert from a configuration with an inclined orientation to a configuration with a non-inclined orientation, can be used for the automatic processing of elongated sample containers. Specifically, the non-inclined orientation can be used for sample loading and / or unloading, while the inclined orientation can be used for centrifugation.

[0044] In a further aspect of the present invention, a centrifugation method is disclosed. The method includes the following method steps. The method steps can specifically be executed in a specified order. However, it should be noted that another order is also possible. Furthermore, it should be noted that two or more method steps can be executed simultaneously or in a timely overlapping manner. Thus, by way of example, at least steps d) and e) can be executed simultaneously or in a timely overlapping manner. Furthermore, one, a plurality, or even all of the method steps can be repeatedly executed. The method can include additional method steps not described. The method can also be computer-controlled, specifically by automated loading and / or unloading, and / or by automated centrifugation, etc.

[0045] The method includes the following steps: a. Providing a plurality of elongated sample containers; b. Providing at least one bucket insert according to the present invention, such as any one of the above-disclosed embodiments and / or any one of the embodiments further disclosed in detail below; c. Receiving the elongated sample containers in the elongated receptacle; d. Orienting the bucket insert in an inclined orientation, in which at least some of the elongated sample containers are oriented non-parallel; e. receiving a bucket insert in at least one bucket of the centrifuge; f. rotating the bucket about the axis of rotation of the centrifuge, such that the elongated sample container is axially oriented towards the axis of rotation during rotation.

[0046] Specifically, as outlined above, the loading step, i.e., step c, can be carried out with the bucket insert in a parallel orientation, i.e., with the elongated sample container and / or the elongated receptacle in a parallel orientation. Similarly, after centrifuging and performing step f, an unloading step can be carried out, which also provides a configuration with the elongated sample container and / or the elongated receptacle in a parallel orientation. However, a configuration can be envisaged where an inclined orientation is provided for centrifuging, i.e., specifically for performing step f. Thus, specifically, after performing step c and before performing step f, the bucket insert can be reoriented from a parallel orientation to an inclined orientation, specifically, the bucket insert can be reoriented from a configuration where the elongated sample container and / or the elongated receptacle are oriented in a parallel orientation to a configuration where the elongated sample container and / or the elongated receptacle are oriented in an inclined orientation. For this purpose, the method can further include receiving at least one spacer element in the bucket, the spacer element being configured to hold the bucket insert in an inclined orientation, specifically, to hold the bucket insert in a configuration where the elongated sample container and / or the elongated receptacle are oriented in an inclined orientation.

[0047] As outlined above, one or more and even all method steps can be carried out in an automated manner, for example, by using one or more robotic devices. As an example, step c can be carried out in an automated manner. Further, the transfer from the loading station to the centrifuge and / or the bucket can be performed in an automated manner, as well as the transfer from the bucket after centrifugation to the unloading station. Additionally, the change in the configuration of the bucket insert can also be carried out automatically.

[0048] Finally, the use of the bucket insert according to the present invention is proposed. Thus, the present invention can be specifically applied to the field of automated sample processing of biological samples. Thus, as an example, the present invention can be applied to the fields of laboratory screening and / or diagnosis. For example, other applications such as preparative applications such as sample preparation and / or production are also possible.

[0049] The device and method according to the present invention offer many advantages over known devices and methods of the same kind. Specifically, therefore, the above-mentioned problem of inappropriate phase separation can be avoided by using a bucket insert. By using an inclined orientation, generally, the bucket insert can be designed in such a way that an elongated sample container is oriented in such a manner that the centrifugal force and / or the total force including the centrifugal force is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated sample container. Thereby, at least one interface of the separation of two or more components of the sample can usually be oriented perpendicular to the axis of the elongated sample container. As a result, the sharpness of the separation interface can be improved. Furthermore, by avoiding inclined or blurred interfaces, automatic detection of the separation interface can be performed or can be performed with higher reliability compared to conventional methods and separation devices. Therefore, the present invention can be specifically applied to the field of automatic sample processing. Furthermore, specifically in the case of quantitative measurements or quantitative processes, by avoiding inclined or blurred interfaces, more accurate volume determination of the partial volumes separated by the centrifugation process can generally be made possible. The partial volumes can also be used more efficiently because the interfaces can be determined in a generally more reliable manner, thereby generally avoiding losses of the sample or components of the sample. Furthermore, since inappropriate phase separation is widely avoided or at least can be reduced, the stability of the separated sample can be improved.

