Patent Application
20250153171
The present invention relates to a collecting device for a reaction vessel unit and a reaction vessel unit.
It is known that reaction vessel units comprising several reaction vessels, such as microtiter plates (MTPs) with their wells, are purified by centrifuging. The MTPs are picked up on a rotor in a rotor chamber of a centrifuge in such a way that the openings of the reaction vessels face away from an axis of rotation of the rotor and centrifuged at a speed of up to several 1000 rpm.
During Centrifuging, the centrifuged contents of the reaction vessels are collected by a wall of the rotor chamber. Some of the substances remaining on the walls and surfaces of the rotor chamber flow off and collect in the lower area, but they can also drip down from above and enter an MTP in the rotor chamber. If several MTPs are cleaned one after the other in the centrifuge, there is also a risk of cross-contamination if centrifugate from one MTP drips into another MTP.
The rotation of the rotor creates air vortices in every centrifuge. If liquid contents are ejected from the reaction vessels during rotation, these air vortices cause aerosols to form. These are also the cause of cross-contamination. In genomic applications (typically amplification-based, e.g. PCR), aerosols are therefore the driving force behind contamination.
It has also been shown that MTPs cleaned in the centrifuge can still be wetted on the surface even after the cells have been completely emptied. This can make further use more difficult, for example if the MTPs are subsequently sealed with a film. The foil is typically stuck on to cover the openings of the cells. This can be for sterile intermediate storage of the MTPs before further use or after filling with a test liquid to isolate the test regime. However, the wetted surface makes it difficult to cover the MTPs with a film.
DE 10 2017 113 583 A1 discloses a centrifuge in which the housing below the rotor has a drainage channel and the inner surfaces of the housing adjacent to the channel form a funnel which opens into the channel. This allows the centrifugate produced in the rotor chamber to be collected and discharged more easily.
It is known from DE 10 2021 124 023.9, unpublished at the time of this application, to supply a cleaning solution to the rotor chamber in such a way that the cleaning solution is distributed in the rotor chamber by rotating the rotor. Residues of the centrifugate can thus be removed from the walls and surfaces of the rotor chamber by regular, frequent rinsing with cleaning agents.
DE 20 2014 010 544 U1 discloses a centrifuge for cleaning a reaction vessel unit, in which a gap is provided between the inner surface and a rotor, so that a wind is generated by the rotation of the rotor, which drives the fluid ejected on the inner surface to a drain. The outlet is connected to a suction pump for extracting the fluid.
For reasons of hygiene, comparatively frequent cleaning cycles are required, which leads to idle times and high operating costs. This procedure will be unavoidable for diagnostic applications in particular.
One task of the invention is to reduce or reliably prevent the risk of contamination of a reaction vessel unit in a centrifuge.
A further task of the invention is to minimise or reliably prevent the wetting of a reaction vessel unit in a centrifuge.
A further task of the invention is to minimise the dwell time for aerosols in the centrifuge or to prevent the occurrence of aerosols.
A further task of the invention is to minimise the internal surfaces in the housing that can come into contact with the ejected liquid.
A further task of the invention is to minimise the volume of the space into which liquid particles can penetrate.
A further task of the invention is to reduce or eliminate the effort required to clean the rotor chamber of a centrifuge for MTP.
A further task of the invention is to keep ejected fluid away from all elements of the device, such as the housing, the rotor and the rotor axis, so that these parts do not corrode or are exposed to other chemical interactions with the ejected fluid, in order, among other things, to minimise costs incurred by surface treatments of the elements of the device for chemical protection and to speed up and simplify the manufacturing process.
One or more of the tasks is solved by the objects of the independent claims. Advantageous further embodiments are indicated in the respective subclaims.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a collecting device is proposed for a reaction vessel unit, which has a plurality of reaction vessels, wherein the reaction vessels each have an opening which lie in a common opening plane. The collecting device has a collecting plate which is designed such that it can be arranged or is arranged opposite the openings of the reaction vessels in a centrifuge, and is designed such that it rotates with the reaction vessel unit during centrifuging and liquid escaping from the reaction vessels is collected by the collecting plate due to the centrifugal acceleration.
