Adapter for a sample container of a centrifuge, adapter group and centrifuging system

Abstract

Adapter for inserting a sample container in a centrifuge bucket, comprising a bucket-like base body, which delimits a cavity for accommodating the sample container and has a bottom region and an adjoining side wall region, the top edge of which defines an opening edge of the cavity, and an insertion opening, through which the sample container can be inserted in the cavity and which is delimited by the opening edge, at least one separation joint being present in the side wall region of the base body, which separation joint extends from the opening edge in the direction towards the bottom region and which allows for expanding the side wall region from a starting position (P1) to an expanded position (P2) by applying a force in such a way that the opening edge has a larger circumference as compared to the starting position (P1). The side wall area has two edge regions separated from each other by the separation joint, which at least in the starting position (P1) lie one above the other radially and overlap in the circumferential direction (U), thus forming an overlap region.

Claims

1. An adapter for inserting a sample container in a centrifuge bucket, the adapter comprising: a bucket-like base body which delimits a cavity for accommodating said sample container and has a bottom region and an adjoining side wall region, a top edge of which defines an opening edge of said cavity, and an insertion opening, through which said sample container can be inserted in said cavity and which is delimited by said opening edge, at least one separation joint in said side wall region of said base body, which separation joint extends from said opening edge in the direction towards said bottom region and allows for expanding said side wall region from a starting position (P1) to an expanded position (P2) by applying a force in such a way that said opening edge has a larger circumference as compared to the starting position (P1), wherein said side wall region has two edge regions separated from each other by said separation joint, which at least in the starting position (P1) lie one behind the other in a radial direction and overlap in a circumferential direction (U), thus forming an overlap region.

2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein said base body is implemented in such a way that said side wall region automatically recoils to the starting position (P1) upon removal of said force.

3. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein one of said edge regions is implemented as a fork-shaped region and said other edge region engages in said fork-shaped area at least in the starting position (P1).

4. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein edges of said edge regions have a thickness in cross-section that is greater than a thickness in cross-section of said wall region of said base body.

5. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein in the starting position (P1) a width (B) of said overlap region in the circumferential direction (U) increases over the length of said separation joint towards said opening edge.

6. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein said base body is made of a flexible plastic material selected from one of an elastomeric plastic material, a polyolefin, a polyamide, or a plastic material suitable for injection molding.

7. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein said opening edge and/or a cross-section of said base body has a kettle-like profile.

8. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein said bottom region comprises a beveled region which is inclined upward starting from a straight bottom region in the direction of said opening edge.

9. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein said separation joint extends from said opening edge down into said bottom region.

10. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter has two separation joints which are arranged in opposite side wall sections, each of said side wall sections being flat.

11. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein said base body consists of multiple base body components which are separated from each other by said separation joint.

12. The adapter according to claim 11, wherein said base body components are connected with each other in said bottom region.

13. An adapter group, comprising at least two adapters according to claim 1 which are connected with each other by a connecting element.

14. A centrifuging system, comprising: a centrifuge bucket; an adapter according to claim 1 accommodated in said centrifuge bucket; and a sample container.

15. The adapter according to claim 8, wherein said separation joint extends from said opening edge down into said beveled region of said bottom region.

16. The adapter according to claim 12, wherein said base body components are connected with each other in a beveled region of said bottom region.

17. The adapter group according to claim 13, wherein said connecting element comprises a handle.

18. A centrifuge system, comprising: a centrifuge bucket; an adapter group according to claim 13 and connected in said centrifuge bucket; and a sample container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments. However, the present invention is not restricted to these exemplary embodiments, and other combinations and applications are therefore possible. In the following diagrammatic drawings, in which like parts are identified by like reference numerals:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of an adapter according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the adapter from FIG. 1 during the loading process;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the loaded adapter from FIG. 2 in expanded position and an enlarged detail view of the overlap region;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of an adapter group with the adapter from FIG. 2 during insertion in a centrifuge bucket;

(6) FIG. 5a shows a side view of a centrifuging system according to the present invention, comprising the adapter group from FIG. 4; and

(7) FIG. 5b shows a top view of the centrifuging system from FIG. 5a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an adapter 20 in top view. The adapter is present in non-expanded starting position P1. It is not loaded, i.e., does not contain any sample container. The shown exemplary embodiment of the adapter 20 is implemented for centrifuging a blood bag system as sample container. FIG. 2 shows the adapter 20 from FIG. 1 in a partially transparent side view during the insertion of a blood bag system 11.

