(19)
(11)EP 1 246 701 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
18.04.2018 Bulletin 2018/16

(21)Application number: 00961985.9

(22)Date of filing:  30.06.2000
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B01L 3/00(2006.01)
B04B 5/04(2006.01)
(86)International application number:
PCT/US2000/040290
(87)International publication number:
WO 2001/002255 (11.01.2001 Gazette  2001/02)

(54)

A CONTAINER ASSEMBLY HAVING A SUPPORT BRIDGE

BEHÄLTERKONSTRUKTION MIT VERSTÄRKUNGSBRÜCKE

ENSEMBLE RECIPIENT A PONTAGE D'APPUI


(84)Designated Contracting States:
DE FR

(30)Priority: 01.07.1999 US 141995 P

(43)Date of publication of application:
09.10.2002 Bulletin 2002/41

(73)Proprietor: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC
Asheville, NC 28804 (US)

(72)Inventors:
  • ROMANAUSKAS, William, Andrew
    Southbury, CT 06488 (US)
  • SHEERAN, Edward, Thomas, Jr.
    Southbury, CT 06488 (US)

(74)Representative: Lang, Friedrich et al
Lang & Tomerius Patentanwälte Rosa-Bavarese-Strasse 5
80639 München
80639 München (DE)


(56)References cited: : 
WO-A-94/27879
US-A- 2 250 666
US-A- 2 878 994
US-A- 3 133 882
US-A- 3 938 735
US-A- 4 439 177
US-A- 5 395 001
US-A- 5 692 630
WO-A1-92/18390
US-A- 2 447 330
US-A- 3 071 316
US-A- 3 265 296
US-A- 4 190 196
US-A- 4 537 320
US-A- 5 558 616
US-A- 5 816 998
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    Background of the Invention


    1. Field of the Invention



    [0001] The present invention relates to a container assembly having a support bridge that is capable of preventing collapse of the container during centrifugation. A lid is positioned on top of the container, and the support bridge is disposed between the lid and an upper portion of the container.

    2. Description of the Prior Art



    [0002] A centrifuge instrument is a device by which liquid samples may be subjected to a centrifugal force. Swinging bucket centrifuge systems are well known in the centrifuge art. The rotor in such a system is adapted to receive a bucket that hangs from the rotor body. When the rotor is at rest, the bucket hangs in a generally vertical position. When the rotor is accelerated, the bucket swings from its rest position to a horizontal position.

    [0003] US 3,938,735 A and US 4,190,196 A relate to so-called fixed angle centrifuge systems not utilizing swinging buckets. Straight tubes having no neck are used for centrifugation. The upper parts of the tubes are sealed by screw means having laterally protruding parts overlapping the upper tube portion.

    [0004] WO 94/27879 A1 and WO 92/18390 A1 disclose swinging bucket centrifuge systems utilizing a force transmitting member designed such as to distribute the bending and compressing components of the centrifugal body force generated during centrifugation into the transition portion of the tube containing the sample to be centrifuged. The tube has to be filled with liquid in order that a hydrostatic counter-force can be generated which withstands and opposes the centrifugal body force.

    [0005] U.S. Patent No. 5,591,114 to Romanauskas, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a swinging bucket centrifuge rotor. The body of the rotor has at least one pair of confronting planar sidewalls that are circumferentially spaced apart to define a generally axially extending slot. Each planar sidewall has a trunnion pin mounted thereon, and the trunnion pins as a pair serve to receive a swinging bucket.

    [0006] U.S. Patent No. 5,624,370 to Romanauskas, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a bucket for use in a swinging bucket centrifuge rotor. The bucket has a cylindrical body with a pair of planar abutments formed on the body. The abutments are diametrically disposed on the body. A slot is formed between each abutment and a portion of the body of the bucket, and each slot has a groove. The bucket is installed on a rotor by lowering the bucket onto a pair of rotor trunnion pins such that each trunnion pin is received within a groove defined on a respective abutment.

