Claims
- 1. An adapter for supporting a centrifuge tube within a cavity in a centrifuge rotor, the tube having a predetermined size and configuration, the adapter having an axis extending therethrough that, in use, aligns in parallel relationship with an axis of the rotor cavity in which the adapter is disposed, the adapter comprising:
- a first and a second adapter segment, each segment having an exterior surface and a mating surface thereon, each segment having an indentation in the mating surface thereof,
- at least one hinge connecting the segments and supporting the relative pivotal movement, about a hinge axis, of at least one segment with respect to the other from an open to a mated position, the hinge axis-extending perpendicular to the axis of the adapter,
- in the mated position, the mating surfaces of the segments being disposed in contacting relationship and the indentations therein cooperating to define a recess having a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of at least a portion of the tube.
- 2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the centrifuge tube has a body with a neck thereon, a portion of the neck having a constricted region thereon when the tube is capped,
- the indentation in each segment being shaped such that when the segments are in the mated position the indentations cooperate to define a recess that corresponds to the size and shape of the neck of the tube,
- at least one of the segments having a feature on the mating surface thereof that projects into the indentation therein such that, when the segments are in the mated position and the tube is received within the adapter, the feature is received within the constricted region in the neck of the tube.
- 3. The adapter of claim 2 further comprising an enlarged collar disposed on the exterior surface of at least one of the segments.
- 4. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the centrifuge tube has a body with a predetermined configuration over its entire length, the indentation in each segment being shaped such that when the segments are in the mated position the indentations cooperate to define a recess that corresponds to the size and shape of the centrifuge tube over its entire length.
- 5. The adapter of claim 4 further comprising an enlarged collar disposed on the exterior surface of at least one of the segments.
- 6. The adaptor of claim 4 wherein the mating surface on the first adapter segment defines a first predetermined angle with respect to a predetermined plane while the mating surface on the second adapter segment defines a second predetermined angle with respect to the predetermined reference plane, the reference plane being defined as the plane that contains the axis of the adapter and that lies normal to the line of action along which the segments of the adapter are mated.
- 7. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising an enlarged collar disposed on the exterior surface of at least one of the segments.
- 8. An adapter for supporting a closed centrifuge tube within a cavity of a vertical angle centrifuge rotor, the tube having a body portion that tapers through a transition region to a narrowed neck region, the adapter having an axis extending therethrough, the adapter comprising
- a first and a second adapter segment, each segment having an exterior surface and a mating surface thereon, the mating surfaces of the adapter extending generally axially along each adapter segment, each segment having an indentation in the mating surface thereof, the indentation in each segment being shaped such that when the segments are joined along their mating surfaces the indentations cooperate to define a recess that corresponds to the size and shape of the entire axial length of a centrifuge tube able to be disposed therein, the mating surfaces being in contacting relationship with each other over at least the neck and transition regions of the tube,
- the adapter being fabricated of a material that has sufficient strength to withstand the vertical forces created by the pressure of a liquid carried in the tube under centrifugation that act .against the neck and transition regions of the tube.
- 9. The adaptor of claim 8 wherein the mating surface on the first adapter segment defines a first predetermined angle with respect to a predetermined plane while the mating surface on the second adapter segment defines a second predetermined angle with respect to the predetermined reference plane, the reference plane being defined as the plane that contains the axis of the adapter and that lies normal to the line of action along which the segments of the adapter are mated.
- 10. The adaptor of claim 9 wherein the first predetermined angle and the second predetermined angle are equal.
- 11. The adaptor of claim 9 wherein the first predetermined angle lies within the range from about ten (10) to about eighty (80) degrees.
- 12. The adaptor of claim 11 wherein the second predetermined angle lies within the range from about ten (10) to about eighty (80) degrees.
- 13. The adaptor of claim 8 further comprising at least one hinge connecting the segments and supporting the relative pivotal movement, about a hinge axis, of at least one segment with respect to the other from an open to a mated position, the hinge axis extending perpendicular to the axis of the adapter.
