IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
UP-0954388
(2007-12-12)
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등록번호 |
US-7674221
(2010-04-21)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Hudock, Darryl
- Joseph, Daniel A.
- Dolecek, Victor D.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
16 인용 특허 :
57 |
초록
▼
An apparatus for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into at least a first component and a second component comprises a centrifuge, with a rotor having a rotation axis comprising at least two separation cells, each for containing a separation bag containing a volume of com
An apparatus for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into at least a first component and a second component comprises a centrifuge, with a rotor having a rotation axis comprising at least two separation cells, each for containing a separation bag containing a volume of composite liquid; and first balancing elements for balancing the rotor when the respective weights of the at least two separation bags in the at least two separation cells are different.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into at least a first component and a second component, whereby the at least two discrete volumes can have different weights, the apparatus comprising a centrifuge comprising: a rotor having
The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into at least a first component and a second component, whereby the at least two discrete volumes can have different weights, the apparatus comprising a centrifuge comprising: a rotor having a rotation axis, comprising at least two separation cells, each for containing a separation bag containing a volume of composite liquid; and a first balancing means for balancing the rotor when the respective weights of the at least two separation bags in the at least two separation cells are different, comprising: at least two expandable hydraulic chambers within the at least two separation cells respectively, wherein the at least two hydraulic chambers are fluidly interconnected; a source of hydraulic liquid fluidly connected to the at least two hydraulic chambers; a liquid transferring means for transferring a volume of hydraulic liquid from the hydraulic liquid source into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers so as to substantially balance the rotor when two separation bags respectively contained in the at least two different separation cells have different weights; a storage means included in the rotor for storing at least two satellite bags respectively connected to at least two separation bags contained in the at least two separation cells; and a component transferring means for transferring at least one separated component from each separation bag into a satellite bag connected thereto. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit programmed for causing the liquid transferring means to transfer a predetermined volume of hydraulic liquid from the hydraulic liquid source into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers, wherein the predetermined volume of hydraulic liquid is selected so as to substantially balance the rotor whatever the weights of two separation bags respectively contained in the at least two different separation cells. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid transferring means comprises a pumping means for pumping a volume of hydraulic fluid into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two hydraulic chambers are interconnected by a circular conduit centered on the rotation axis, and the circular conduit is connected to each hydraulic chamber to an area thereof that is closer to a periphery of the rotor than to the rotation axis. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the component transferring means comprises a pumping means for pumping hydraulic liquid from the source of hydraulic liquid into the at least two interconnected hydraulic chambers so as to squeeze the at least two separation bags within the at least two separation cells and to cause a component separated therein to flow into a satellite bag connected to each separation bag. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second balancing means for balancing the rotor when the at least two satellite bags stored in the storage means cause an unbalance of the rotor. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: the storage means comprises a central container, around which the at least two separation cells are symmetrically arranged with respect to the rotation axis; and the second balancing means comprises at least two interconnected flexible pouches partially filled with a liquid, wherein the pouches are arranged against a wall of the central container so that the at least one satellite bag connected to each separation bag presses onto a pouch during centrifugation. 8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: the storage means comprises a central container, around which the at least two separation cells are symmetrically arranged with respect to the rotation axis; and the second balancing means comprises a cylindrical flexible pouch partially filled with a liquid lining a wall of the central container so that the at least one satellite bag connected to each separation bag presses onto the pouch during centrifugation. 9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: the storage means comprises one container associated with each separation cell, the container being located between the separation cell and the rotation axis; and the second balancing means comprises one flexible pouch partially filled with a liquid arranged against a wall of each container so that a satellite bag stored in the container presses onto a pouch during centrifugation, wherein a flexible pouch in one container is fluidly interconnected with a pouch in another container. 10. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: at least one valve member associated with each separation cell for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag and a first satellite bag, wherein the at least one valve member is mounted on the rotor so as to be between the associated separation cell and the storage means, with respect to the rotation axis. 11. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one valve member associated with each separation cell for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag and a first satellite bag, wherein the at least one valve member is mounted on the rotor so that the storage means is between the at least one valve member and the associated separation cell, with respect to the rotation axis. 12. An apparatus according to claims 1, further comprising at least one sensor associated with each separation cell for generating information related to a characteristic of a component separated in a separation bag within the separation cell. 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor is mounted on the rotor so as to detect a characteristic of a component in a separation bag contained in the associated separation cell. 14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor is mounted on the rotor so as to detect a characteristic of a component in a tube connected to a separation bag contained in the associated separation cell. 15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each separation cell comprises a substantially closed cavity having a longitudinal axis intersecting the rotation axis of the rotor and comprising a portion closer to the rotation axis of the rotor that is defined by four walls converging towards the longitudinal axis of the cavity. 