[0050] During centrifugation, the bucket insert can specifically be configured such that the elongated sample container is in an inclined orientation. Specifically, the elongated sample container can be oriented in an inclined orientation such that the centrifugal force vector, which can coincide with or be parallel to the radius connecting the sample tube to the axis of rotation, is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated sample container. The bucket insert can be inserted into the bucket, and the bucket can be swingable, tiltable, or rotatable about at least one axis.

[0051] As outlined above, the bucket insert can comprise a plurality of body segments. The body segments can be connected by at least one connecting element, for example, in such a way that the body segments can be tilted at least partially in their relative positions. Thus, as an example, one or more flexible elements can be used to interconnect the plurality of body segments. Thereby, the body segments containing the elongated receptacle disposed therein can be arranged, for example, in an inclined orientation or a parallel orientation. The body segments can be held in their respective positions by one or more retaining elements, such as the at least one spacer element described above.

[0052] The body segments can also be arranged in a parallel orientation for automatic loading or unloading. After loading, for example, during or after insertion of the insert into the bucket, the bucket insert can be configured to be given an inclined orientation. Thereby, the tube axis of the elongated sample container can be oriented parallel to the resulting force vector during centrifugation.

[0053] As an example, the at least one spacer element can be rigid or flexible. Thus, the at least one spacer element can also have elastic properties. Further, additionally or alternatively, at least one connecting element connecting the body segments can also have flexible properties, for example, by holding the bucket insert in a configuration in which a parallel orientation is given, unless the body segments are forced to expand by the spacer element to be given an inclined orientation in a second configuration. Thus, the spring force of the connecting element can maintain the configuration by the parallel orientation, but by overcoming this spring force of the connecting element, the bucket insert can be configured, for example, in an inclined orientation within the bucket by the spacer element.

[0054] To load the bucket insert, for example, the bucket insert can be inserted into a holder and can be given a parallel orientation. For example, the loading can be done automatically. After loading, the bucket insert can be expanded and / or reconfigured, thereby configuring the bucket insert, for example, to have an inclined orientation either simultaneously with or prior to inserting the bucket insert into the bucket. In the bucket, the inclined orientation can be maintained by at least one spacer element, which can also be integrated into the bucket itself. After centrifugation, for example, by releasing the force maintaining the inclined orientation, the bucket insert can be removed from the bucket again and returned to a parallel orientation, thereby enabling the elastic force of the connecting element to reconfigure the bucket insert and re-establish the inclined orientation.

[0055] During centrifugation, for the inclined orientation, the axis of the elongated sample container can be aligned with the centrifugal force vector. As outlined above, the inclined orientation can be maintained by at least one spacer element, which can be a separate space or element and / or a spacer element integrated into the bucket, such as, for example, the underside of the opening of the bucket into which the bucket insert is inserted. Thereby, for example, during centrifugation, the desired exact spread of the bucket insert can be maintained.

[0056] Thus, the centrifugation procedure can include the following steps: - Orienting the bucket insert in a parallel orientation by the restoring spring force of a connecting element, which can be, for example, a leaf spring that orients the body segments in parallel, such that the bucket insert can be supported or held by a holding structure and / or a centrifugation deck, - Loading the elongated sample containers into their respective receptacles using automatic loading means such as, for example, a robot, - For example, manually or automatically inserting a bucket insert into a bucket, and by way of example, using a spacer element such that, before or during insertion of the bucket insert into the bucket, the tube axis of an elongate sample container is aligned with the centrifugal force vector during centrifugation, a reconfiguration from a parallel orientation to an inclined orientation is performed, and - centrifuging, and - unloading the centrifuge by reversing the above loading step.

[0057] Thus, at least one connecting element can be a spring that is relaxed in a parallel orientation. However, other options are possible. Thus, by way of example, when the bucket insert is in a configuration with an inclined orientation, the connecting element can also be relaxed without applying a force to the body segment. Thus, at least one connecting element can also be bent in advance. Thus, the connecting element can support an inclined orientation and thus support the alignment of the axis of the elongate sample container with the centrifugal force vector. In this embodiment, the above procedure can be modified as follows: - To load the elongate sample container, the bucket insert can be placed on a support such as a centrifuge deck and / or inserted into means for converging and aligning the body segment of the bucket insert, thereby orienting the bucket insert in a parallel orientation, - In the parallel orientation, the elongate sample container can be loaded, for example, perpendicularly to the bucket insert, by automated means, - For example, the bucket insert can be loaded into the bucket by automated means, and before or during loading, a reconfiguration of the bucket insert to a configuration with an inclined orientation can be performed, for example, by the spring force of the connecting element, and the internal structure and / or spacer element can support the alignment of the bucket insert within the bucket, - Centrifugation can be performed within the centrifuge, and - The above steps can be reversed for unloading.

