Centrifuge insert and carrier for centrifuge insert with snap locking connection

Abstract

A centrifuge insert for sample receivers and to a carrier for a centrifuge insert for sample receivers with snap locking connection. The centrifuge insert according to the invention has substantial advantages over known centrifuge inserts. These advantages are not limited to the fact that the carrier is attachable and disengageable in a particularly easy and comfortable manner. It is also feasible to use various carriers for different sample receivers. Furthermore, the centrifuge insert according to the invention is configured particularly light and compact so that a loading of the rotor is significantly lower for identical centrifugation powers or so that significantly higher RCA values can be used.

Claims

1. A centrifuge insert for sample holders, the centrifuge insert comprising: a body including an interior with a base; and at least one support for pivotably attaching the centrifuge insert to a rotor, wherein a carrier is detachably arranged at the base, wherein the carrier includes a base surface for receiving one or more sample holders respectively including plural sample containers, wherein the base surface has at least a size of the sample holder in a top view, wherein the carrier is fixed at the body of the centrifuge insert through at least one clip connection that is detachable without tools, wherein an elastic snap hook is laterally arranged at the carrier, wherein the elastic snap hook engages a corresponding opening of the body and extends with a lateral outward tilt with reference to a plane that is vertical to the base surface when engaging the corresponding opening of the body, wherein the elastic snap hook is arranged at an interior side of the corresponding opening of the body wherein the interior side is oriented towards a center of the base surface and the elastic snap hook is under an outwardly directed preload towards the interior side of the corresponding opening of the body and directed away from the center of the base surface when the elastic snap hook is engaged with the corresponding opening of the body, wherein the elastic snap hook terminates within the corresponding opening and does not protrude beyond the body in the direction that is oriented away from the center of the base surface when the elastic snap hook is engaged with the corresponding opening of the body, wherein the corresponding opening extends in the plane that is vertical to the base surface, wherein the elastic snap hook snaps into the corresponding opening of the body in a direction that is within a horizontal plane of the base surface and oriented away from the center of the base surface, wherein the elastic snap hook is elastic in the direction that is within the horizontal plane of the base surface, and wherein the elastic snap hook is accessible in the horizontal plane of the base surface through the corresponding opening in a direction that is within the horizontal plane of the base surface and oriented towards the center of the base surface and pressable in the horizontal plane of the base to pivot out of the corresponding opening and towards the center of the base surface so that the snap hook is disengageable from the corresponding opening.

2. The centrifuge insert according to claim 1, wherein the detachable connection is arranged in swing out direction of the centrifuge insert.

3. The centrifuge insert according to claim 1, wherein the centrifuge insert is configured rounded at least in portions in a plane perpendicular to a swing out direction, and wherein the support is configured rounded at a base side.

4. The centrifuge insert according to claim 1, wherein at least one stiffening element is arranged at least at a side of the base that is oriented away from the carrier, and wherein the at least one stiffening element is configured as a rib or as a bar, which is configured rounded at least perpendicular to the swing out direction.

5. The centrifuge insert according to claim 4, wherein plural stiffening elements are provided, and wherein at least two stiffening elements are arranged perpendicular to one another with respect to the base.

6. The centrifuge insert according to claim 1, wherein at least the base surface of the carrier is configured at least partially elastic.

7. The centrifuge insert according to claim 1, wherein at least one hollow space extends below the base surface, wherein a support structure is arranged in the hollow space and supports the base surface relative to the base, and wherein the support structure extends from the base surface to the base and contacts the base in contact areas that are distributed over the base in a uniform pattern.

8. The centrifuge insert according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is configured for positional fixation of one or more micro titer plates, deep well plates, PCR plates or cell culture plates.

9. The centrifuge insert according to claim 1, wherein the sample holders are micro titer plates, deep well plates, PCR plates or cell culture plates.

10. The centrifuge insert according to claim 1, wherein the base surface is continuous and closed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features and further advantages of the present invention are now described in more detail based on an advantageous embodiment with reference to drawing figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the centrifuge insert according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the centrifuge insert according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in a view from below;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a cutout of the centrifuge insert according to FIG. 1 in a sectional view;

(5) FIGS. 4a, b illustrate the carrier according to the invention in a perspective view from below and in a sectional view; and

(6) FIGS. 5a, b illustrate the centrifuge insert according to FIG. 1 in interaction with a centrifuge and an inserted micro titer plate in an overall view and in a detail view.