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the longitudinal axis of the cavity of each separation cell intersects the rotation axis of the rotor at an acute angle. 17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each separation cell comprises a cavity having a bottom wall, an upper wall and a lower wall, and the hydraulic chamber is underneath a membrane that is lining at least part of either the upper wall or the lower wall of the cavity. 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the density of the hydraulic liquid is so selected as to be higher than the density of the component having the highest density. 19. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each separation cell comprises a cavity having a bottom wall, an upper wall, and a lower wall, and the hydraulic chamber comprising a flexible pouch that rests at least on part the lower wall. 20. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each separation cell comprises a securing means for securing an upper edge of a separation bag so that the upper edge is the portion of the separation bag that is the closest to the rotation axis. 21. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one sensor associated with each separation cell for generating information related to a characteristic of a component separated in a separation bag within the separation cell; a memory unit for storing at least one change in rotation speed of the rotor; and a control unit programmed: for receiving from the memory the at least one change in rotation speed, and information generated by the at least one sensor associated with each separation cell; and for causing the at least one change in rotation speed in view of information generated by one of the at least one sensor associated with each of the at least two separation cells. 22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the control unit is programmed for causing the at least one change of rotation speed in view of information generated by the first of the at least one sensor associated with the at least two separation cells that detects a characteristic of a component separated in a separation bag within a separation cell. 23. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the control unit is programmed for causing the at least one change of rotation speed in view of information generated by the last of the at least one sensor associated with the at least two separation cells that detects a characteristic of a component separated in a separation bag within a separation cell. 24. An apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising at least one valve member associated with each separation cell for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag within the separation cell and a satellite bag connected thereto, wherein the control unit is further programmed for causing at least once in a separation process the at least one valve member associated with a separation cell to block a flow of fluid between a separation bag within the separation cell and a satellite bag connected thereto following a detection of the characteristic of a separated component by the at least one sensor associated with the same separation cell. 25. An apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising at least one valve member associated with each separation cell for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag within the separation cell and a satellite bag connected thereto, wherein the control unit is further programmed for causing at least once in a separation process the at least one valve member associated with a separation cell to allow a flow of fluid between a separation bag within the separation cell and a satellite bag connected thereto following a detection of the characteristic of a separated component by the at least one sensor associated with another separation cell. 26. An apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising at least one valve member associated with each separation cell for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag within the separation cell and a satellite bag connected thereto, wherein the control unit is further programmed for: causing the rotor to rotate at a sedimentation speed for separating a least two components in at least two separation bags contained in the at least two separation cell respectively; causing the least one valve member associated with each separation cell to allow a flow of fluid between each separation bag and the satellite bag connected thereto; causing the component transferring means to transfer at least a portion of a separated component from each of the at least two separation bags into the satellite bag connected thereto; causing the least one valve member associated with each separation cell to block a flow of fluid between the separation bag within the separation cell and the satellite bag connected thereto, when the sensor associated with the separation cell detects the characteristic of a separated component. 27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the control unit is further programmed for: causing the component transferring means to stop transferring a separated component from the at least two separation bags into the satellite bags connected thereto when one sensor associated with one of the at least two the separation cells detects the characteristic of a separated component; causing the component transferring means to transfer a separated component from the at least two separation bags into the satellite bags connected thereto, after the valve member associated with the separation cell associated with the sensor that has detected the characteristic of a separated component has blocked a flow of fluid between the separation bag and the satellite bag connected thereto. 28. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein: the at least one sensor comprises a first sensor for detecting a characteristic of a separated component in a separation bag within a separation cell; the least one valve member comprises a first valve member for allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag and a first satellite bag connected thereto; the control unit is further programmed for controlling an actuation of the first valve member in view of information from the first sensor. 29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein: the at least one sensor comprises a second sensor for detecting a characteristic of a separated component in a tube connecting a separation bag to a second satellite bag; the least one valve member comprises a second valve member for allowing or blocking a flow of fluid between a separation bag and a second satellite bag connected thereto; the control unit is further programmed for controlling an actuation of a second valve member in view of information from the second sensor.
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