For the purposes of the invention, a collection plate is a structure which has a surface opposite the opening plane of the reaction vessels. Liquid ejected from the reaction vessels by centrifugal acceleration can be collected on the surface and flow along under the effect of the centrifugal acceleration. In the simplest case, the collecting plate can be flat or essentially flat, arranged parallel to the opening plane and open at the edge, in particular the flanks. The collecting surface is preferably non-rotatably connected to the unit comprising the rotor and the reaction vessel unit and thus rotates at the same rotational speed as the rotor. As the flank-side edges of the collection plate are radially furthest away from the rotation axis, the collected liquid is driven from the centre to the flank-side edges of the collection plate due to the centrifugal acceleration and is propelled from there into the rotor chamber.
Ends of the rotor and thus also of the reaction vessel unit arranged thereon as well as of the collecting device which are opposite each other in the axial direction of the rotation axis are referred to as end faces in the context of the application, while those ends of the rotor and of the reaction vessel unit arranged thereon as well as of the collecting device which are opposite each other transversely to the rotation axis are referred to as flank sides or longitudinal sides in the context of the application. In use, the end faces are arranged transversely to the axis of the rotor and the flank or longitudinal sides are arranged parallel to the axis of the rotor.
In modifications, the collection plate can also be curved or kinked or inclined, as long as the collected liquid is directed away from an area opposite the opening plane of the reaction vessels. The liquid discharged by the collection device can be collected on the walls of the rotor chamber. Since the collection plate is arranged opposite the openings of the reaction vessels, the collection plate can also intercept liquid dripping from a wall, in particular the upper wall, of the rotor chamber and prevent the reaction vessel unit from being contaminated by the liquid. Even if several reaction vessel units are cleaned one after the other, cross-contamination can be prevented effectively and easily. The collecting device can be reused after cleaning. The collecting device can be made of plastic or metal, for example. Chemicals that break down or inactivate organic molecules can be used for cleaning, for example, provided the material of the collecting device is resistant to the chemical. An autoclave can also be used for cleaning, provided that the material of the collecting device is resistant to the temperatures used.
The collecting plate can be arranged at an angle with respect to the opening plane, so that collected liquid is discharged along the inclined collecting plate in the axial direction of a rotation axis of a rotor of the centrifuge due to the centrifugal acceleration in the centrifuge. The axial direction refers to a rotation axis of a rotor of the centrifuge. In the sense of the invention, inclined means that a height or a distance of the collecting plate varies with respect to the opening plane of the reaction vessels. The incline can be continuous or discontinuous (kinked), constant (straight) or variable along its length (curved). It can run from one end of the collecting device or the reaction vessel unit to the other end (on one side) or from the centre to both ends (on both sides). Since the opening plane of the reaction vessels usually runs parallel to the rotation axis when the reaction vessel unit is held in the centrifuge, the bevel also runs at an angle to the rotation axis. As the collection plate is inclined in the axial direction with respect to the opening plane or the rotation axis, the collected liquid is driven along the incline by the centrifugal acceleration to one end face of the rotor or the rotor chamber, where it can be collected or ejected. The walls of the rotor chamber surrounding the rotor are less wetted, so the risk of cross-contamination can be further reduced.
The collecting device can have an absorbent that is arranged and designed on the collecting plate in such a way that it can suck up the collected liquid.
Such an absorbent can, for example, be a porous material, such as a cellulose layer, and/or an open-cell foam. The liquid emptied from the reaction vessels during Centrifuging can be absorbed by the absorbent so that it cannot flow or drip back into the reaction vessels. Centrifuging forces the liquid into the absorbent and the capillary action of the absorbent holds it in place.
Such a collecting device is particularly suitable for centrifuges that are not designed for cleaning reaction vessel units and whose rotor chamber is, for example, difficult to access and therefore difficult to clean.
The collecting device can have flanks, which are preferably arranged circumferentially along the end faces and flank sides, so that the collecting device forms a kind of trough in which the liquid emptied from the reaction vessels during Centrifuging is collected.
If the space above the reaction vessel unit within the collection device is completely closed, the rotor chamber will not come into contact with liquid and contamination is ruled out in this respect.
It should be noted that the discharge in the axial direction does not exclude a superimposed movement of the liquid transverse to the rotation axis. In other words, the entire discharge movement of the liquid at the collecting plate is a combination of the axial discharge and the discharge transverse to the axis. Therefore, it may be advantageous if flanks of the collection device extending laterally along the rotation axis are drawn downwards from the collection plate to form an obstacle to movement of the liquid transverse to the rotation axis. In this way, collection of the collected liquid at an axial end can be favoured by the liquid drained off transversely to the axis also being drained off axially at the downwardly drawn flanks. This can further improve the concentration of the liquids at one end face.
