A centrifuge is configured to provide integrated separation of blood components such that the separated products remain spinning within the centrifuge during the separation process. The centrifuge includes a disposable configured to separate the blood components such that the separated products remain within the disposable while the centrifuge is spinning; an integrated sensor system capable of determining a composition of the separated products within the disposable while the centrifuge is spinning; a chamber having a non-circular section that is configured to be deliberately un-balanced when the centrifuge chamber is empty; and the disposable includes valves that rotate with the centrifuge chamber.

A centrifuge is configured to provide integrated separation of blood components such that the separated products remain spinning within the centrifuge during the separation process. The centrifuge includes a disposable configured to separate the blood components such that the separated products remain within the disposable while the centrifuge is spinning; an integrated sensor system capable of determining a composition of the separated products within the disposable while the centrifuge is spinning; a chamber having a non-circular section that is configured to be deliberately un-balanced when the centrifuge chamber is empty; and the disposable includes valves that rotate with the centrifuge chamber.

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.

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.

A rotor for use in a centrifuge, and a method for balancing the rotor. The rotor includes a plurality of apertures arranged circumferentially around the rotor's axis of rotation, each configured to selectively receive a weight. A critical speed is determined for the rotor, and an imbalance determined for the rotor at a test speed below the critical speed. A trial weight is installed in a reference aperture, and another imbalance determined at the test speed. The trial weight is repeatedly moved to another aperture angularly displaced from the previous aperture, and the imbalance measured at the test speed until a predetermined number of imbalance measurements have been obtained. A target mass and location for balancing the rotor is determined from the imbalance measurements, and balancing weights installed in apertures based on the target mass and location. The balancing process may be repeated for multiple critical frequencies.

A rotor for use in a centrifuge, and a method for balancing the rotor. The rotor includes a plurality of apertures arranged circumferentially around the rotor's axis of rotation, each configured to selectively receive a weight. A critical speed is determined for the rotor, and an imbalance determined for the rotor at a test speed below the critical speed. A trial weight is installed in a reference aperture, and another imbalance determined at the test speed. The trial weight is repeatedly moved to another aperture angularly displaced from the previous aperture, and the imbalance measured at the test speed until a predetermined number of imbalance measurements have been obtained. A target mass and location for balancing the rotor is determined from the imbalance measurements, and balancing weights installed in apertures based on the target mass and location. The balancing process may be repeated for multiple critical frequencies.

The invention relates to a centrifuge (10), comprising a rotor (12), a drive shaft (14), on which the rotor (12) is supported, a motor (18), which drives the rotor (12) by means of the drive shaft (14), a supporting unit (30) having damping elements (36), each of which comprises a spring axis (36a), which supporting unit supports a rotational unit (19), which comprises the motor (18) together with the drive shaft (14) and the rotor (12), a sensor unit (82, 84) for sensing the rotational speed, a distance sensor (80) for determining imbalances of the rotational unit (19), which rotational unit rotates about an axis of rotation (14a), an acceleration sensor (88) for determining imbalances of the rotational unit (19), and a control and evaluation unit (90), which evaluates the data of the sensors (80, 82, 88), wherein the distance sensor (80) senses distance changes in an operative axis (36b). The invention is characterized in that the operative axis (36b) is oriented in relation to the axis of rotation (14a) in such a way that an angle between the operative axis (36b) and the axis of rotation (14a) of less than 90° including 0° results, at least in a projection onto a plane parallel to the operative axis (36b) and through the axis of rotation (14a).

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 support structure for a rotation driving system having a ball balancer includes: a motor having a rotational shaft coupled to a rotational shaft of a rotor; the ball balancer provided on the rotor to reduce oscillating motion of the rotor; and a support part for coupling the motor to a housing, wherein the motor is coupled to the housing via an elastic member on a line in one direction (x-axis) perpendicular to an axial direction (z-axis) of the rotational shaft of the motor, and the motor is allowed to swing about the x-axis due to elastic deformation of the elastic member.

A support structure for a rotation driving system having a ball balancer includes: a motor having a rotational shaft coupled to a rotational shaft of a rotor; the ball balancer provided on the rotor to reduce oscillating motion of the rotor; and a support part for coupling the motor to a housing, wherein the motor is coupled to the housing via an elastic member on a line in one direction (x-axis) perpendicular to an axial direction (z-axis) of the rotational shaft of the motor, and the motor is allowed to swing about the x-axis due to elastic deformation of the elastic member.