(9) The base body 21 of the adapter 20 is bucket-like and comprises a side wall region 22 and a bottom region 24. These two regions enclose a cavity 25, whose size and shape is implemented such that the blood bag system can be inserted therein in an exactly fitting manner and can be stored safely. The opening edge 27, which forms the top edge of the side wall region 22 and defines the insertion opening 26 through which the blood bag system is inserted in the cavity 25, as well as the cross-section of the side wall region are implemented so as to have a kettle-like shape. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the shape somewhat corresponds to a trapezoid with rounded angles. As shown in FIG. 2 (see arrow E), the blood bag system is inserted with the whole blood bag 110 in the cavity 25 on the wider side of the trapezoid, while the satellite bags and hoses 111 are oriented towards the narrower side. The bottom region 24 adjoining to the side wall region 22 comprises two different sections, namely a straight bottom region 240 as well as a beveled bottom region 241, which, starting from the straight bottom region 240, rises upward towards the opening edge 27. In the loaded state of the adapter 20, in which the blood bag system stands on the bottom region 24, the whole blood bag comes to stand on the straight bottom region 240, while the remaining parts 111, which have a smaller height, are positioned on the beveled part 241 of the bottom region. The parts 111 of the blood bag system are thus pressed against the whole blood bag 110 and, in turn, press the latter against the vertical side wall section shown on the right in FIGS. 1 and 2. As a result of this, the whole blood bag 110 remains stable and upright even during centrifuging.

(10) To facilitate the insertion and removal of the blood bag system 11, the adapter 20 can be moved from the starting position P1 shown in FIG. 1 to an expanded position P2 (FIGS. 2 to 4). For this purpose, a separation joint is present, which divides the base body 21 into two base body components 210, 211. The separation joint consists of two separation joints 23, 23 which extend from the opening edge 27 along the entire height of the opposite straight side wall sections 224, 224 down to the beveled bottom regions 241 and which unite in the beveled bottom region 241 and hence form one continuous separation joint. The two separate components 210, 211 are fixed to each other in the area of the bottom 24 in such a way that they can be moved away from each other, as indicated by the curved arrow. Upon pulling apart the two base body components 210, 211, the opening edge 27 expands, that is, the insertion opening 26 is enlarged in the expanded position P2 (see FIG. 3) as compared to the starting position (FIG. 1). However, in the expanded position P2, the side wall region 22 of the base body 21 still remains closed in the circumferential direction U. The reason for this is that edge regions 220, 221 projecting over the separation joint 23 are provided in the base body, which lay one above the other in the radial direction R and overlap in the circumferential direction U. The edge regions 220, 221 are formed in such a way that the overlap region 222, on the one hand, extends over the entire height of the side wall region and, on the other, is present in the starting position P1 as well as in the expanded position P2. The overlap of the edge regions 220, 221 is thus big enough, particularly in the area of the opening edge 27, to prevent that a gap arises in the side wall of the base body in a position P2, in which a comfortable removal of the blood bag system 11 from the adapter 20 is possible. In this way, in the starting position P1, as well as in the expanded position P2, a clamping of parts of the blood bag system 11 and hence damage is prevented.