In particular, the flanks and end faces of the collecting device can be designed to be flush with an edge of the reaction vessel unit. In other words, if the reaction vessel unit with the collecting device is placed on the rotor of the centrifuge, the collecting device formed in this way can be used to create a sealed collecting chamber which is isolated from the rotor chamber. The rotor chamber is not or hardly wetted, so the effort required to clean the rotor chamber of a centrifuge for reaction vessel units can be reduced or minimised. Since the collecting device rotates with the rotor, the air in the rotor chamber is not or hardly swirled, therefore wetting of the surfaces of the reaction vessel units during Centrifuging can be avoided. With little or no vortex formation, aerosol formation in the collection chamber is reduced or completely avoided.
At least one discharge opening can be formed on an end face towards which the collecting plate rises. The discharge opening is preferably flush or essentially flush with the inside of the collection plate. Collected and drained liquid is forced outwards and can be collected at the end face or drained further.
As the outer (flank-side) ends are located radially further outwards than the centre of the end face during centrifugation, the liquid will preferably collect there so that it can be discharged there best. It is therefore advantageous if two discharge openings are provided at the outer (flank-side) ends of the end face. The discharge openings can be on the end face, i.e. axially, or on the flank side, i.e. transverse to the axis. An opening at the top is also conceivable in principle, but means would then have to be provided to prevent dripping back from above and to avoid contamination.
The discharge opening can have a spout that protrudes beyond the end face. Such a spout moves in a circular path during centrifugation. Collected and discharged substance is propelled outwards and can be discharged via the spout into an annular collecting channel in which the spout runs. Contamination of the rotor chamber can be avoided even more effectively and cleaning costs can be further reduced. As explained above, it is advantageous if two discharge openings are provided, each with such a spout.
In embodiments, the collecting device can be placed loosely, preferably positively, on the reaction vessel unit. In this case, the collecting device can be provided separately from the centrifuge. The reaction vessel unit can be prepared for Centrifuging outside the centrifuge with the collecting device.
In further embodiments, the collecting device can be detachably connectable to the reaction vessel unit. Here too, the collecting device can be provided separately from the centrifuge. The reaction vessel unit can be prepared with the collecting device for centrifuging in a loss-proof manner. The connection can, for example, be a clip connection, a plug connection, a snap connection or a sliding connection.
In other embodiments, the collecting device can be detachably connectable to a rotor of a centrifuge. In this way, the rotor can be prepared to receive a reaction vessel unit. The collecting device can be removed for cleaning and is then ready for use again. The rotor can also be advantageously cleaned with the collecting device removed.
In further embodiments, the collecting device can be integrated with a rotor of a centrifuge. In this case, the rotor is ready to receive a reaction vessel unit without further preparation, and work steps in the laboratory can be simplified. The cleaning of the collecting device and/or the rotor chamber can be carried out together or separately by rinsing in the centrifuge or externally.
The collecting device can also be designed in several parts for easy removal and cleaning.
In still further embodiments, the collecting device can be connected or connectable to a rotor shaft of a centrifuge. The connection can be made, for example, by a cage or forked body or retaining bracket that can be mounted or flange-mounted in the centrifuge (on the rotor shaft) and holds the collecting device, or the collecting device itself has a bracket that can be mounted on the rotor shaft so that it cannot rotate. Here, too, the rotor is ready to receive a reaction vessel unit without any further preparation; it is not necessary to handle the cover on the reaction vessel unit or on the rotor. The rotor and collection device can be cleaned separately. Work steps in the laboratory can be simplified.
Cleaning can be carried out by rinsing in the centrifuge or externally (after disassembly from the rotor shaft).
The collecting device can be designed with a circumferential contour which is adapted to the shape of a corresponding reaction vessel unit, so that the collecting device can preferably be placed on the reaction vessel unit in a form-fitting manner and in particular in a circumferential form-fitting manner. This creates an essentially closed collecting chamber, which may only be opened by means of the discharge opening, so that the atmosphere contained therein is completely entrained during rotation in the centrifuge and there is no turbulence that causes aerosol formation.
The collecting device can have a contact contour in order to contact a reaction vessel unit which has a corresponding complementary contour, wherein the contact contour and the complementary contour are designed such that the collecting device can only be arranged in a single or unique position on the reaction vessel unit, so that the combination of reaction vessel unit and collecting device can be arranged in a centrifuge.