    [0007] A container for use in a swinging bucket centrifuge system and made of a rigid material is generally cylindrical in form. However, a swinging bucket can also define a generally rectangular volume within which a flexible or non-cylindrical container can be held. Such an arrangement is commonly used for holding blood bags for centrifugation of blood.

    [0008] The centrifugal force that advantageously serves to separate a liquid sample into its constituent parts also acts upon the container that holds the sample. The container must be capable of withstanding this force otherwise it will be disfigured or destroyed. For example, if a blood bag is not substantially full during centrifugation, the unfilled portion of the bag will crease and fold into the remainder of the bag and blood particles can become lodged in a crease. Even in the case of a more rigid container, the structural integrity of the container must be sufficient to ensure that it does not collapse under the stress of centrifugal force.

    [0009] In the prior art, the integrity of a container held within a swinging bucket is maintained by either substantially filling the container or by reinforcing the walls of the container. Filling a container is a problem in the case where an operator wishes to work with a sample volume that is less than the amount required to fill the container. On the other hand, reinforcing the walls of a container requires the use of a material that is thicker or stronger than the material used for a non-reinforced container. Consequently, a container with reinforced walls is heavier, less transparent, has a reduced volume capacity and is more expensive than a non-reinforced container. Furthermore, such a container cannot be made by an inexpensive manufacturing process such as blow molding.

    [0010] There is a need for a lightweight, inexpensive container assembly that does not collapse when subjected to centrifugal force.

    [0011] There is also a need for such a container assembly that accommodates a flexible or non-cylindrical container.

    Summary of the Invention



    [0012] The invention relates to a centrifuge system as claimed in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

    [0013] In one embodiment of the invention, the member, also denoted as a support bridge, to secure its position has an aperture for securing the lid and a counter bore defining a flange that engages an edge of the lid. A lip formed at either end of the bridge engages a respective edge of a swinging bucket in which the container is disposed during centrifugation.

    [0014] It will be noted, as the description of one embodiment herein proceeds, that the container includes a chamber that can have a non-cylindrical form. In an alternate embodiment, the chamber can be a bag.

    [0015] It will especially be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention permits the use of a container made of an inexpensive, lightweight material.

    Brief Description of the Drawings



    [0016] 

    Fig. 1 is an exploded top perspective view showing components of a container assembly for use in a centrifuge system in accordance with the present invention;

    Fig. 2A is a top plan view of a support bridge in accordance with the present invention;

    Fig. 2B is a front elevational view with a vertical section taken along line A-A of Fig. 2A;

    Fig. 2C is a vertical section taken along line B-B of Fig. 2A;

    Fig. 3A is a top plan view of the container assembly of Fig. 1 shown mounted in a swinging bucket;

    Fig. 3B is a front elevational view with portions in vertical section, of the assembled container assembly of Fig.1 shown mounted in a swinging bucket shown in vertical section;

    Fig. 3C is a vertical sectional view taken along line C-C of Fig. 3B;

    Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view as would be seen along line C-C of Fig. 3B showing the assembled container assembly of Fig. 1 during a centrifuge operation;

    Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view as would be seen along line D-D of Fig. 3B; and

    Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3C showing an alternate embodiment of the container assembly of the invention.


    Detailed Description of the Invention



    [0017] The present invention can best be described by reference to the attached figures, wherein Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a container assembly 5 for use in a centrifuge system in accordance with the present invention. The assembly includes a container 10, a support bridge 20, and a lid 50. Optionally, an o-ring 30 and an insert plug 40 can be included.

    [0018] Container 10 has a chamber 8, a shoulder 12, and a neck 15 with a threaded surface and an opening through which chamber 8 is accessed. Lid 50 has a threaded surface that engages the threads of neck 15. For an enhanced seal, o-ring 30 is positioned on the circumference of insert plug 40, which is inserted into the opening of container 10.