(11) In the present example, one of the edge regions in the overlap region 222 is designed as a fork-shaped region, which accommodates the other edge region 221. This fork-shaped region 23 is formed at least over the entire height of the side wall region 22 and, if needed, also in the bottom region 24. Consequently, the edge regions 220, 221 overlap, on the one hand, in the circumferential direction U, as a result of which the side wall 22 is closed in the circumferential direction U and, on the other hand, also rest against each other in the radial direction R. In combination, these two features particularly effectively prevent the parts of the blood bag system 11 to be centrifuged from getting clamped in the separation joints 23, 23, thus effectively reducing the risk of damage to the blood bag system 11.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the adapter 20 from FIGS. 1 and 2 in expanded position and with an inserted blood bag system 11. As can be seen, the fork-shaped edge region 223 is wide enough that, in the expanded position P2, the first edge region 221 is still located within the fork-shaped region 223 even at the opening edge 27. The overlap region between the edge regions 220, and in the expanded position P2, still exists over the entire height of the side wall region 22. To prevent the adapter from being expanded to a greater extent than necessary for an easy insertion of the blood bag system 11 and, consequently, the margin areas being pulled apart so far that a gap arises between them in the side wall region, the edges 225, 225 of the edge regions can be thickened. This is shown in the enlarged detail A. The edges of the edge region 221 and of the fork-shaped region 223 have a wedge-shaped cross-section. Upon pushing in the edge region 221, its thickened edge 225 engages behind the thickened edge 225 of the fork-shaped region 223, and the edge regions can now be pulled apart only by applying a high force or after purposely widening the fork-shaped region 223. The thickening preferably extends over the entire height of the side wall region 22. It is, however, also possible to provide the thickening along the edges only in sections.

(13) After inserting the sample container in the form of a blood bag system 11 in the adapter 20, the latter is placed in a centrifuge bucket, which is then in turn fixed to the rotor of a centrifuge (not shown) in a known manner for centrifuging. FIG. 4 illustrates the insertion of the blood bag system 11 accommodated in the adapter 20 in a centrifuge bucket 40. The components are shown in a partially transparent side view. In one embodiment of the present invention, the centrifuge bucket is designed to accommodate two adapters 20, 20, which together form an adapter group 30 according to the present invention. The two adapters 20, 20 are placed against each other with their high, straight side wall sections and are held together by means of a common handle 31. The handle enables an easy insertion of the adapter group 30 in the direction of the arrow E in the centrifuge bucket. In doing so, the flapped outside wall regions of the components 211 and 211 slide along the inner wall of the centrifuge bucket 40 and are pressed towards the interior in the direction of the curved arrows. The adapters 20, 20 are thus brought back from the expanded position P2 to the starting position P1.

(14) In an alternative embodiment, the adapters 20, 20 may also be formed such that the return from the expanded to the starting position occurs automatically. The adapters, which are normally made of plastic, are made from a plastic material in this case, which recoils automatically to its starting position because of its elastic properties. The recoiling properties can also be enhanced by appropriate shaping of the adapter.

(15) FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of FIG. 4 with the adapter group now completely inserted in the centrifuge bucket. The centrifuging system 50, according to the present invention, thus obtained is shown in FIG. 5a in a partially transparent side view and in FIG. 5b in a top view and comprises a centrifuge bucket 40 and an adapter group 30 with two adapters 20, 20 and blood bag systems 11, 11 inserted therein. The adapter group 30 with the blood bag system 11, 11 does not, or only to a minimum extent, protrude beyond the top edge 41 of the centrifuge bucket 40, so that the latter can be sealed with a lid if needed, or be covered by a centrifuge lid, depending on the centrifuge type used. Side wall regions and bottoms of the adapters 20, 20 rest against the inner wall and bottom of the centrifuge bucket 40 over large surface areas and are thereby held in the starting position P1. The blood bag systems are stabilized in an upright position in the adapters 20, 20 and can be centrifuged in this way without collapsing. There is no risk that parts of the blood bag system get caught in gaps of their respective adapter, because adapter surfaces which are closed in the circumferential direction are provided for the blood bag systems. There is thus only a minimum risk of damage to the blood bag system.

(16) While the present invention has been illustrated by description of various embodiments and while those embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of Applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The present invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of Applicants' invention.