A method and device for performing direct quantitative real time PCR in a crude sample, wherein said sample is subjected to a centrifugal force sufficient to separate components of the sample into a supernatant and a pellet, and wherein said at least one light source and said at least one detector are positioned so that the excitation light impinges on the sample in a position above said pellet, and said detector detects light emitted from a position above said pellet.

The invention, provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.

The invention, provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.

A swinging bucket centrifuge (1) comprises a rotor (10) with at least one mounting end and at least one bucket (20) mounted to the at least one mounting end of the rotor (10). Therein, the at least one bucket (20) is mounted to the at least one mounting end of the rotor (10) by at least one clevis pin (30) held in a clevis (13) so that the bucket (20) is pivotable about the clevis pin (30).

A swinging bucket centrifuge (1) comprises a rotor (10) with at least one mounting end and at least one bucket (20) mounted to the at least one mounting end of the rotor (10). Therein, the at least one bucket (20) is mounted to the at least one mounting end of the rotor (10) by at least one clevis pin (30) held in a clevis (13) so that the bucket (20) is pivotable about the clevis pin (30).

A centrifuge comprising a rotor having a rotational axis, at least one receptacle for a blood sample container, controller means for controlling the rotational speed of the rotor, at least one optical transmitter for transmitting an optical signal, at least one optical receiver for registering the amplitude of the optical signal, where the optical signal is configured to pass through the blood sample container where the optical receiver detects the amplitude of the optical signal when it is directed through the blood sample container, where the amplitude of the optical signal reflects the translucency of the blood sample, where the controller means is configured to discontinue the rotational movement of the rotor when the amplitude of the optical signal over time has fulfilled a predefined pattern indicating that at least the fibrin compression phase of the blood sample is started.

A centrifuge comprising a rotor having a rotational axis, at least one receptacle for a blood sample container, controller means for controlling the rotational speed of the rotor, at least one optical transmitter for transmitting an optical signal, at least one optical receiver for registering the amplitude of the optical signal, where the optical signal is configured to pass through the blood sample container where the optical receiver detects the amplitude of the optical signal when it is directed through the blood sample container, where the amplitude of the optical signal reflects the translucency of the blood sample, where the controller means is configured to discontinue the rotational movement of the rotor when the amplitude of the optical signal over time has fulfilled a predefined pattern indicating that at least the fibrin compression phase of the blood sample is started.

The invention relates to a centrifuge (10) with a housing (12), in which a rotor (32) for receiving a sample that is to be centrifuged is arranged. The rotor (32) is driven by the drive shaft (22) during operation of the centrifuge (10) and rotates about a rotation axis (30). The rotor (32) has a first, rotor-side transceiver unit, which is excited by an electric field, thus inducing voltage in the first transceiver unit (48). The first transceiver unit (48) is associated with a second, housing-side transceiver unit (62), which is connected to a voltage source. The two transceiver units (48, 62) are connected to a transceiver antenna (52, 64) each, and the transceiver units (48, 62) and the transceiver antennas (62, 64) are in each case arranged on an annular support (46, 60) concentrically with the rotation axis (30).

The invention relates to a centrifuge (10) with a housing (12), in which a rotor (32) for receiving a sample that is to be centrifuged is arranged. The rotor (32) is driven by the drive shaft (22) during operation of the centrifuge (10) and rotates about a rotation axis (30). The rotor (32) has a first, rotor-side transceiver unit, which is excited by an electric field, thus inducing voltage in the first transceiver unit (48). The first transceiver unit (48) is associated with a second, housing-side transceiver unit (62), which is connected to a voltage source. The two transceiver units (48, 62) are connected to a transceiver antenna (52, 64) each, and the transceiver units (48, 62) and the transceiver antennas (62, 64) are in each case arranged on an annular support (46, 60) concentrically with the rotation axis (30).

A centrifuge includes light sources to provide different illumination states depending on the status of the centrifuge to communicate the status of the centrifuge. The light sources, when activated, project light in the centrifuge chamber and through the centrifuge lid. The light sources are preferably light-emitting diodes. The illumination state is visible up to at least a distance from the centrifuge at which no other visual information on the centrifuge is available. The illumination states allow staff to visually identify the status of a centrifuge from a distance and may reduce turnaround times by enabling staff to identify a completed centrifuge cycle more quickly, reduce staff time wasted checking on the status of a centrifuge, and reduce turnaround time wasted as a result of specimens sitting in a centrifuge after the centrifuge cycle has completed. Methods of communicating the status of a centrifuge are also disclosed.