Patent Application
20230137327
Manually powered centrifuges have been developed for multiple purposes ranging from analysis of blood samples in remote areas to removing water from vegetables such as lettuce. Manually powered centrifuges include the salad spinner, a “paperfuge”, and various manual devices using a turn-gear mechanism.
Salad spinners operate by a series of gears that are located in the lid of the device. The lid is attached to a colander and the colander rotates within a bowl as the gears are moved by a pumping or reciprocating motion. The salad spinner has been adapted to separate scientific samples by affixing plates and tubes to the salad spinner colander through mechanical means such as putties and zip ties. A “Handyfuge” is available commercially. Here, adapters for scientific samples have been attached to the lid of a salad spinner and the lid-adapter combination is placed with the salad spinner bowl. In all cases, the lid is affixed to the colander or samples and suspended over the bowl.
The paperfuge is designed based upon the childhood toy, the whirligig. Capillary tubes are attached to concentric circles of paper that have holes through which a string is passed such that the string can be pumped resulting in the circles spinning at high speed. This design is suitable for very small sample volumes of a few microliters. Samples cannot be removed from the capillary tubes without losing the centrifugal separation, so it is only appropriate for cases where a visualization of the separation is sufficient.
Human-powered centrifuges that employ gear mechanisms were first reported around 1900 and have been used to separate cream in milk and scientific samples. Such a device is typically attached to a table or comparable surface through a vice and consists of a spindle with affixed test tube holders that are rotated by hand-turning a series of gears. When the handle of the device is used to rotate the gears, the test tubes spin forming a fan where the test tubes would be the blades of the fan. The test tube holders can house larger sample volumes, for example, 15 milliliters (mL). The samples rotate freely with no protection provided to the user beyond her/his ability to keep a distance from the exposed, rotating tubes. It resembles a fan without a protective grating and with test tubes affixed to the blades. This latter model is the current state-of-the-art for manually powered centrifuges in science education.
Before describing the invention in detail, several terms used in the context of the present invention will be defined. In addition to these terms, others are defined elsewhere in the specification, as necessary. Unless otherwise expressly defined herein, terms of art used in this specification will have their art-recognized meanings.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The term “about” refers to approximately a +/−10% variation from the stated value. It is to be understood that such a variation is always included in any given value provided herein, whether or not it is specifically referred to.
An “adapter” refers to an article or device that connects one article to another, for example, a device that allows analysis of scientific samples by centrifugation when placed within a spinning object.
An article is “fixed” when one or more physical structures, adhesives, or the like is/are used to secure it to or with another article. Depending on the context, fixation can be permanent or temporary.
The term “functional association”, “functionally associate”, and the like refer to bringing two or more articles into association such that together they function as intended.
A “patentable” article, device, machine, composition, or process according to the invention means that the subject matter at issue satisfies all statutory requirements for patentability at the time the analysis is performed. For example, with regard to novelty, non-obviousness, or the like, if later investigation reveals that one or more claims encompass one or more embodiments that would negate novelty, non-obviousness, etc., the claim(s), being limited by definition to “patentable” embodiments, specifically excludes the unpatentable embodiment(s). Also, the claims appended hereto are to be interpreted both to provide the broadest reasonable scope, as well as to preserve their validity. Furthermore, if one or more of the statutory requirements for patentability are amended or if the standards change for assessing whether a particular statutory requirement for patentability is satisfied from the time this application is filed or issues as a patent to a time the validity of one or more of the appended claims is questioned, the claims are to be interpreted in a way that (1) preserves their validity and (2) provides the broadest reasonable interpretation under the circumstances.
A “plurality” means more than one.
The terms “removable”, “removably attached”, and the like means that one article, when attached to another, can be removed without damage such that the removed article can be reused if desired, including being attached (or fixed) again to the same or a different article.
The term “tabletop” refers to a flat, smooth, level surface suitable for setting in motion a manually powered centrifuge device according to the invention. Such surfaces include table or desktops, scientific workbenches, and the like. In addition, any other suitable surface, for example, a concrete floor, that can be so used to practice the invention will also be understood to be a “tabletop” in this context.
