The present invention includes: a cell holding body that holds a measurement cell housing a measurement sample and a dispersion medium; a cover attached to the cell holding body so as to cover the measurement cell; a rotation section that rotates the cell holding body and applies centrifugal force to the measurement cell; a light source that is provided on one side of a rotation passage region of the measurement cell and irradiates the cell with light; a photodetector that is provided on another side of the rotation passage region of the measurement cell and detects light transmitted through the cell; and a particle diameter distribution arithmetic section that acquires a light intensity signal from the photodetector and calculates a particle diameter distribution. The rotation passage region of the cover is located inside an optical path of light passing between the light source and the photodetector.

A centrifugal field-flow fractionation device is provided with a controller for controlling introduction of a liquid sample by a sample introduction part and rotation of the rotor by a motor. The controller rotates the rotor at a first rotational speed when introducing the liquid sample into a flow path. The first rotational speed is faster than a second rotational speed. Therefore, when a liquid sample is introduced into the flow path, high centrifugal force can be applied to the liquid sample, which can suppress the variation of the particles in the liquid sample introduced to the flow path. The controller rotates the rotor at the second rotational speed slower than the first rotational speed with the liquid sample flow in the flow path stopped. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the constant application of high centrifugal force to the liquid sample, thereby suppressing the increase in the length of time required for analysis.

A method for processing particles contained in a liquid biological sample is presented. The method uses a rotatable vessel for processing particles contained in a liquid biological sample. The rotatable vessel has a longitudinal axis about which the vessel is rotatable, an upper portion comprising a top opening for receiving the liquid comprising the particles, a lower portion for holding the liquid while the rotatable vessel is resting, the lower portion comprising a bottom, and an intermediate portion located between the upper portion and the lower portion, the intermediate portion comprising a lateral collection chamber for holding the liquid while the rotatable vessel is rotating. The method employs dedicated acceleration and deceleration profiles for sedimentation and re-suspension of the particles of interest.

A method for collecting plasma includes determining the weight and hematocrit of a donor, and inserting a venous-access device into the donor. The method then withdraws blood from the donor through a draw line connected to a blood component separation device, and introduces anticoagulant into the withdrawn blood. The blood component separation device separates the blood into a plasma component and a second blood component, and the plasma component is collected from the blood component separation device and into a plasma collection container. The method may then calculate (1) a percentage of anticoagulant in the collected plasma component, and (2) a volume of pure plasma collected within the plasma collection container. The volume of pure plasma may be based, at least in part, on the calculated percentage of anticoagulant. The method may continue until a target volume of pure plasma is collected within the plasma collection container.

An apparatus for determining a vertical position of at least one interface between a first component and at least one second component, the components comprised as different layers in a sample container. The apparatus comprises a first sensing unit and a first light detector configured to generate a first sensing signal, a second sensing unit comprising a second light detector configured to generate a second sensing signal, a driving unit configured to move the sample container, a position sensing unit configured to output a position sensing signal indicative of a vertical position of the sample container, a vertical position determining unit configured to match the first and the second sensing signal such that first and the second sensing signal correspond to identical vertical positions, and to determine the vertical position of the at least one interface in response to the matched sensing signals and the position sensing signal.

An object of the present claimed invention is to improve cell cooling performance, keep a temperature of a dispersion medium constant, and improve measurement accuracy. The particle size distribution measuring device of this invention comprises a cell holding body 31 that holds a cell 2 housing a measurement sample and that is rotated by a motor 322, a case (C) having a housing space (S) for rotatably housing the cell holding body 31, and a cooling mechanism 8 for cooling the cell 2. The cooling mechanism 8 comprises a cooler 81, and a supply channel 82 that supplies a gas that has been cooled by the cooler 81 to the housing space (S).

The disclosure describes methods and devices with which to process and analyze difficult chemical, biological, environmental samples including but not limited to those containing bulk solids or particulates. The disclosure includes a cartridge which contains a separation tube as well as one or more valves and cavities for receiving raw sample materials and for directing and containing various fluids or samples. The cartridge may contain a separation fluid or density medium of defined density, and structures which direct particulates toward defined regions of the cartridge. Embodiments can include a rotational device for rotating the cartridge at defined rotational rates for defined time intervals. Embodiments allowing multiple assays from a single sample are also disclosed. In some embodiments, this device is used for direct processing and chemical analysis of food, soil, blood, stool, motor oil, semen, and other samples of interest.

The invention provides a device and method for the real-time detection of aeropathogens. The device includes an aerosampler having an air inlet and at least one collector tube, a microfluidic system which includes a container, piping, a micro pump for flowing a liquid and a viral detection chamber. The viral detection chamber has an electrode which may be equipped with functionalized bio sensors, a counter electrode, an electronic detection system connectable to the electrodes of the viral detection chamber, and an embedded electronic processing system for processing data from the electronic detection system.

A device for detecting particles in a lubricating oil of a machine, comprising a particle separator; at least one particle detector; a bypass conduit for the particle-concentrating oil, fluidly connected to an oil outlet of the particle separator, concentrating the particles; and wherein the at least one particle detector is operatively mounted on the bypass conduit so as to be able to detect particles in the bypass conduit.

A method of separating particles (P) having different sedimentation velocities in a fluid sample (30) through centrifugal sedimentation comprises enclosing the sample (30) and rotating the sample about a primary axis (12) outside the sample at a first rotational speed (Ω), and about a secondary axis (22) located in the center of the sample at a second rotational speed (ξ), for subjecting the sample to a varying centrifugal field until each particle (P) has settled at a position which depends on the sedimentation velocity of the particle.