    [0019] Lid 50, with the assistance of insert plug 40 and o-ring 30, seals container 10. Neck 15 could have a threaded interior surface and lid 50 could have a threaded exterior surface, or vice versa. However, the threaded surfaces are not essential, and lid 50 can seal container 10 in any suitable manner.

    [0020] As explained below, support bridge 20 prevents lid 50, insert plug 40 and o-ring 30, and also neck 15 and shoulder 12, from collapsing container 10 when they are subjected to centrifugal forces. It can be made of any material capable of withstanding the centrifugal forces. In a preferred embodiment, support bridge 20 is a collar, made of polypropylene, disposed about neck 15.

    [0021] Figs. 2A through 2C are, respectively, a top planar view, a front sectional view and a side sectional view of the support bridge 20 shown in Fig. 1. Support bridge 20 is substantially reverse U-shaped. It has a substantially horizontal portion 27 with an aperture 26 that receives the container lid 50 (Fig. 1) and a counter bore defining a lip or flange 22 that engages an edge of lid 50. A vertically sloping portion 28 substantially conforms to the contour of the container shoulder 12 (Fig. 1). Lip 24 engages an edge of a structure within which container 10 (Fig. 1) is held.

    [0022] Because it prevents the collapse of container 10, support bridge 20 allows for container 10 to be made of an inexpensive, lightweight material. For example, container 10 can be manufactured of any plastic including polyethyleneterephthalate, polypropylene, or polycarbonate, and its walls can be as thin as 1 millimeter. However, in a case where plastic is inappropriate, container 10 can be manufactured of any conventional material, including a metal such as stainless steel. Support bridge 20 also allows for container 10 to be manufactured by an inexpensive process such as blow molding.

    [0023] Another advantage of support bridge 20 is that it permits chamber 8 to have either a cylindrical or non-cylindrical form. In a preferred embodiment, chamber 8 has a non-cylindrical form that permits a greater volume of material to be centrifuged as shown in the discussion accompanying Fig. 5.

    [0024] Figs. 3A through 3C are, respectively, a top planar view, a front sectional view and a side sectional view of the container assembly shown in Fig. 1 held in a swinging bucket 100 for use in a swinging bucket centrifuge system. As a term of art, a non-cylindrical bucket such as swinging bucket 100 is sometimes referred to as a "rectangular bucket", although its footprint is not truly a quadrilateral.

    [0025] Swinging bucket 100 includes slots 110a and 110b that slide over trunnion pins (Fig. 4, reference 230a and 230b) for mounting on a swinging centrifuge rotor (Fig. 4, reference 300). Swinging bucket 100 can be a solid unit, a basket or merely a frame. In this application it serves as a holder for container 10.

    [0026] Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view as would be seen along line C-C of Fig. 3B showing the assembled container assembly of Fig. 1 during a centrifuge operation. A rotor 200 is adapted for rotational motion within a centrifuge instrument about a vertical axis of rotation 210. Rotor 200 includes a pair of radially extending arms 220a and 220b with corresponding trunnion pins 230a and 230b to accommodate swinging bucket 100.

    [0027] In operation, swinging bucket 100 swings into a horizontal position generally perpendicular to the vertical axis of rotation 210. Centrifugal force 240 pushes lid 50, neck 15 and shoulder 12 toward chamber 8 of container 10. During centrifuge operation, centrifugal force 240 can be many times the normal force of gravity, placing a tremendous strain on container 10.

    [0028] Support bridge 20 is a member positioned between lid 50 and swinging bucket 100 for supporting lid 50, neck 15 and shoulder 12, and preventing centrifugal force 240 from collapsing container 10. The support of neck 15 and shoulder 12 is accomplished through the engagement of lid 50 and neck 15. Thus, the centrifugal force 240 is transferred from lid 50 to swinging bucket 100. To secure its position, support bridge 20 has an aperture into which lid 50 is set, a counter bore defining a lip or flange 22 that engages an edge 52 of lid 50, and a lip 24 that engages an edge 102 of swinging bucket 100.