[0058] With this option, slightly additional bending may be required to orient the bucket insert in an inclined orientation for centrifugation.

[0059] Generally, by using the present invention, groups of many samples can be efficiently processed as needed, for example, in a high-throughput system. Further, valuable sample amounts can be used very efficiently, which is particularly advantageous for very small sample amounts. Finally, it is also further possible to determine the exact position of the separation interface by using automated means such as, for example, laser detection, thereby enabling an automated and more accurate volume determination of, for example, the volume or sub-volume of a sample.

[0060] In summary, the following embodiments can be envisioned without excluding further possible embodiments:

[0061] Embodiment 1: A bucket insert for use in a centrifuge, comprising an insert body, the insert body comprising a plurality of elongated receptacles for receiving elongated sample containers, the bucket insert being configured to orient the elongated sample containers in an inclined orientation, in which at least some of the elongated sample containers are oriented non-parallel.

[0062] Embodiment 2: The bucket insert according to the preceding embodiment, in which in the inclined orientation, the elongated sample containers are axially oriented towards a common axis of rotation.

[0063] Embodiment 3: The bucket insert according to any one of the preceding embodiments, in which the insert body includes an insertion surface, the elongated receptacle includes an essentially cylindrical hole in the insert body, such as a cubic hole, and the essentially cylindrical hole forms an opening in the insertion surface.

[0064] Embodiment 4: The bucket insert is further configured to orient the elongated sample container in a parallel orientation, in which the elongated sample containers are oriented parallel to each other, according to any one of the preceding embodiments.

[0065] Embodiment 5: The bucket insert, specifically the insert body, is at least partially deformable, specifically deformable flexibly, and the bucket insert is configured to reorient the elongated sample container from an inclined orientation to a parallel orientation and / or vice versa by deformation of the insert body, according to the bucket insert described in any one of the preceding embodiments.

[0066] Embodiment 6: The insert body includes a plurality of body segments, each body segment including at least one of the elongated receptacles, according to any one of the preceding embodiments.

[0067] Embodiment 7: The body segment has an essentially prismatic shape, according to the bucket insert described in the preceding embodiment.

[0068] Embodiment 8: The body segments are tiltable about at least one tilt axis such that at least two of the body segments are tiltable relative to each other, according to any one of the preceding two embodiments.

[0069] Embodiment 9: The body segment includes a plurality of spacer openings for inserting at least one spacer element, and the spacer element is configured to hold the body segment in an inclined orientation, according to any one of the preceding three embodiments.

[0070] Embodiment 10: The insert body includes at least one connecting element, and the connecting element connects the body segments, according to any one of the preceding four embodiments.

[0071] Embodiment 11: The bucket insert according to the preceding embodiments, wherein the connecting element has a flat shape, specifically a planar flat shape and / or a curved flat shape, and the body segment is attached to the surface of the connecting element.

[0072] Embodiment 12: The bucket insert according to Embodiments 4 and 11, wherein when the elongated sample containers are oriented in a parallel orientation, the connecting element has a planar flat shape, and when the elongated sample containers are oriented in an inclined orientation, the connecting element has a curved flat shape.

[0073] Embodiment 13: The bucket insert according to any one of the preceding three embodiments, wherein the connecting element is deformable, specifically, flexibly deformable.

[0074] Embodiment 14: The bucket insert according to any one of the preceding four embodiments, wherein the connecting element includes a plurality of holes corresponding to the elongated receptacles.

[0075] Embodiment 15: The bucket insert according to any one of the preceding five embodiments, wherein the connecting element includes at least one hinge joint configured to connect the body segments.

[0076] Embodiment 16: The bucket insert according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the bucket insert is composed of at least one plastic material.

[0077] Embodiment 17: The bucket insert according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the elongated receptacles are arranged in the insert body in a matrix pattern, specifically a rectangular matrix pattern.

[0078] Embodiment 18: A bucket insert kit for use in a centrifuge, comprising at least one bucket insert according to any one of the preceding embodiments, and further comprising at least one spacer element, the spacer element being configured to hold the bucket insert in a configuration in which an elongated sample container and / or an elongated receptacle is oriented in an inclined orientation.

[0079] Embodiment 19: A bucket kit for use in a centrifuge, comprising at least one bucket insert according to any one of the preceding embodiments referring to a bucket insert, and further comprising at least one bucket, the bucket insert being insertable into the bucket.