The object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal device that spins through manual pumping or reciprocating action of a suitable clutch-containing drive system where the samples are housed in the bowl of the device. In current preferred embodiments, the invention must be safe for children to operate independently and must exert sufficient centrifugal force to separate scientific samples common in K-12 education laboratories. In these embodiments, the interior of the device is hollow and accommodates an adapter (or insert or rotor) that houses scientific samples, preferably in removable, capable tubes (e.g., microcentrifuge tubes such as 1.5 mL Eppendorf tubes). Unlike centrifugal devices based upon salad spinners, a device of the invention does not require suspending the samples from the lid of the unit or attachment to the colander through putty and zip ties. The spinnable centrifuge assembly (or any suitable manually powered rotable assembly now known or later developed and suitable for use in the context of the invention) does not require attachment to a table or surface to operate. It can be spun freely on any (preferably flat, level, and smooth) surface. However, the device is not limited to spinning freely on any surface. In some embodiments, the device may spin on an adapter that is attached to a surface. The devices of the invention may be used in the analysis of industrial or scientific samples and, in particularly preferred embodiments, for the purpose of science education. In some currently preferred embodiments, the manually powered centrifugal device of the invention resembles a familiar toy in appearance, making it appealing to children.
In some preferred embodiments, the manually powered centrifugal device of the invention is comprised of a cylindrical rotatable assembly having a chamber or bowl that has an affixed insert (or adapter or rotor) designed to house scientific samples, although embodiments without a bowl are envisioned as are embodiments in which the chamber or bowl is adapted to receive a sample (or tube) holder, for example, a removable rotor that includes cavities for holding sample-containing tubes. In some of these embodiments, the drive mechanism beneath the chamber includes an attached inverse cone that is the point of contact between the manually spinnable centrifuge assembly and the surface on which it spins. The spinnable centrifuge assembly has a spindle rod perpendicular and affixed to the base of the rotatable chamber. The top of the rod includes the bottom of a clutch mechanism, which preferably is a series of raised bumps on the surface of the rod. The rod is hollow and houses a flat helical spiral that rotates the centrifuge assembly by an up and down pumping motion relative to the surface where the inverse cone is resting. On top of the rod is a lid that encloses an upper radial paddle with the same series of raised bumps. The radial paddle has a slit where the helical spindle passes and moves up and down within the clutch lid during the pumping motion, resulting in continual spinning of the centrifuge assembly. On top of the helical spindle is a handle and on the bottom is a protrusion that keeps the spindle from passing through the radial paddle and clutch mechanism.
In one embodiment of the invention, the insert (or adapter or rotor) is designed to house microcentrifuge test tubes that hold up to 1.5 ml of sample. The insert (or adapter or rotor) is affixed to the base of the rotatable chamber and can hold 2 or more sample-containing tubes. In some preferred embodiments, the insert (or adapter or rotor) is configured to hold an even number of samples (e.g., 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or more), with half of the samples being located 180 degrees from the other half to provide balance during rotation. In other embodiments, the insert (or adapter or rotor) is configured to hold samples spaced by 90, 60, or 45 degrees.
The present invention is further detailed with respect to the following drawings. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention but rather to illustrate certain attributes. Unless otherwise indicated, it is understood that the drawings are not to scale, as they are intended merely to facilitate understanding of the invention as opposed to specific dimensions, etc. In the drawings, like numbers in two or more drawings represent the same elements.
Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.
The present invention is a manually powered centrifugal device that spins through manual pumping or reciprocating action. In one embodiment, the invention resembles a toy top and can be used as a science teaching tool. This embodiment of the invention is fully depicted in
The other end of the spindle rod (3) is part of the clutch mechanism. A close-up of the clutch-side of the spindle rod is depicted in
As depicted in
One embodiment of the insert (or adapter or rotor) (4) that houses scientific samples in microfuge tubes is shown in
In one embodiment of the invention, there is an optional safety lid (12), as shown in
One embodiment of using this invention is the separation of solid from a liquid suspension or separation of liquids of different density. In either case, the sample is placed in two test tubes (or in one tube with the other tube containing a substantially equivalent mass so as to balance the sample-containing tube). The two tubes are filled with approximately the same amount of sample and are placed in the two openings in the insert (or adapter or rotor) (4). In this embodiment, the test tubes do not have to be exactly the same weight for the centrifugal device to spin evenly. In another case, the sample may be placed in one test tube and the other test tube filled with the same amount of any liquid (or a substantially equivalent mass) to provide even spinning. After the samples are placed in the tubes and the tubes placed in the insert (or adapter or rotor) (4), the lid (12) is placed on the device and it is spun by pumping the handle (10) up and down moving the helical rod (9) through the clutch (
This embodiment of the device is calculated to exert a centrifugal force of approximately 140 times the force of gravity (140×g) on the samples, although the invention can be readily adapted to achieve a higher or lower g-forces. In the present representative example, the centrifugal force was calculated using a slow motion camera with the lid (12) of the device removed. One side of the insert (4) (or adapter or rotor) was marked and the number of times the mark rotated per minute was recorded. The rotations per minute and radius of the insert (or adapter or rotor)/bowl (4,5) in centimeters was used to calculate the g-force using the following equation: G-Force=0.00001118×Rotor Radius×(RPM)2. Varying the rotational speed and the radius of the insert (or adapter or rotor) (4), for example, by using a different insert that places the sample-containing tubes farther from or nearer the spindle rod (3) or a larger chamber or bowl to accommodate a larger insert or adapter or rotor) (4), are parameters that can be varied in different embodiments in order to achieve higher or lower g-force (or range of g-forces), allowing different experiments to be performed. Some embodiments of the invention envision providing inserts (or adapters or rotors, be they permanently attached to the bowl or removable) (4) having different radii and allowing more than one sample-containing tube to be loaded per arm (or region) of the insert that can be changed, increasing the range of potential experiments that can be performed and numbers of samples that can be centrifuged in single run. For example, the invention can readily be adapted to provide manually powered centrifuges capable of generating less than 20 to more than 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, or more g's. In some embodiments, the rotable assembly includes one or more weights added, preferably about the periphery of the assembly, to increase momentum of the assemble as it rotates (and force as it accelerates).