    [0029] Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view as would be seen along line D-D of Fig. 3B showing the advantage of chamber 8 having a non-cylindrical form. A cylinder held within swinging bucket 100 would be limited to having a diameter 400 and therefore, a footprint represented by the non-shaded area 410. A non-cylindrical footprint can extend further, beyond diameter 400 into the shaded area 420. A cylindrical configuration cannot take advantage of shaded area 420. Accordingly, a non-cylindrical chamber can hold a greater volume than a cylindrical chamber.

    [0030] Fig. 6 shows a swinging bucket 100 holding another embodiment of a container assembly of the present invention. More particularly, a container 510 is comprised of a bag 508 and a neck 515 with a threaded surface and an opening through which bag 508 can be accessed. Preferably, neck 515 is ultrasonically welded to bag 508. Optionally, an o-ring 530 is positioned on the circumference of insert plug 540, which is inserted into the opening of container 510. Lid 550 has a threaded surface that engages the threads of neck 515.

    [0031] Lid 550, with the assistance of insert plug 540 and o-ring 530, seals container 510. Neck 515 could have a threaded interior surface and lid 550 could have a threaded exterior surface, or vice versa. However, the threaded surfaces are not essential, and lid 550 can seal container 510 in any suitable manner.

    [0032] Support bridge 520 is a member positioned between lid 550 and swinging bucket 100 for supporting lid 550 and preventing centrifugal forces from collapsing container 510. Thus, the centrifugal force is transferred from lid 550 to swinging bucket 100. To secure its position, support bridge 520 has an aperture into which lid 550 is set, a counter bore defining a lip or flange 522 that engages an edge 552 of lid 550, and a lip 524 that engages an edge 102 of swinging bucket 100.


    Claims

    1. A swinging bucket centrifuge system comprising:

    a rotor (200);

    a container assembly (5) which comprises a container (10, 510) having a neck (15, 515) and an upper portion, a lid (50, 550) on a top of said container (10, 510), and a member (20, 520) positioned between said lid (50, 550) and said upper portion of said container (10, 510); and

    a swinging bucket (100) for holding said container (10, 510) about said rotor (200),

    characterized in that

    said member (20, 520) is positioned between said lid (50, 550) and said swinging bucket (100) for supporting said lid (50, 550) and transferring a centrifugal force from said lid (50, 550) to said swinging bucket (100), thereby preventing said centrifugal force from collapsing said container (10, 510).


     
    2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said member (20, 520) includes a first lip (22, 522) that engages an edge (52, 552) of said lid (50, 550), and a second lip (24, 524) that engages an edge (102) of said swinging bucket (100).
     
    3. The system according to claim 1,
    wherein said neck (15, 515) includes an aperture for providing access to said container (10, 510), and a first threaded surface, and wherein said lid (50, 550) includes a second threaded surface that engages said first threaded surface.
     
    4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said member (20, 520) includes an aperture (26) for receiving said lid (50, 550).
     
    5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said aperture (26) is provided in a horizontal portion (27).
     
    6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said member (20, 520) is reverse U-shaped.
     
    7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said member (20, 520) is made of polypropylene.
     
    8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said container (10, 510) is made of a plastic selected from the group consisting of polyethyleneterephthalate, polypropylene, and polycarbonate.
     
    9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
    wherein said container (510) comprises a bag (508).
     
    10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said neck (515) is ultrasonically welded to said bag (508).
     