The contact contour and the complementary contour can thus be assembled according to the key/lock principle. This can ensure that the collecting device can only be arranged in a certain position in relation to the reaction vessel unit in order to prevent incorrect placement. For example, the contact contour and the complementary contour can be designed in such a way that if the collecting device is not correctly positioned on the reaction vessel unit, the collecting device protrudes further upwards on the reaction vessel unit so that the combination of reaction vessel unit and collecting device does not fit through an opening of the centrifuge or into a collecting area of the rotor of the centrifuge, for example. This ensures that the collecting device is not inserted and rotated in a centrifuge with an incorrect arrangement on the reaction vessel unit.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a corresponding reaction vessel unit is provided which has such a complementary contour which is designed to match the contact contour.
The complementary contour and the contact contour can, for example, be wave-shaped, zigzag-shaped or consist of pins and corresponding locating holes. However, any other contours are possible, which enable a clear assignment.
The reaction vessel unit can also have an asymmetrical insertion contour, which is positively adapted to a corresponding receiving contour of a rotor of a centrifuge in such a way that the reaction vessel unit can only be arranged in a single position in the rotor.
One such asymmetrical insertion contour is, for example, webs that protrude laterally along the flank sides of the reaction vessel unit without engaging in a corresponding groove in the rotor. This ensures that the reaction vessel unit is only inserted in a unique position in the rotor. This in turn corresponds to the key/lock principle.
Such a design of the reaction vessel unit is particularly advantageous in combination with the contact contour of the collecting device explained above and the corresponding complementary contour of the reaction vessel unit as well as the discharge opening of the collecting device, as this ensures that the discharge opening is always arranged on the correct side of the rotor on which the centrifuge is designed to discharge the liquid accordingly.
Furthermore, the collecting device can have projections in the area of a contact contour for contacting a reaction vessel unit, which protrude laterally in such a way that they can be gripped behind by guides of a rotor and thus fix the collecting device and the reaction vessel unit in the rotor so that they cannot rotate.
These protrusions can, for example, be webs that protrude laterally along the flank side and lie flat on the reaction vessel unit.
However, it is also possible that instead of the webs, only a few laterally protruding individual protrusions or small feet are formed, which can be used to guide the rotor.
In a preferred embodiment, a corresponding reaction vessel unit has one or more recesses for receiving the corresponding protrusions of the collecting device, so that the side of the projections facing away from the reaction vessel unit is flush with the remaining surface of the reaction vessel unit. With such a design of the reaction vessel units, it is possible to arrange the reaction vessel units with and without the collecting device in the rotor, wherein the reaction vessel unit without the collecting device and the reaction vessel unit with the collecting device are gripped behind with approximately the same small amount of play by the guide of the rotor and are thus fixed in the rotor so that they cannot rotate. Such a combination of collecting device and reaction vessel unit can also be used in corresponding centrifuges which are not designed to accommodate collecting devices. This combination is particularly advantageous in conjunction with a collecting device with an absorbent, which in particular has no discharge opening and hermetically seals the collecting chamber inside the collecting device from the rest of the rotor chamber.
The collecting device and/or the reaction vessel unit is preferably made of a polymer material. In particular, they are manufactured as injection moulded parts.
A discharge device may be provided, which is arranged in a rotor chamber of the centrifuge in which the rotor rotates and which is designed to collect liquid discharged by the collecting device. The collecting device can be designed depending on the type of liquid discharged by the collecting device. In particular, the collecting device can be designed to collect liquid that emerges from a discharge opening or spout of the collecting device during Centrifuging.
For example, the discharge device can have an annular channel open to the rotor chamber and concentric to the rotation axis, which is located opposite a discharge opening of the collection device. The channel can receive the collected and discharged substances from the collection device without contaminating the rotor chamber. In particular, the channel can have an annular opening in which a spout of the collecting device, from which liquid emerges during Centrifuging, can be received. Even without a spout, the discharged substances may be able to enter the channel simply due to the speed of the liquid and suitable arrangement.
The channel of the discharge device can be located opposite the discharge opening of the collecting device in the axial direction. In this way, the channel can accommodate a spout that extends in an axial direction from the collecting device and rotates in a circle when the rotor rotates. The liquid can be collected even more cleanly and safely. Since the channel receives the spout axially outside the end wall of the collecting device, liquid can pass from the channel onto the spout, but not onto an outer surface of the collecting device.
