Centrifuge counterbalances having an adjustable center of gravity are provided. Aspects of the centrifuge counterbalances include an elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end, a weight configured to be reversibly immobilized at a position along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body and a base configured to operably couple the centrifuge counterbalance to a centrifuge. Also provided are methods for balancing a centrifuge rotor when separating components of a liquid sample by centrifugation as well as systems suitable for practicing the subject methods.

A rotor for a centrifuge includes a main body to rotate about a rotating axis extending in a vertical direction, a first chamber coupled to the main body to be rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to a direction parallel to the vertical direction, and having a first space to receive a material, and a second chamber coupled to the main body to be rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis and having a second space to receive a material. The first space and the second space have mutually different sizes, and the center of mass of the rotor is positioned on the rotating axis.

In one nonlimiting example, an automated system is provided for separating one or more components in a biological fluid, wherein the system comprises: (a) a centrifuge comprising one or more bucket configured to receive a container to effect said separating of one or more components in a fluid sample; and (b) the container, wherein the container includes one or more shaped feature that is complementary to a shaped feature of the bucket.

A pretreatment apparatus (100) for performing pretreatment of a sample is provided with a holder (610) for holding a container (10) containing a sample, a centrifugal separation device (600) for rotating the container (10) held by the holder (610) to perform a centrifugal separation, a temperature adjustment device (420) for adjusting the temperature of the sample in the container (10) in the holder (610), an input device (320) for receiving from a user a designated temperature that is adjusted by the temperature adjustment device (420), a controller (300) for controlling the temperature adjustment device (420) in accordance with the designated temperature received via the input device (320).

An automatic processing device for liquid samples includes a sample region, a control module, an image identification device and a centrifuge. The sample region is configured to accommodate a plurality of centrifuge tubes. The control module includes a mechanical module. The mechanical module is configured to unscrew or tighten upper caps of the centrifuge tubes, and is configured to draw liquid from the centrifuge tubes or discharge liquid to the centrifuge tubes. The image identification device is coupled to the control module. The centrifuge is coupled to the control module. The centrifuge is configured to accommodate the centrifuge tubes and perform centrifugal treatment.

Systems, methods and devices are provided for the automated centrifugal processing of samples. In some embodiments, an integrated fluidic processing cartridge is provided, in which a centrifugation chamber is fluidically interfaced, through a lateral surface thereof, with a microfluidic device, and wherein the integrated fluidic processing cartridge is configured to be inserted into a centrifuge for centrifugation. A cartridge interfacing assembly may be employed to interface with the integrated fluidic processing cartridge for performing various fluidic processing steps, such as controlling the flow of fluids into and out of the centrifugation chamber, and controlling the flow of fluids into the microfluidic device, and optionally for the further fluidic processing of fluids extracted to the micro-fluidic device. The integrated fluidic processing cartridge may include a supernatant chamber the extraction of a supernatant thereto, and a diluent chamber for diluting a suspension collected in the centrifugation chamber.

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 subsystems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

The present invention provides systems, devices, and methods for point-of-care and/or distributed testing services. The methods and devices of the invention are directed toward automatic detection of analytes in a bodily fluid. The components of the device can be modified to allow for more flexible and robust use with the disclosed methods for a variety of medical, laboratory, and other applications. The systems, devices, and methods of the present invention can allow for effective use of samples by improved sample preparation and analysis.

A pretreatment apparatus (100) for performing pretreatment of a sample is provided with a holder (610) for holding a container (10) containing a sample, a centrifugal separation device (600) for rotating the container (10) held by the holder (610) to perform a centrifugal separation, a temperature adjustment device (420) for adjusting the temperature of the sample in the container (10) in the holder (610), an input device (320) for receiving from a user a designated temperature that is adjusted by the temperature adjustment device (420), a controller (300) for controlling the temperature adjustment device (420) in accordance with the designated temperature received via the input device (320).

A centrifuge according to one or more embodiments may include: a rotor comprising a holder that holds a reaction container, the rotor swingably supporting the holder; a rotating shaft connected to the rotor; a drive that rotates the rotating shaft; and a restriction member configured to come into contact with the holder to restrict a tilt angle of the reaction container when the drive is rotating the rotating shaft.