- 14. An adapter for supporting a centrifuge tube having a predetermined size and configuration within a cavity in a centrifuge rotor, the adapter having an axis extending therethrough that, in use, aligns in parallel relationship with an axis of the rotor cavity in which the adapter is disposed, the adapter comprising:
- a first and a second adapter segment, each segment having an exterior surface and a mating surface thereon, each segment having an indentation in the mating surface thereof, the indentation in each segment being shaped such that when the segments are joined along their mating surfaces the indentations cooperate to define a recess able to totally surround a centrifuge tube disposed therein,
- the mating surface on the first adapter segment having a pair of edges thereon that projects into the recess in the adapter.
- 15. The adapter of claim 14 wherein the mating surface on the first adapter segment defines a first predetermined angle with respect to a predetermined reference plane while the mating surface on the second adapter segment defines a second predetermined angle with respect to the predetermined reference plane, the reference plane being defined as the plane that contains the axis of the adapter and that lies normal to the line of action along which the segments of the adapter are mated.
- 16. The adapter of claim 15 wherein the centrifuge rotor is a vertical angle rotor, and wherein the adapter segments are fabricated of a material that has sufficient strength to withstand the vertical forces created by the pressure of a liquid under centrifugation.
- 17. The adapter of claim 16 further comprising at least one hinge connecting the segments and supporting the relative pivotal movement, about a hinge axis, of at least one segment with respect to the other from an open to a mated position, the hinge axis extending perpendicular to the axis of the adapter.
- 18. The adapter of claim 15 further comprising at least one hinge connecting the segments and supporting the relative pivotal movement, about a hinge axis, of at least one segment with respect to the other from an open to a mated position, the hinge axis extending perpendicular to the axis of the adapter.
- 19. The adapter of claim 14 wherein the centrifuge rotor is a vertical angle rotor, and wherein the adapter segments are fabricated of a material that has sufficient strength to withstand the vertical forces created by the pressure of a liquid under centrifugation.
- 20. The adapter of claim 19 further comprising at least one hinge connecting the segments and supporting the relative pivotal movement, about a hinge axis, of at least one segment with respect to the other from an open to a mated position, the hinge axis extending perpendicular to the axis of the adapter.
- 21. The adapter of claim 14 further comprising at least one hinge connecting the segments and supporting the relative pivotal movement, about a hinge axis, of at least one segment with respect to the other from an open to a mated position, the hinge axis extending perpendicular to the axis of the adapter.
- 22. An adapter for supporting a closed centrifuge tube within a cavity in a vertical angle centrifuge rotor, the adapter comprising:
- a first, inboard, adapter segment and a second, outboard, adapter segment, each segment having an exterior surface and a mating surface thereon, each segment having an indentation in the mating surface thereof, the indentation in each segment being shaped such that when the segments are joined along their mating surfaces the indentations cooperate to define a recess able to totally surround a centrifuge tube disposed therein, the adapter having a central axis extending therethrough,
- at least the first, inboard, segment of the adapter having an effective weight sufficient to balance forces created by the pressure of a liquid carried in the tube under centrifugation that act transversely to the central axis,
- so that, in use with the adapter inserted into a cavity of a rotor with the mating surfaces of the adapter segments being in contacting relationship with each other, the effective weight of the inboard segment while under centrifugation is sufficient to maintain the mating surfaces of the adapter segments in such contacting relationship.
- 23. The adapter of claim 22 wherein the outboard segment has a predetermined effective weight, and
- wherein the effective weight of the inboard segment is different from the effective weight of the outboard segment.
- 24. The adapter of claim 23 wherein the effective weight of the inboard segment is greater than the effective weight of the outboard segment.
- 25. The adapter of claim 23 wherein one of the segments has a distinctive feature thereon.
- 26. The adapter of claim 25 wherein the distinctive feature is a visual feature.