[0080] Embodiment 20: A bucket kit according to the preceding embodiment, further comprising at least one spacer element, the spacer element being insertable into the bucket or fixed to the bucket, the spacer element being configured to hold the bucket insert in the bucket (118) in a configuration in which an elongated sample container and / or an elongated receptacle is oriented in an inclined orientation.

[0081] Embodiment 21: A centrifuge comprising at least one bucket kit according to any one of the preceding embodiments referring to a bucket kit, further comprising at least one rotor for rotating the bucket kit about at least one axis of rotation.

[0082] Embodiment 22: The centrifuge according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the centrifuge is an automatic centrifuge having at least one actuator for automatic processing of a plurality of elongated sample containers.

[0083] Embodiment 23: A centrifugation method, a. providing a plurality of elongated sample containers; b. Providing at least one bucket insert as described in any one of the preceding embodiments referring to the bucket insert; c. Receiving an elongated sample container in the elongated receptacle; d. Orienting the bucket insert in an inclined orientation, in which at least some of the elongated sample containers are oriented non - parallel; e. Receiving the bucket insert in at least one bucket of a centrifuge; f. Rotating the bucket around the axis of rotation of the centrifuge, such that the elongated sample container is axially oriented towards the axis of rotation during rotation.

[0084] Embodiment 24: Embodiment 21: The method according to the preceding embodiments, wherein step c is performed with a bucket insert configured such that the elongated sample container and / or the elongated receptacle are oriented in a parallel orientation, and in the parallel orientation, the elongated sample containers are parallel.

[0085] Embodiment 25: Embodiment 22: The method according to the preceding embodiments, wherein after performing step c and before performing step f, the bucket insert is re - oriented from a parallel orientation to an inclined orientation.

[0086] Embodiment 26: Embodiment 23: The method according to the preceding embodiments, wherein the method includes receiving at least one spacer element in the bucket, and the spacer element is configured to hold the bucket insert in a configuration where the elongated sample container and / or the elongated receptacle are oriented in an inclined orientation.

[0087] Embodiment 27: Embodiment 24: The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein step c is performed in an automated manner.

[0088] Embodiment 28: Embodiment 25: Use of a bucket insert as described in any one of the preceding embodiments referring to the bucket insert for automated sample processing, specifically for biological samples.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0089] Further optional features and embodiments are preferably disclosed in more detail in the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the dependent claims. Among them, each optional feature can be realized independently and in any feasible combination, as understood by those skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention is not limited by the preferred embodiments. The embodiments are schematically shown in the figures. Among them, the same reference numerals in these figures refer to the same or functionally equivalent elements.

[0090] The figures are as follows:

Figure 1A

Figure 1B

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7A

Figure 7B

Figure 8A

Figure 8B

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13A

Figure 13B

[0091] In FIGS. 1A and 1B, an exemplary embodiment of a centrifuge 110 is shown in a plan view (FIG. 1A) and a partial side view (FIG. 1B). The centrifuge 110 has a large capacity and can guarantee a high throughput of sample processing. Therefore, the centrifuge 110 can specifically be used in an automated system. The centrifuge 110 includes, by way of example, four bucket kits 112 and a rotor 114 configured to rotate the bucket kits 112 about a rotation axis 116.

[0092] Each bucket kit 112 includes a bucket 118 and at least one bucket insert 120. The bucket inserts 120 can be removable from their respective buckets 118, or can be fixedly attached or integrated into the buckets 118. Each of the bucket inserts 120 includes, by way of example, a plurality of elongate receptacles 122 that can be arranged in a rectangular matrix pattern. The elongate receptacles 122 of FIGS. 1A and 1B can extend along their respective axes 126, also referred to as their expansion axes or longitudinal axes, within the projection plane of FIG. 1A and parallel to the projection plane of FIG. 1B. Further, the axes of the elongate receptacles 122 can extend essentially perpendicular to the radial direction 125 in the stationary position of the centrifuge 110. As can be seen, for example, in FIG. 1B, the bucket 118 can be pivotally suspended around the rotor 114.

[0093] As exemplarily shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, a plurality of elongate sample containers 124 can be loaded into the elongate receptacles 122 such that the longitudinal axis 126 of each elongate sample container 124 is aligned with the longitudinal axis 126 of each respective elongate receptacle 122 in which the elongate sample container 124 is received.

