Embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for ensuring that mechanisms that are used to position components of an apheresis machine are not broken as a result of rotation of a centrifuge. In embodiments, a safety mechanism is provided that contacts components of the centrifuge and pushes them into a position to ensure that they do not break when the centrifuge is operated at high rpm.

Embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for ensuring that mechanisms that are used to position components of an apheresis machine are not broken as a result of rotation of a centrifuge. In embodiments, a safety mechanism is provided that contacts components of the centrifuge and pushes them into a position to ensure that they do not break when the centrifuge is operated at high rpm.

A centrifugal field-flow fractionation device includes: a rotor having a rotation axis, the rotor being provided to be rotatable about the rotation axis; a cover covering the rotor; a protective member arranged inside the cover to over the rotor about the rotation axis; a shock-absorbing member arranged between the protective member and the cover; and a fixing part provided in a breakable manner to fix the protective member to the cover. The rotor is arranged such that the rotation axis orients in a horizontal direction. In a case where a part of the rotor disintegrates and is brought into contact with the protective member during the rotation of the rotor, the fixing part breaks to cause the protective member and the shock-absorbing member to move with the rotor while receiving the impact of the rotor to buffer the kinetic energy of the rotor.

A centrifugal field-flow fractionation device includes: a rotor having a rotation axis, the rotor being provided to be rotatable about the rotation axis; a cover covering the rotor; a protective member arranged inside the cover to over the rotor about the rotation axis; a shock-absorbing member arranged between the protective member and the cover; and a fixing part provided in a breakable manner to fix the protective member to the cover. The rotor is arranged such that the rotation axis orients in a horizontal direction. In a case where a part of the rotor disintegrates and is brought into contact with the protective member during the rotation of the rotor, the fixing part breaks to cause the protective member and the shock-absorbing member to move with the rotor while receiving the impact of the rotor to buffer the kinetic energy of the rotor.

A portable motorized centrifugal system is optimized for low cost manufacture and operation. Separation of inhomogeneous fluid biological samples, such as liquid plasma from whole blood, is a common step in medical diagnostic tests. This system may enable remote separation where access to plug-in power sources are limited. The system may facilitate at-home testing. Due to biohazard concerns, the entire centrifugal apparatus portable and disposable, or the system includes one or more disposable elements within the interior of the centrifuge. Alternatively, the system may contain a module of higher value components that are re-usable after disinfection. Devices and methods for implementing centrifugal separation may include disk-shaped fluidic cartridges and tubes with reduced drag cross-section.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a centrifugal smearing device and a sealed rotating container in which liquid components do not leak to an outside of the sealed rotating container. To solve this problem, in a centrifugal smearing device (30) including a sealed rotating container (34) that houses a chamber (10) with a slide glass removably attached for holding the liquid sample to smear cells in the liquid sample with a centrifugal force onto the slide glass, and a base (31) housing the sealed rotating container (34) and including rotational driving means (32) for rotating the sealed rotating container (34), the sealed rotating container (34) includes a main body (40) capable of housing the chamber (10) and a lid (42) for closing an upper surface opening portion of the main body (40), and has a storage section (46) for storing liquid scattered from the chamber (10) during being centrifuged, formed on an inside face of the main body (40).

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a centrifugal smearing device and a sealed rotating container in which liquid components do not leak to an outside of the sealed rotating container. To solve this problem, in a centrifugal smearing device (30) including a sealed rotating container (34) that houses a chamber (10) with a slide glass removably attached for holding the liquid sample to smear cells in the liquid sample with a centrifugal force onto the slide glass, and a base (31) housing the sealed rotating container (34) and including rotational driving means (32) for rotating the sealed rotating container (34), the sealed rotating container (34) includes a main body (40) capable of housing the chamber (10) and a lid (42) for closing an upper surface opening portion of the main body (40), and has a storage section (46) for storing liquid scattered from the chamber (10) during being centrifuged, formed on an inside face of the main body (40).

A method of operating an item of laboratory equipment cooled by means of a flammable refrigerant. The method includes ventilating an interior of the cooled laboratory equipment with the aid of a fan, wherein control of the fan is carried out over a first time period by a first control device; checking, with the aid of a first predefined criterion, whether the ventilation was successful; transferring control of the fan to a second control device if ventilation was successful over the first time period; checking, with the aid of a second predefined criterion, whether the fan is being successfully controlled by the second control device; activating a power supply for at least one further device, which is to be electrically powered, of the cooled laboratory equipment if the fan is being successfully controlled by the second control device. A corresponding item of laboratory equipment is also disclosed.

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.

The invention relates to a centrifuge (10), having a drive shaft (12), a rotor (40) mounted on the drive shaft (12) so as to be detachable axially in a removal direction (66), a quick-action closure (54) integrated in the rotor (40) and the drive shaft (12), which closure can be used to secure the rotor (40) relative to the drive shaft (12) in a removal direction (66), an abutment (50, 52) in the drive shaft (12) which is engaged by a locking member (46) of the rotor (40), at least one blocking element (76), which—when activated—fixes the rotor (40) relative to the drive shaft (12) and which acts between the locking member (46) of the rotor (40) and the abutment (50, 52) of the drive shaft (12), which quick-action closure (54) includes a force-transmitting element (58, 72). The invention is characterized in that said blocking element (76) is actively connected to an actuating element (100, 100a) via the force-transmitting element (58, 72), that unlocking the quick-action closure (54) is effected by moving the actuating element (100, 100a), the force-transmitting element (58, 72) and the blocking element (76) relative to the locking member (46) in a direction in parallel to the drive shaft (12), and that during unlocking, the actuating element (100, 100a) is moved toward the drive shaft (12), and during locking, the force-transmitting element (58, 72) and the blocking element (76) on the one side and the locking member (46) on the other side are relatively moved toward each other.