Patent · US Active

Lab cell centrifuging module

US7867444B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by

6References

4Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. · US

Inventors

Dietmar Testrut · Babylon, US
Lutz Doms · Nastätten, DE
Christian Rehm · Friedrichshafen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	May 15, 2003
Grant date	Jan 11, 2011
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Feb 8, 2028

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01N2035/0465
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A compressible and expandable sample tube holder includes a housing with a plurality of adjacent section members, movable toward and away from each other. Biasing members normally maintain the section members in an expanded condition. In the compressed condition the spacing between section members is reduced. A sample tube breakage detector includes slidable plungers having a protracted position that corresponds to a broken sample tube and a retracted position that corresponds to an unbroken sample tube in the sample tube holder. A detector compares the plunger positions before and after centrifuge spin to detect any broken sample tubes in the sample tube holder. A gripper device for the sample tube holder includes a lifting probe and a stabilizer to stabilize the sample tube holder during lifting. The gripper device and breakage detector are raised and lowered by a raising and lowering device having first and second telescoping members.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.