Centrifuge Rotor Core Partial Channels Scalability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing centrifugation techniques, such as tube rotor and continuous flow centrifugation, face challenges in scalability and cost-effectiveness, particularly in transitioning from laboratory to production environments, as they are not rapid or efficient enough for large-scale separations.
Innovation Solution
The development of rotor cores with partial channels that extend less than the entire length of the rotor core, allowing for interchangeable cores with varying channel lengths to achieve linear scale separation, enabling the same centrifuge system to process different volumes while maintaining consistent separation characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If tube rotor centrifugation is used, then separation of small volumes is achieved, but scalability to production environment is limited and cost effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor core is divided into multiple separate channels, each capable of independent operation. This segmentation allows the system to handle different volume capacities by selectively using or combining channels, enabling scalable operation from small laboratory volumes to large production volumes while maintaining efficient separation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor core design with multiple interchangeable cores allows a single centrifuge system to perform multiple functions across different scales. By swapping rotor cores with varying channel configurations, the same equipment can process different volume capacities, achieving both laboratory-scale and production-scale separations with consistent cost-effectiveness and speed.
2Productivity
If continuous flow centrifugation with full-length channels is used, then processing capacity is increased, but retention time of density gradient decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the rotor core have different channel lengths optimized for their specific functions. The partial channels extend only through portions of the rotor core rather than the entire length, creating local variations in flow path length. This allows regions with shorter channels to maintain higher processing capacity while preserving sufficient retention time in regions where the gradient must be maintained, achieving both productivity and gradient stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables linear scalability of centrifugation processes, maintaining separation stability and consistency across different scales, allowing for efficient and cost-effective separation of particles in both small and large volumes, and extends the retention time of the density gradient, ensuring accurate analyte collection and impurity resolution.
Implementation Method 1
continuous flow centrifugation, which employs a rotor and rotor core that rotates or spins as the desired analyte or analytes flow continually over a density gradient maintained within the rotor assembly
Implementation Method 2
flow continually over a density gradient maintained within the rotor assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A rotor core is provided that includes a rotor length defined along an axis of rotation and a plurality of separation channels. The plurality of separation channels having a channel length extending along the axis of rotation a distance that is less than the rotor length. A rotor assembly is also provided that includes such a rotor core removably disposed in an outer housing.