The channel can have an annular opening formed axially towards the rotor chamber, wherein the annular opening has an undercut radially inwards and/or radially outwards. This means that liquids can be collected even more safely and can flow freely and unhindered downwards in the channel, where they can be collected and, if necessary, drained or removed.
Liquid can be drained directly from the collecting device to the outside using an outlet device, which is formed at a lower end of the drainage device.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for cleaning a reaction vessel unit which has a plurality of reaction vessels, wherein the reaction vessels each have an opening which lie in a common opening plane, wherein the reaction vessel unit is received on a rotor of the centrifuge with its openings pointing outwards from a rotation axis of the rotor, and the rotor with the reaction vessel unit arranged thereon is rotated in the centrifuge so that a liquid contained in the reaction vessels is centrifuged out. With a collecting device with a collecting plate, which is arranged radially opposite the opening plane of the reaction vessels and rotates together with the reaction vessel unit, the ejected liquid is collected and discharged along the collecting plate. The collecting device and/or the centrifuge is preferably designed according to the description of the above aspects of the invention. The method has essentially the same advantages and effects as the collecting device and/or centrifuge described above. The reaction vessel unit can be held on the rotor in a manner known per se by form-fitting elements, such as rail-like clamps, into which the reaction vessel unit is pushed. For this purpose, an end wall of the rotor chamber can have a loading window through which the reaction vessel unit can be pushed into and pulled out of the rotor chamber. The use of the collecting device and the execution of the method depends on the type of design and arrangement of the collecting device and may comprise a loose or fixed attachment of the collecting device to the reaction vessel unit before or after the reaction vessel unit is arranged on the rotor, a detachable or non-detachable attachment of the collecting device to the rotor before or (only in the case of a detachable attachment) after the reaction vessel unit is arranged on the rotor, an attachment of the collecting device to a rotor shaft of the drive separately or together with the rotor. For example, a collecting device can be permanently attached to the rotor of the centrifuge. In this case, the reaction vessel unit is simply placed in the centrifuge on the rotor under the collecting plate of the collecting device. In other cases, the collection device may form an assembly with the reaction vessel unit which is assembled outside the centrifuge and loaded into and unloaded from the centrifuge together.
The collecting device can be cleaned after one or more centrifuging processes. Cleaning can be carried out by autoclaving and/or by chemical means and/or by irradiation. Cleaning the collecting device is simpler and less expensive than cleaning the entire centrifuge or the entire rotor chamber with rotor. Since the collecting device is provided, cleaning intervals of the centrifuge itself or the rotor chamber can be extended, especially if the collecting device forms a closed collecting chamber from which no or only little liquid enters the rotor chamber itself. A collecting device, which is provided within the rotor chamber of the centrifuge for collecting drained liquid from the collecting device, can be cleaned together with the collecting device or separately from it by the same or a different method. In a particularly simple way, the collecting device can be cleaned by centrifuging a reaction vessel unit filled with a cleaning solution. The collecting device can also be cleaned via the cleaning solution emerging from the collecting device.
A centrifuge rotor chamber can be cleaned after a specified number of centrifuging processes. Cleaning can be carried out by rinsing with a rinsing solution or by separately cleaning dismantled parts of the centrifuge that border the rotor chamber. Examples of suitable cleaning methods are autoclaving, chemical agents (biocides) or irradiation. Since the collecting device is provided, the specified number of centrifuging processes after which cleaning takes place can be greater, meaning that cleaning intervals of the centrifuge or the rotor chamber can be extended. A collecting device, which is provided inside the rotor chamber for collecting drained liquid from the collecting device, can be cleaned in the same operation or separately using a different process. Here, too, it is possible to clean the rotor chamber by Centrifuging a reaction vessel unit filled with a cleaning solution. This process is particularly easy to carry out if the collecting device is open at the flanks, as the cleaning solution can then easily enter the rotor chamber. If the collecting device is closed, the collecting device can be removed from the rotor before the cleaning cycle with cleaning solution so that the cleaning solution can reach the inner walls of the rotor chamber. If the rotor has two receiving locations for reaction vessel units, but only one of the receiving locations is provided with a collecting device that forms a closed collecting chamber, the reaction vessel units can be placed on the receiving location with the drainage device for cleaning the reaction vessel units, while the reaction vessel unit with the cleaning solution is placed on the receiving location without the collecting device for cleaning the rotor chamber. A cleaning solution can be dispensed with for cleaning the collecting device in the rotor chamber if the rotor or the discharge device is aerodynamically designed in such a way that the collecting device (for example a channel described above) is cleaned (blown out) by an air flow generated during rotation.