- 27. The adapter of claim 25 wherein the inboard segment has a predetermined shape, and wherein the distinctive feature is the shape of the inboard segment.
- 28. The adapter of claim 25 wherein the distinctive feature is on the inboard segment.
- 29. The adapter of claim 28 wherein the distinctive feature is a visual marking.
- 30. The adapter of claim 28 wherein the inboard segment has a predetermined shape, and wherein the distinctive feature is the shape of the inboard segment.
- 31. The adapter of claim 22 wherein the outboard segment has a predetermined effective weight, and
- wherein the effective weight of the inboard segment is the same as the effective weight of the outboard segment.
- 32. The adapter of claim 22 wherein one of the segments has a distinctive feature thereon.
- 33. The adapter of claim 32 wherein the distinctive feature is a visual marking.
- 34. The adapter of claim 32 wherein the inboard segment has a predetermined shape, and wherein the distinctive feature is the shape of the inboard segment.
- 35. The adapter of claim 32 wherein the distinctive feature is on the inboard segment.
- 36. The adapter of claim 35 wherein the distinctive feature is a visual feature.
- 37. The adapter of claim 35 wherein the inboard segment has a predetermined shape, and wherein the distinctive feature is the shape of the inboard segment.
- 38. The adapter of claim 22 wherein each of the segments has an exterior surface thereon, at least one of the segments has at least a first resilient extension thereon, the resilient extension being biased to flare outwardly from the adapter segment, the resilient extension being bendable with respect to the adapter segment from the flared position to a second position in which the extension contacts against the exterior surface of the segment on which it is disposed,
- when the adapter is disposed in a rotor, the extension frictionally interacts with the boundaries of a rotor cavity to prevent rotation of the adapter about its axis with respect to the body of the rotor, thereby to maintain the adapter in a predetermined angular orientation within the cavity during operation of the rotor.
- 39. The adapter of claim 38 wherein the extension is hinged to the segment along a line of bending disposed on the exterior surface of the segment on which it is disposed.
- 40. The adapter of claim 39 wherein the extension has a tapered portion thereon.
- 41. The adapter of claim 22 wherein inboard segment has an exterior surface thereon, the exterior surface having at least one planar keying region defined thereon.
- 42. The adapter of claim 41 wherein both the inboard segment and the outboard segment have an upper surface thereon, the inboard segment having a channel formed through the upper surface thereon, the outboard segment having a flanged shaped in correspondence to the channel disposed on the upper surface thereof, the flange having a pocket formed therein, the pocket being sized to receive the end of a tube received within the adapter.
- 43. The adapter of claim 22 wherein the centrifuge rotor is a vertical angle rotor, and wherein the adapter segments are fabricated of a material that has sufficient strength to withstand the vertical forces created by the pressure of a liquid under centrifugation.
- 44. The adapter of claim 22 further comprising at least one hinge connecting the segment's and supporting the relative pivotal movement, about a hinge axis, of at least one segment with respect to the other from an open to a mated position, the hinge axis extending perpendicular to the axis of the adapter.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/035,513 filed Mar. 22, 1993, now abandoned, itself a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/695,871 filed May 6, 1991, now abandoned, itself a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/552,631, filed Jul. 13, 1990, now abandoned, itself a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 432,646, filed Nov. 7, 1989, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (35)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
Nalgene Ultra-Lok Tube System, Nalgene Produce News, vol. 8, No. 1, 1989. (3 pages). |
Handbook of Plastics and Elastomers, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1975, (Harper, Editor) p. 12-9. |
Sorvall Type KSB "Szent-Gyorgyi & Blum" 8 Tube Continuous Flow System Diagram & Price List, effective Oct. 1, 1969. |
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
35513 |
Mar 1993 |
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Parent |
695871 |
May 1991 |
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Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
552631 |
Jul 1990 |
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Parent |
432646 |
Nov 1989 |
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