A method for separating a suspension includes dispensing a liquid suspension into a compartment of a first bag assembly. The first bag assembly is then rotated using a centrifuge so as to at least partially separate the suspension, the first bag assembly being disposed within a first insert that is housed within a first cavity of a rotor of the centrifuge, the first insert having an annular lip portion that freely projects out of the first cavity of the rotor by a distance of at least 1 cm.

The invention relates to a centrifuge (10) for automatic loading, having a drive shaft (44), which is driven in a rotatable manner about a rotor axis (42), having a rotor (46), which is releasably coupled for conjoint rotation to the drive shaft (44) and has mounts for containers for media to be centrifuged, having a housing (12) with lateral outer walls (14, 16, 18, 20) delimiting the centrifuge (10) and with a ceiling (22), wherein at least one outer wall (14) has a sideways directed side opening (28) for loading the rotor (46) as required, and having a safety vessel (50) with at least one partially enclosing protective wall (34), which is adapted at least to the shape of the adjacent outer wall (14) with side opening (28) such that said protective wall closes off the side opening (28).

According to an embodiment, a centrifugal separation apparatus includes, a centrifugal separator comprising a retainer and a rotating member for rotation of the retainer, the retainer adapted to retain a workpiece, an imaging unit configured to acquire a detection image of an installation position at which the retainer is placed, a transfer mechanism configured to move the workpiece into the centrifugal separator, and a sensor processing unit configured to detect, based on the detection image acquired after an installation process of placing the workpiece into the retainer and before a rotation process of rotating the rotating member, a state of the workpiece subjected to the installation process.

A rotor assembly includes a rotor plate to rotate around a first axis, a bucket attached to the rotor plate and to rotate around a second axis, and a stop plate to rotate around the first axis between an open position and a closed position. When in the closed position, the stop plate engages the bucket to fix an angular position of the bucket relative to a plane of rotation of the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly further includes a housing for a sensor array component, the housing disposed in the bucket and including a solution inlet, a solution outlet, a transfer basin, a solution retainer disposed between the solution outlet and the transfer basin, and a collection reservoir in fluid communication with the transfer basin. The solution inlet and the solution outlet to engage ports of a flow cell of a sensor array.

The invention relates to an arrangement for preparing a plurality of samples for an analytical method, comprising a carousel with a solid housing and moveable receiving parts for the sample containers; a control for controlling the receiving parts in the carousel; and a sample receiving device for providing the sample for the analytical method. Said arrangement is characterized in that one or more stations for preparing samples are provided on the carousel, the receiving parts for the sample containers of the carousel can be positioned on said stations. Said arrangement also comprises a centrifuge with pairs of opposite lying receiving parts provided for the sample containers, and said receiving parts are arranged such that they can move on the centrifuge for the sample holder such that a transfer of a sample holder between a receiving part in the carousel and a receiving part in the centrifuge can be carried out. The control takes place by the same control which is also provided for controlling the carousel.

A rotor assembly includes a rotor plate to rotate around a first axis, a bucket attached to the rotor plate and to rotate around a second axis, and a stop plate to rotate around the first axis between an open position and a closed position. When in the closed position, the stop plate engages the bucket to fix an angular position of the bucket relative to a plane of rotation of the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly further includes a housing for a sensor array component, the housing disposed in the bucket and including a solution inlet, a solution outlet, a transfer basin, a solution retainer disposed between the solution outlet and the transfer basin, and a collection reservoir in fluid communication with the transfer basin. The solution inlet and the solution outlet to engage ports of a flow cell of a sensor array.

A separation container for extracting a portion of a sample for use or testing and method for preparing samples for downstream use or testing are provided. The separation container may include a body defining an internal chamber. The body may define an opening, and the body may be configured to receive the sample within the internal chamber. The separation container may further include a seal disposed across the opening, such that the seal may be configured to seal the opening of the body, and a plunger movably disposed at least partially inside the internal chamber. The plunger may be configured to be actuated to open the seal and express the portion of the sample.

A method for separating a biological suspension includes dispensing a liquid suspension comprised of cells or microorganisms from a bioreactor or fermenter into a sterile compartment of a first bag assembly, the first bag assembly including a collapsible bag having of one or more sheets of flexible film. The compartment of the first bag assembly is sealed closed. The first bag assembly, either with or without a manifold fluid coupled therewith, is then rotated, such as by using a centrifuge, so that the liquid suspension separates within the compartment into a pellet comprised of the cells or microorganisms and a liquid supernatant.

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).

The invention provides a sequential centrifuge for centrifuging discrete samples. Methods of more efficiently centrifuging discrete samples sequentially are also provided. The apparatus and methods for sequentially centrifuging discrete samples provide improved operating efficiencies over conventional batch centrifuges. Such advantages include reducing dwell time, increasing system throughput, reducing sample processing system footprint, and improving precision of the analytical process. The sequential centrifuge further provides the capability of handling critical samples without compromising the operating efficiencies achieved in centrifuging discrete samples in a sequential manner.