Selected embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows/they show:
All graphic representations are to be understood schematically. Size ratios may be distorted for clarification. Unless otherwise indicated, directional and positional designations refer to the normal use of the subject of the invention.
A centrifuge 1 has a drive box 2 and a rotor box 3, which rest on feet 4 (
The rotor shaft 10 carries a rotor 20, which is connected to the rotor shaft 10 in a rotationally fixed manner in order to rotate in an interior of the rotor box 3 (
The reaction vessel unit 21 is a body with a plurality of individual reaction vessels 37, which are arranged next to one another in the reaction vessel unit 21 and each have an opening 38 on one side (
According to an embodiment example of the present invention, a collecting device 30 is provided, which is arranged radially outside the reaction vessel unit 21 (
If the edge 32 of the collecting plate 31 is, on the one hand, offset laterally from the reaction vessel unit 21 and, on the other hand, is drawn downwards, i.e. towards the rotor, a drip edge can also be formed, from which liquid can drip down next to the rotor 20 when the rotor 20 is stationary.
The edge 32 of the collecting plate 31 can also be pulled down so far that it retains the liquid ejected from the reaction vessel unit 21 during rotation and this only drips down the side of the rotor 20 when the rotor comes to a standstill. This can also significantly reduce wetting of the inner walls of the rotor chamber 29.
The collecting device 30 may be integral with the rotor 20 or attached or attachable thereto. In particular, the collecting device 30 can be removable from the rotor 20 so that it can be cleaned separately. The collecting device 30 may also be attachable to the rotor shaft 10 independently of the rotor 20 (not shown in detail).
In a further embodiment example, the collecting plate 31 of the collecting device 30 is designed to rise from a front end face 41 to an opposite rear end face 42 of the collecting device 30 (
A collecting device 40 is provided on the rear wall 28 of the rotor box 3, which is adjacent to the drive box 2. The collecting device 40 can be formed integrally with the rear wall 28 or manufactured separately and connected to the rear wall 28. (It should be noted that the collecting device is also shown schematically in
On the side facing the rotor 20, i.e. the inside, an annular channel 45 is formed in the collecting device 40. The channel 45 has an annular opening 46 pointing in the axial direction towards the rotor chamber 29. Behind the annular opening 46, the channel 45 widens radially inwards and radially outwards to form an inner undercut 47 and an outer undercut 48 with the annular opening 46. At the lowest point, the collecting device 40 has a drain device 49, which is connected to the channel 45. The two spouts 44 of the collecting device 30 protrude through the annular opening 46 into the channel 45. The liquid collected by the collecting device 30 on the collecting plate 31 collects under the effect of centrifugal acceleration at the outer (flank-side) ends of the rear end 42 of the collecting plate 31 in the width direction. From there, it passes via the discharge openings 43 into the spouts 44 and is discharged from there into the channel 45. In the channel 45, the liquid can flow downwards and be removed from the rotor chamber 29 through the drain pipe 49.
As all of the liquid ejected from the reaction vessel unit 21 is collected in the channel 45, the interior of the rotor box 3 (the rotor chamber 29) remains largely unwetted by the liquid. Only mist produced by turbulence can enter the rotor chamber 29 from the channel 45 and wet its walls.
In a preferred embodiment, the collecting plate 31 is designed such that it is flush with the lateral edges of the reaction vessel unit 21 and/or the rotor with flanks 33 or lateral walls, so that a substantially enclosed space is formed. As a result, the atmosphere inside the collecting plate 31 is entrained when the rotor rotates and is not or only barely swirled. This prevents the formation of aerosols that are distributed in the rotor chamber 29.
Only if the formation of such a contaminated mist cannot be prevented is it necessary to clean the interior of the rotor box 3 from time to time. In principle, the cleaning intervals can be considerably extended compared to a centrifugation process without the collecting device 30 and collecting device 40. The collecting plate 31 reliably protects the reaction vessel unit 21 from any contamination by any liquid dripping from the upper wall 14 of the hood 5. Since the collecting device 30 is also closed at the flanks 33, a closed space is formed with the reaction vessel unit 21 by the collecting device 30, so that any liquid mist which may prevail in the rotor chamber 29 cannot settle on a surface of the reaction vessel unit 21 and turbulence due to the rotation in the space between the reaction vessel unit 21 and the collecting plate 31 can be effectively prevented. The reaction vessel unit 21 can therefore be reliably and completely cleaned by centrifugation with the collecting device 30 of this embodiment example and protected from any wetting by the centrifugation process or contamination by falling droplets.
The invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments. It is understood that a wide variety of modifications are possible within the scope of protection of the invention. The shape of the collecting plate 31 depends on the desired effects.
The collecting plate 31 can be flat (
In an axial section along the rotation axis (
Other variants are conceivable. For example, the collecting device 30 can have a trough shape without further discharge openings. In this variant, it is advantageous if the collecting device 30 is mounted on the reaction vessel unit 21 outside the centrifuge 1 and the reaction vessel unit 21 is thus loaded into the centrifuge. In this case, the method should be modified so that the rotor remains in the lower position at the end of the centrifuging process, so that the collecting device 30 comes to rest below the reaction vessel unit 21, and the reaction vessel unit 21 with the collecting device 30 and the liquid collected therein is unloaded through an unloading window (not shown in detail) in the end wall 7 and separated from the collecting device 30, and the collecting device 30 is then freed from the liquid, cleaned and made ready for a further centrifuging process. With such a variant, the rotor chamber remains free of the centrifuged liquid even without a collecting device installed in it. No collecting device needs to be provided on the rotor, and cleaning of the rotor chamber and the collecting device can be made even easier.
It should be noted that the embodiment shown in
A further embodiment example of a collecting device 30 (
The reaction vessel unit 21, which has a plurality of reaction vessels 37, has a peripheral edge region 93 in which corresponding recesses 94 are provided for receiving the projections 92 (
The projections 92 are arranged unevenly on the two opposing flanks 33. As a result, the projections 92 engage in the recess 94 according to the lock-and-key principle only when the collecting device 30 is arranged exactly in a predetermined position or arrangement on the reaction vessel unit 21. Such a design of the projections 92 and the recess 94 is particularly advantageous if the collecting device has a discharge opening, which is used in particular with an inclined collecting plate 31 for discharging the liquid emptied from the reaction vessels 37.
The projections 92 and the recess 94 thus form a contact contour of the collecting device 30 and a complementary contour of the reaction vessel unit 21, respectively, which causes a clear assignment of the collecting device 30 to the reaction vessel unit 21, wherein the combination of reaction vessel unit 21 and collecting device 30 can only be arranged in the rotor 20 of the centrifuge if the contact contour and the complementary contour are correctly joined together.
It may also be expedient to provide a clear arrangement by means of corresponding contours between the reaction vessel unit and the rotor or the centrifuge. In this way, the rotor, the reaction vessel unit and the collecting device are clearly assigned to each other.
Providing the contact contour of the collection device or the complementary contour of the reaction vessel unit ensures that the reaction vessels are correctly covered.
In the embodiment example shown in
In this embodiment example, the collecting device 30 and the reaction vessel unit 21 are held together in the rotor 20 during use by means of the guide 95, which is designed as an elongated guide rail, on the one hand and fixed in the rotor 20 on the other hand.
Within the scope of the invention, however, it is also possible to provide latching means on both the collecting device and the reaction vessel unit so that both are detachably connected to each other. However, the latching connection should be strong enough to withstand the centrifugal force occurring in the centrifuge.
The collecting device and the reaction vessel unit are designed for use in a centrifuge. However, they can also be used for manual emptying of the reaction vessels of the reaction vessel unit. This applies in particular to the trough-shaped design of the collecting device.
With the collecting device of the present invention, cross-contamination between reaction vessel units can be prevented, wetting of the reaction vessel units by aerosols in the rotor chamber can be reduced or completely avoided, depending on the design of the collecting device, and contamination of the rotor chamber by ejected liquid can also be significantly reduced or completely avoided. The latter can considerably simplify cleaning of the rotor chamber. If the liquids are completely absorbed in the channel 45 of the collecting device 40 and leakage into the rotor chamber is prevented, a closed rotor chamber can be dispensed with if necessary. In other words, the end wall 7 and the hood 5, and possibly also the base 27 (provided the latter is not required for reasons of stability) of the rotor box 3 can be omitted. This can considerably simplify the loading and unloading process of the rotor 20.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2022 102 705.8 | Feb 2022 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2023/052570 | 2/2/2023 | WO |