[0094] Specifically, in the case of automated solutions and systems, the elongate sample containers 124 are typically loaded into and unloaded from the bucket inserts 120 outside the centrifuge 110. For this purpose, either the bucket inserts 120 or the complete bucket kits 112 can be removed from the centrifuge 110 for loading or unloading, respectively. One or more sample processing systems, such as a sample processing robot, can be provided for loading and / or unloading.

[0095] In known systems, the bucket insert 120 is typically a rigid structure. In these rigid structures, as shown in FIG. 2, the elongated sample container 124 is typically loaded and / or unloaded vertically from above as indicated by arrow 130. Thus, for all the elongated receptacles 122, the loading / unloading direction 130 is typically parallel to enable automatic loading from above. After loading the samples, the bucket insert 120 is loaded into the centrifuge 110 by loading each bucket insert 120 into its respective bucket 110 and / or by attaching the complete bucket kit 112 to the centrifuge 110.

[0096] As shown in the plan view of FIG. 3A and the side view of FIG. 3B, during centrifugation, the bucket 118 is enabled to swing out. However, this conventional arrangement of the elongated sample container 124 during centrifugation specifically means that, in the case of an elongated sample container 124 received in an eccentric elongated receptacle 122, the longitudinal axis 126 of the elongated sample container 124 or the longitudinal axis 126 of the elongated receptacle 122 does not coincide with the radius and is not aligned with the respective centrifugal force vector indicated by reference numeral 132 in FIG. 4. This effect increases as the center of the elongated receptacle 122 within the bucket insert 120 becomes eccentric. Eccentricity can specifically refer to a configuration in which there is a distance between the longitudinal axis 126 of the elongated sample container 124 and / or the elongated receptacle 122 and the center of rotation during centrifugation.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 5, the effect of vector misalignment can be experimentally demonstrated. Among them, five elongated sample containers 124 filled with a separation medium, for example, a two-component test sample 134 after separation by a centrifuge 110 are shown. The leftmost and rightmost elongated sample containers 124 in FIG. 5, indicated by A and E, were placed at the edges of the bucket insert 120 during centrifugation, while the elongated sample containers 124 indicated by B and D were closer to the center, and the elongated sample container 124 indicated by C was placed at the center. In this figure, the separation interface indicated by reference numeral 136 can be seen. The angular number given to each of the elongated sample containers 124 indicates the deviation from 90° of the angle between the longitudinal axis 126 of each elongated sample container 124 and the separation interface 136. It is clear that the fact that the longitudinal axis 126 and the centrifugal force vector 132 are not aligned with respect to the outer elongated sample container 124 causes the inclination of the separation interface 136. The results of sample processing, especially in an automated system, can be, as outlined above, a reduction in the amount of usable sample, for example, the difficulty of automatically determining the separation interface 136 by laser liquid level detection, the need to apply additional safety margins, the difficulty of using a general automated system, and further the influence of the separation medium becoming unstable.

[0098] Proposed by the present invention, as schematically shown in FIG. 6, this unsatisfactory situation can be at least partially avoided by the present invention. Accordingly, a bucket insert 120 having an insert body 138 with a plurality of elongated receptacles 122 for receiving an elongated sample container 124 is used. The bucket insert 120 has at least one configuration, and the elongated sample containers 124 received in the elongated receptacles 122 are oriented in an inclined orientation. In the inclined orientation, at least some of the elongated sample containers 124 are oriented non-parallel. Specifically, in the inclined orientation, the longitudinal axis 126 of the elongated sample container 124 or the longitudinal axis 126 of the elongated receptacle 122 can be oriented toward the axis of rotation 116. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, the longitudinal axis 126 can be aligned with the centrifugal force vector 132 within an acceptable range, for example, of 10° or less, 5° or less, and even 2° or less, at least essentially. Thus, the above-mentioned problems shown in FIG. 5 can be at least partially avoided.

[0099] FIGS. 7A and 7B show cross-sectional views of the bucket insert 120. Among them, FIG. 7B shows a first configuration of the bucket insert 120, and as in FIG. 6, the elongated sample containers 124 are oriented non-parallel, and specifically, the longitudinal axis 126 can be oriented toward a common axis that can be the axis of rotation 116 when the bucket insert 120 is used in the centrifuge 110. In addition to the first configuration shown in FIG. 7B, one or more further configurations of the bucket insert 120 can exist. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, at least one second configuration can exist, and the elongated sample containers 124 are oriented essentially parallel, for example, within the given angular tolerance range. As an example, the second configuration can be used for loading and / or unloading the elongated sample containers 124, while the first configuration and the inclined orientation can be used for centrifugation.