The embodiment depicted in the Figures can spin for approximately 1-2 minutes after pumping has stopped, depending on the smoothness of the surface and how evenly and quickly the device was pumped. This force is safe and appropriate for an educational tool and is sufficient for a typical educational experiment even through high school and possibly community college. For example, in advanced high school experiments, protein precipitates have been separated from a liquid suspension after spinning in the device for 2 minutes.
The embodiment depicted in
The helical rod (9) was prepared by twisting ¼ inch aluminum flat rod that was 1/16 of an inch thick. Rod was twisted by placing one end in a vice. A hollow tube was prepared through 3D printing to fit over the rod and keep it straight during the twisting process. The tube was held in place with a clamp attached to a stationary stand. The other end of the flat rod was clamped with vice grips that were rotated perpendicular to the axis of the rod. In this embodiment, the helical rod (9) was rotated to yield a twisting rate of approximately 1.5 cm per turn. As will be appreciated, other twist rates (with greater or lesser amounts of twist per unit distance) are envisioned and within the scope of the invention. The handle (10) fits securely on the top of the twisted rod and a small disk (11) the radius of the alignment rod (6) was affixed to the other end of the helical rod after it was passed through the clutch mechanism.
The device is assembled as described above, and in this embodiment, the components are affixed with cyanoacrylate glue. Specifically, the glass bead (bearing) (8) is affixed in the spinner cone (7). The alignment rod (6) is affixed to the assembled spinner (7,8). The spinner assembly (7,8) is affixed to the bowl (5) guided by the alignment rod (6) that protrudes into the bowl by approximately 1 cm. Next, the spindle rod (3) is affixed to the inside of the bowl (5) through the disk at its end (3) and aligned in the bowl (5) guided by the alignment rod (6). The insert (4) is passed over the spindle rod (3) and affixed to the spindle rod disk (with the cyanoacrylate glue) that has already been affixed to the bowl (5). Permanent affixation of the insert (4) to the spindle rod disk (3) is not required. The insert may be held in place through other mechanisms that would allow it to be removed and replaced with other embodiments of the insert. In other embodiments multiple inserts of different geometries may be prepared to house different numbers of samples or different sample sizes. In this embodiment, the insert is affixed as a safety precaution. In other embodiments, the insert (4) and other embodiments of the insert maybe affixed to the spinner assembly (7,8) without the bowl (5). In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the bowl (5) stabilizes the unit and protects the user from potential injury from the insert (4), samples, etc. during operation. The helical rod (9) is inserted through the clutch's radial disk (2) and the handle (10) is affixed at one end and the disk (11) affixed at or near the other end of the helical rod (9). This helical rod assembly is inserted into the spindle rod (3). The lid (1) of the clutch mechanism is affixed to the spindle rod (3), allowing the enclosed radial disk (2) to move between engaged and disengaged positions with the top of the spindle rod (3). At this point, the device is assembled. It can then be placed on a surface and the insert (4) spun by moving the helical rod assembly up and down using pumping motion after grasping the handle. The device may be continually pumped or pumped and then allowed to spin freely to achieve the ideal results for the specific separation.
The manually powered centrifuges of the invention can be used for any suitable purpose analytical, commercial, educational, industrial, or research purpose, including separating mixtures of solutions having different densities, separating immiscible liquids, separating suspended particles, solids, etc. from solution, separating blood components, separating insoluble particles or other components suspended in solution, etc.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description above and the appended claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “hereunder,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the word “or” is used in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.
The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above descriptions. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. As such, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims, and it is intended that the invention be limited only to the extent required by the applicable rules of law.
This invention was made at least in part with U.S. government support under grant no. 1914134 awarded by the National Science Foundation. As such, the U.S. government may have certain rights in this invention.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US21/21568 | 3/9/2021 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62988125 | Mar 2020 | US |
