A centrifuge (70) is provided with a cup (80) configured to house a blood bag system (10a) and centrifugally separates blood in the blood bag system (10a) by rotating the cup (80). The cup (80) has a segment holding section (86) capable of holding a plurality of segment tubes (44a), aligned in a parallel state by being folded at a sealing portion (44b) of an outlet-side tube (44), along a direction in which a centrifugal force acts during centrifugal processing or a direction inclined with respect to the direction in which the centrifugal force acts.

A modular centrifuge device for separating fluid samples, including a housing having a modular power assembly mechanism for rotating samples with manual or electric power. A manual centrifuge device, including a housing having a power assembly mechanism for rotating samples with manual power, and a speed indicator for indicating if a predetermined speed has been reached and a time indicator for indicating if a predetermined or calculated time has been reached for rotating said samples operatively connected to the device. A method of centrifuging samples, by selecting a manual power mode or electric power mode on a centrifuge, rotating samples at a predetermined speed for a predetermined or calculated time, alerting a user that the predetermined speed and predetermined or calculated time have been achieved, and obtaining separated samples.

A gripper unit for handling a vessel for receiving biological material is proposed, inter alia. The vessel has a lid which can assume an open position and a closed position. The gripper unit comprises a gripper for gripping and releasing the vessel, and a lid holder, for holding a lid in a defined position in relation to the vessel. The defined position is an open position of the lid.

A centrifugal separation apparatus includes a plurality of centrifugal separators each comprising a rotator which supports a plurality of sample containers containing a sample therein, a base in which the centrifugal separators are arranged in columns and stages and a route is defined therein, the centrifugal separators being movable inside the base, and a movement mechanism that sequentially move the centrifugal separators along the route in the base.

The invention relates to a dual centrifuge (10) which has the following: a driveshaft (16), a rotor (20), which is mounted on the driveshaft (16) and which can be removed axially in a removal direction (E), for a dual centrifuge, having at least one rotational unit (30); an opening (18) in the rotor (20), wherein an end region (16a) of the driveshaft (16) at least engages into said opening; and an additional drive mechanism (32) for the rotational unit or the rotational units (30). The dual centrifuge additionally has a design for operating various additional types of rotors; however, only one rotor (20, 40, 50) can be arranged on the driveshaft (16) at all times. The various rotor types (40, 50) are also adapted to the additional drive mechanism (32) for the rotational units (30) such that the function is not adversely affected. The invention is characterized by a design for operating at least one angular head rotor (40) and a swing-out rotor (50). For this purpose, the driveshaft (16) and the various rotor types (40, 50) are adapted to each other. The bearing (16), the driveshaft (16), and the various rotor types (40, 50) are adapted to one another such that each non-dual rotor (40, 50) has a geometry that is measured such that when the rotor (40, 50) is mounted, a drive means (32a) of the additional drive mechanism (32) for the rotational units (30) is arranged so as to not contact the mounted rotor (40, 50).

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

A centrifuge having a rotor attachment for preparing a small-format blood collection tube after blood collection for handling and analysis. The rotor attachment may include two or more small-container holding orifices designed to hold each container in a plane that is normal (or near-normal) to an axis of rotation during centrifuging. That is, the angle at which each small-format container is held during a centrifugation procedure is low (e.g., zero or near-zero). Having a rotor attachment that imparts a small angle or near-zero angle during centrifugation results is solutions being separated in layers that are aligned normal to a vertical axis of the small-format container. This separation into layers in the small-format container is more robust during handling and transport as a mid-level gel exhibits strong cohesion to the inner walls of the small-format containers, thereby maintaining separation between red blood cells as collected and a resident serum.

A coulter assembly for collecting soil samples from an agricultural field in one embodiment comprises an annular collection blade configured for penetrating soil to capture a sample, an annular cam ring configured for stationary mounting to a frame of an agricultural vehicle and comprising a cam track, a blade hub coupled to the blade for rotatably supporting the annular collection blade from the annular cam ring, and a movable sample collector mounted to the annular collection blade. The moveable sample collector is configured and operable for extracting a soil sample as the annular collection blade is rotated through the soil. The moveable sample collector in one embodiment comprises a piston mechanism including a cylinder and rod movably disposed therein which actuated by the annular cam ring to alternatingly open and close a collection end of the cylinder as the annular collection blade rotates through the soil.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.