[0100] To enable the elongated sample container 124 to be non-parallelly oriented, various options are possible. Specifically, therefore, the bucket insert 120 can be configured to change its configuration. For this purpose, the bucket insert 120 can be at least partially composed of a flexible material. Thus, by way of example, the bucket insert 120 can include an insert body 138, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the insert body 138 including a plurality of substantially cylindrical holes 140 disposed therein, the cylindrical holes 140 forming at least a part of the elongated receptacle 122. The insert body 138 can be configured to be able to vary the orientation of the cylindrical holes 140 and / or the elongated receptacle 122 relative to each other.

[0101] As an example, the insert body 138 can comprise a plurality of body segments 142, and as an example, in each body segment 142, at least one of the elongated receptacles 122 and / or at least one of the cylindrical holes 140 can be arranged. As an example, the body segment 142 can have an elongated shape such as a prismatic shape having a rectangular base and rectangular side walls. However, other shapes are also possible. The bucket insert 120 and / or the insert body 138 can be configured such that the body segments 142 can be inclined relative to each other or reoriented relative to each other in order to change from a first configuration to a second configuration or vice versa. For this purpose, the bucket insert 120 can comprise at least one connecting element 144 that connects the body segments 142. In the example shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the connecting element 144 can be composed of, for example, a sheet-like material. The connecting element 144 can be specifically deformable, specifically flexibly deformable. Thus, as an example, the sheet-like material can be composed of a material having spring characteristics such as a plastic material, or a metal sheet such as a spring steel sheet. The body segment 142 can be connected to the lower surface 146 of the connecting element 144. The connecting element 144 can include a plurality of holes 148 corresponding to the elongated receptacles 122 such that the elongated receptacles 122 can be loaded through the connecting element 144.

[0102] Figures 8A and 8B show three-dimensional views of embodiments of the bucket insert 120 of FIGS. 7A and 7B. FIG. 8B corresponds to FIG. 7B and shows a first configuration with an inclined orientation, and FIG. 8A corresponds to FIG. 7A and shows a second configuration with a parallel orientation. As can be seen, in this example, the elongated receptacles 122 can be arranged in a matrix pattern such as a rectangular matrix pattern. The body segments 142 can be configured such that a plurality of elongated receptacles are arranged in each of the body segments 142 in a parallel orientation. Thus, by way of example, and as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, each of the body segments 142 can comprise four elongated receptacles. By way of example, the direction of these four elongated receptacles can define the column direction or the y-direction. The direction perpendicular to this column direction can define the row direction or the x-direction. By way of example, in the exemplary embodiment shown, five body segments 142 are oriented in the row direction. When the bucket insert 120 changes its configuration, such as from the first configuration to the second configuration, the adjacent body segments 142 or the adjacent elongated receptacles 122 arranged in different body segments 142 can change their relative orientation or can be inclined with respect to each other, but the elongated receptacles 122 arranged in the same body segment remain parallel, as can be seen, for example, in FIG. 8B.

[0103] The insert body 138, specifically the body segment 142, can be composed of a rigid material such as a rigid plastic material, while, as outlined above, the connecting element 144 can be composed of a flexible material. As can be seen, for example, in FIG. 8B, the connecting element 144 can be connected to the body segment 142 by various connecting means, specifically by a shape-conforming connection.

[0104] Accordingly, the proposed solution can combine the segmented rigid structure of the body segment 142 and the flexible element of the connecting element 144. This combination can place and fix the elongated sample container 124 in its respective position, specifically orient the elongated sample container 124 in a parallel orientation for loading and unloading in an automated manner, and, during centrifugation, as shown in FIG. 6, finally align each longitudinal axis 126 with the centrifugal force vector 132. Among them, one of the configurations shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 8A and 8B or FIGS. 7A and 7B can be such that the connecting element 144 can be in a relaxed state, for example, a relaxed configuration where no force can be applied to the body segment 142, and other configurations can be, by way of example, a tension configuration where the connecting element 144 is under tension or biased.