(7) FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate the centrifuge insert 1 according to the invention in various schematic views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) It is apparent that the centrifuge insert includes a body 2 and a carrier 4 for the sample holder. Furthermore, two supports 6 for attaching at the rotor 59 of the centrifuge 50 are provided so that the centrifuge insert 1 is a centrifuge insert that can swing out. Furthermore it is apparent that the carrier 4 is arranged at a base 10 of the body 2 and includes a continuous closed base surface 12 that has at least the size of the sample holder in a top view and on which the sample holder 61 is arranged. Clip connections 14 are provided for a detachable connection of the carrier 4 on the base 10. For this purpose, the carrier 4 includes two snap hooks 16 that are arranged opposite to one another; which engage into the openings 18 which are arranged at retaining tabs 20 of the body 2. It is apparent that the retaining tabs 20 extend essentially vertical from the base 10 of the body 2. The snap hooks 16 are arranged at a lateral extension 16a of the carrier 4 and have a curvature 16b and a section 16c connecting therewith that is essentially vertically oriented, wherein the extension 16a and the section 16c have less material thickness than the lateral extension 16a. Thus, the snap hook gets a certain amount of flexibility so that it can be disengaged from the opening 18 by a user reaching through the opening 18. Optionally, the user can use an auxiliary device like a ball pen or similar instead of his finger when larger forces are required. Arresting the snap hook relative to the opening 18 is performed through the substantially horizontally extending hook element 16d.

(9) The centrifuge insert 1 is configured in light weight construction with relatively small material thickness and for example made from aluminum which is familiar to a person skilled in the art. In order to stiffen the body 2, bars 21, 22 perpendicular to the swing out direction A and bars 23 parallel to the swing out direction A are arranged at a bottom side of the centrifuge insert 1, wherein the bars intersect one another. The bars 22 thus include lateral roundings 24 so that the weight is reduced and the air flow resistance of the centrifuge insert 1 in swing out direction A is reduced. Additionally, this bar 22 can also be configured beveled. Also the support 6 with its bars 21 includes a rounding 26 at its base, which also reduces air flow resistance and additionally reduces the weight of the centrifuge insert 1. Thus, overall the centrifuge insert is configured very light weight and compact, wherein the bars 21, 22, 23 still provide sufficient stiffness also under high loads, so that the base 10 cannot bend. The bars 21 bear the main load and pass it to the support 6 and the bars 22 stiffen the base 10 on the outside so that it doesn't kink out under high loads.

(10) Thereby, the clip connections 14 are arranged opposite to one another in swing out direction A which provides a particularly secure and fixated attachment of the carrier 4 at the body 2. Additionally, clip connections can also be provided between the carrier 4 and the support 6 so that unilateral fixation is provided at the body 2, this however is not mandatory.

(11) The particular configuration of the carrier 4 according to the invention is apparent from FIGS. 3 through 4b.

(12) It is apparent that the carrier 4 includes a step 28 that is arranged between the base surface 12 and the lateral extension 16a, wherein the step extends around the carrier 4. This step 28 is used for fixating the micro titer plates 61 which include a corresponding circumferential edge which is inserted onto the step 28. Thus, the micro titer plates 61 are fixated directly at the carrier 4 and do not touch the clip connection 14 or the supports 6. In case no micro titer plates 61 shall be used, but other sample holders (not illustrated), particularly adapted carriers (not illustrated) can be used for this purpose.

(13) The snap hook 16 has a position that is laterally tilted outward relative to a vertical V. This yields a preload of the snap hook 16 relative to the ear 20 so that the hook element 16d is safely fixated in the cutout 18, but can be disengaged again when the preload is overcome. The snap hook 16 engages the corresponding recess 18 of the body 2 from an inside of the body 2.

(14) The base surface 12 of the carrier 4 is arranged elevated relative to the base 10 of the centrifuge insert 1, so that cavities 30 are provided which are arranged honeycomb shaped. Stiff supports 32 are arranged between the cavities 30. Thus, the base surface 12 achieves a high level of stiffness, wherein a defined force is introduced into the base 10. The base surface 12 is provided with a flexible support (not illustrated) in order to receive load peaks that occur during centrifugation. Additionally it can also be provided that the honeycomb structure is increased in size towards the center of the base surface 12, so that a density of the contact points of the carrier 4 at the base 10 is greater at an edge than in a center of the base 10 so that loads are increasingly introduced into the base 10 at the edge, so that a loading in the center of the base 10 which is configured relatively weaker is reduced. The support structure formed from the stiff supports 32 extends from the base surface 12 to the base 10 and contacts the base 10 in contact areas that are distributed over the base in a uniform pattern.

(15) FIG. 5a and the corresponding partially enlarged view in FIG. 5b illustrate an interaction of the centrifuge insert 1 according to the invention with a centrifuge 50 which includes a centrifuge housing 51 with a centrifuge cover 53 and ventilation slots 55 and an operating unit 57. It is apparent that the centrifuge insert 1 is arranged at a rotor 59 with its support 6 so it can swing out, wherein the rotor 59 is provided to receive four centrifuge inserts 1 and a sample holder 61 that is configured as a micro titer plate is arranged on each centrifuge insert 1.

(16) It is apparent from the preceding descriptions that the centrifuge insert 1 according to the invention provides significant advantages over the known centrifuge insert. These are not limited to the fact that the carrier 4 can be attached and detached again particularly easily and comfortably. It is also feasible to use different carriers 4 for different sample holders 61. Furthermore, the centrifuge insert 1 is configured particularly light and compact, so that the load of the rotor 59 is provided significantly smaller for identical centrifugation performance or so that significantly higher RCA values are achievable.