[0105] As an example, the first configuration of FIG. 8B can be a relaxed configuration or a natural configuration, while in the second configuration of FIG. 8A, the connecting element 144 can be tensioned. Specifically, in the configuration shown in FIGS. 8B and 7B, also referred to as the first configuration, the connecting element 144 can be in a relaxed state and, for example, can have a flat, curved shape. The connecting element 144 can be in a tensioned state in the configuration shown in FIGS. 8A and 7A, also referred to as the second configuration. Thus, a holding force can be applied to maintain the second configuration in which the body segment 142 is not expanded and to prevent the body segment 142 from expanding and reorienting to the expanded orientation of FIG. 8B. As an example, in a non-expanded configuration in which the sample container 124 can be loaded into the receptacle 122, for example, for the body segment 142 to be oriented in the second configuration, the bucket insert 120 can be made to be inserted into the holding structure 150. By inserting the bucket insert 120 having the body segment 142 into the holding structure 150, a holding force can be specifically applied to the connecting element 144. Thus, by inserting the bucket insert 120 into the holding structure, tension can be applied to the connecting element 144. When the bucket insert 120 is removed from the holding structure 150, the tensioned connecting element 144 can no longer be held in a tensioned state and thus the bucket insert 120 can be changed from the second configuration as shown in FIG. 8A, for example, to the first configuration as shown in FIG. 8B.

[0106] Alternatively, the second configuration of FIG. 8A can be a relaxed or natural configuration, and the first configuration of FIG. 8B can be a tensioned configuration. Specifically, as an example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 8A, the connecting element 144 can be in a relaxed state, and in the configuration shown in FIG. 8B, the connecting element 144 can be in a tensioned state. Thus, in the second configuration, the connecting element 144 can have a relaxed planar flat shape. As an example, by inserting the bucket insert 120 into the bucket 118 having the spacer element 156, the bucket insert 120 can be brought into the first configuration, thereby applying a force to the connecting element 144. Thus, by inserting the bucket insert 120 into the bucket 118, tension can be applied to the connecting element 144. When the bucket insert 120 is removed from the bucket 118 having the spacer element 156, the tensioned connecting element 144 can no longer be held in a tensioned state, and thus the bucket insert 120 can be changed from the first configuration as shown in FIG. 8B, for example, to the second configuration as shown in FIG. 8A.

[0107] Thus, as an example, mechanical means such as a loading and / or unloading area where the bucket insert 120 is held in the second configuration can be used to load or unload the bucket insert 120. This is shown in the exemplary cross-sectional view of FIG. 9. Thus, FIG. 9 shows a holding structure 150 having a receptacle 152 into which the bucket insert 120 can be loaded to maintain the second configuration in which the body segments 142 are oriented in parallel. An introduction slope 154 can be present to allow insertion of the bucket insert 120. As an example, the holding structure 150 can include a rectangular pit into which the lower side of the insert body 138 of FIG. 8A can be inserted.

[0108] After loading, the bucket insert 120 can be inserted into the bucket 118 of the centrifuge 110. When inserted into the centrifuge 110, the bucket insert 120 should be precisely expanded to properly align the axis 126 of the elongated sample container 124 with the centrifugal force vector 132. For this purpose, and to maintain the inclined orientation, as shown in the context of FIGS. 10 to 13, spacer elements 156 can be used. Thus, FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the spacer element 156, FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the bucket 118 in which the spacer element 156 is disposed, FIG. 12 shows a bucket insert kit 158 comprising the bucket insert 120 and the spacer element 158, a cross-sectional view of the bucket insert kit 158 disposed within the bucket 118, and FIGS. 13A and 13B respectively show three-dimensional views of the underside of the bucket insert 120 in the second and first configurations. These figures will be described together below.

[0109] Thus, as can be seen from FIG. 10, the spacer element 156 can comprise a base 160 having a flat underside 162 and a curved upper side 164. At the curved upper side 164, a plurality of wedge-shaped protrusions 166 can project from the surface of the spacer element 160. Due to its flat underside 162, the spacer element 160 can be disposed against the bottom wall 168 of the bucket 118, as can be seen from FIG. 11. When a bucket insert 120 as described in the embodiments of FIGS. 8A and 8B is inserted into the bucket 118, the protrusions 166 project into the gap 170 between the body segments 142 of the insert body 138, thereby maintaining the inclined orientation shown in FIG. 8B as visible in FIG. 12.

[0110] To support the interaction between the protrusion 166 of the spacer element 156 and the insert body 138, the body segment 142 on the lower side 172 of the insert body 138 can include a plurality of spacer openings 174. This is shown in the perspective views of FIGS. 13A and 13B where the lower side 172 of the insert body 138 is visible. As can be seen, the spacer openings 174 are arranged such that when the wedge-shaped protrusion 166 is pushed into the spacer opening 174, for example, by inserting the bucket insert 120 into the bucket 118, the adjacent body segment 142 spreads, thereby reorienting the bucket insert 120 into an inclined orientation, for example, by reorienting the bucket insert 120 into a configuration where the elongated sample container 124 and / or the elongated receptacle 122 are oriented in an inclined orientation. This setup allows the bucket insert 120 to be precisely spread while being inserted into the bucket 118. Instead of the spacer openings, other structures for interacting with the spacer element 156 can alternatively or additionally be used.

Explanation of Signs

[0111] 110 Centrifuge 112 Bucket Kit 114 Rotor 116 Rotation Axis 118 Bucket 120 Bucket Insert 122 Elongated Receptacle 124 Elongated Sample Container 125 Radial Direction 126 Longitudinal Axis 130 Loading / Unloading Direction 132 Centrifugal Force Vector 134 Test Sample 136 Separation Interface 138 Insert Body 140 Cylindrical Hole 142 Body Segment 144 Connection Element 146 Lower Surface 148 Hole 150 Holding Structure 152 receptacle 154 introduction slope 156 spacer element 158 bucket insert kit 160 base 162 lower side 164 upper side 166 protrusion 168 bottom wall 170 gap 172 lower side 174 spacer opening

Claims

**Claim 1** A bucket insert (120) for use in a centrifuge (110), the bucket insert (120) comprising an insert body (138) and an elongate sample container (124), the insert body (138) comprising a plurality of elongate receptacles (122) for receiving the elongate sample container (124), the elongate receptacles (122) having a length equal to or greater than the length of the elongate sample container (124), the bucket insert (120) being configured to orient the elongate sample container (124) in an inclined orientation in which at least some of the elongate sample containers (124) are oriented non - parallel, the bucket insert (120) further being configured to orient the elongate sample container (124) in a parallel orientation in which the elongate sample containers (124) are parallel, the bucket insert (120) being at least partially deformable, specifically deformable in a flexible manner, and the bucket insert (120) being configured to re - orient the elongate sample container (124) from the inclined orientation to the parallel orientation and / or vice versa by deformation of the insert body (138). **Claim 2** The bucket insert (120) according to claim 1, wherein in the inclined orientation, the elongate sample containers (124) are axially oriented towards a common axis of rotation (116). **Claim 3** The bucket insert (120) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insert body (138) comprises a plurality of body segments (142), each body segment comprising at least one of the elongate receptacles (122). **Claim 4** The bucket insert (120) according to claim 3, wherein the body segments (142) are tiltable about at least one tilt axis such that at least two of the body segments (142) are tiltable relative to each other. **Claim 5** The bucket insert (120) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the insert body (138) comprises at least one connecting element (144) that connects the body segments (142). **Claim 6** The bucket insert (120) according to claim 5, wherein the connecting element (144) has a flat shape and the body segment (142) is attached to the surface (146) of the connecting element (144).

7. The bucket insert (120) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the connecting element (144) is deformable.

8. A bucket insert kit (158) for use in a centrifuge (110), comprising at least one bucket insert (120) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and further comprising at least one spacer element (156), wherein the spacer element (156) is configured to hold the bucket insert (120) in a configuration in which the elongated sample container (124) and / or the elongated receptacle (122) are oriented in the inclined orientation.

9. A bucket kit (112) for use in a centrifuge (110), comprising at least one bucket insert (120) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 referring to the bucket insert (120), and further comprising at least one bucket (118), wherein the bucket insert (120) is insertable into the bucket (118).

10. The bucket kit (112) according to claim 9, further comprising at least one spacer element (156), wherein the spacer element (156) is insertable into the bucket (118) or fixed to the bucket (118), and the spacer element (156) is configured to hold the bucket insert (120) in the bucket (118) in a configuration in which the elongated sample container (124) and / or the elongated receptacle (122) are oriented in the inclined orientation.

11. A centrifuge (110) comprising at least one bucket kit (112) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 referring to the bucket kit (112), and further comprising at least one rotor (114) for rotating the bucket kit (112) around at least one rotation axis (116).

12. A centrifugation method, a. Providing a plurality of elongated sample containers (124), b. providing at least one bucket insert (120) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 referring to the bucket insert (120); c. receiving the elongated sample container (124) in the elongated receptacle (122); d. orienting the bucket insert (120) in an inclined orientation, in which at least some of the elongated sample containers (124) are oriented non-parallel; e. receiving the bucket insert (120) in at least one bucket of a centrifuge (110); f. rotating the bucket around the axis of rotation (116) of the centrifuge (110), such that the elongated sample container (124) is axially oriented towards the axis of rotation (116) during rotation; A method comprising the above steps. **Claim 13** Use of a bucket insert (120) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 referring to the bucket insert (120) for automated sample processing.

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