    11. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
    wherein the upper portion of said container (10) includes a shoulder (12) and said member (20) has a sloping portion (28) conforming to a contour of said shoulder (12).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Schwenkbecher-Zentrifugensystem, umfassend:

    einen Rotor (200),

    eine Behälteranordnung (5), die einen Behälter (10, 510) mit einem Hals (15, 515) und einem oberen Abschnitt, einen Deckel (50, 550) auf einem Kopfende des Behälters (10, 510) und ein zwischen dem Deckel (50, 550) und dem oberen Abschnitt des Behälters (10, 510) positioniertes Element (20, 520) umfasst, und

    einen Schwenkbecher (100) zum Halten des Behälters (10, 510) an dem Rotor (200),

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

    das Element (20, 520) zwischen dem Deckel (50, 550) und dem Schwenkbecher (100) positioniert ist, um den Deckel (50, 550) zu stützen und eine Zentrifugalkraft von dem Deckel (50, 550) auf den Schwenkbecher (100) zu übertragen, wodurch verhindert wird, dass die Zentrifugalkraft den Behälter (10, 510) zusammendrückt.


     
    2. System nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Element (20, 520) eine erste Lippe (22, 522), die mit einer Kante (52, 552) des Deckels (50, 550) in Eingriff kommt, und eine zweite Lippe (24, 524) aufweist, die mit einer Kante (102) des Schwenkbechers (100) in Eingriff kommt.
     
    3. System nach Anspruch 1,
    wobei der Hals (15, 515) eine Öffnung zum Bereitstellen eines Zugangs zu dem Behälter (10, 510) und eine erste Gewindefläche aufweist, und wobei der Deckel (50, 550) eine zweite Gewindefläche aufweist, die mit der ersten Gewindefläche in Eingriff kommt.
     
    4. System nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Element (20, 520) eine Öffnung (26) zum Aufnehmen des Deckels (50, 550) aufweist.
     
    5. System nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Öffnung (26) in einem horizontalen Abschnitt (27) bereitgestellt ist.
     
    6. System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei das Element (20, 520) eine umgekehrte U-Form aufweist.
     
    7. System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, wobei das Element (20, 520) aus Polypropylen besteht.
     
    8. System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, wobei der Behälter (10, 510) aus einem Kunststoff besteht, der ausgewählt ist aus der Gruppe, bestehend aus Polyethylenterephthalat, Polypropylen und Polycarbonat.
     
    9. System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8,
    wobei der Behälter (510) einen Beutel (508) umfasst.
     
    10. System nach Anspruch 9, wobei der Hals (515) mit dem Beutel (508) mit Ultraschall verschweißt ist.
     
    11. System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8,
    wobei der obere Abschnitt des Behälters (10) eine Schulter (12) aufweist und das Element (20) einen einem Profil der Schulter (12) entsprechenden geneigten Abschnitt (28) aufweist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Système de centrifugeuse à godet(s) oscillant(s) comprenant :

    un rotor (200) ;

    un assemblage (5) formant récipient qui comprend un récipient (10, 510) présentant un goulot (15, 515) et une portion supérieure, un bouchon (50, 550) sur le haut dudit récipient (10, 510), et un élément (20, 520) positionné entre ledit bouchon (50, 550) et ladite portion supérieure dudit récipient (10, 510) ; et un godet oscillant (100) destiné à recevoir ledit récipient (10, 510) en relation avec ledit rotor (200),

    caractérisé en ce que

    ledit élément (20, 520) est positionné entre ledit bouchon (50, 550) et ledit godet oscillant (100) de manière à supporter ledit bouchon (50, 550) et à transférer une force centrifuge dudit bouchon (50, 550) vers ledit godet oscillant (100), empêchant ainsi la force centrifuge de produire l'affaissement dudit récipient (10, 510).


     
    2. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit élément (20, 520) comprend une première lèvre (22, 522) qui engage un bord (52, 552) dudit bouchon (50, 550) et une seconde lèvre (24, 524) qui engage un bord (102) dudit godet oscillant (100).
     
    3. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit goulot (15, 515) comprend une ouverture pour fournir un accès audit récipient (10, 510), et une première surface filetée, et dans lequel ledit bouchon (50, 550) comporte une seconde surface filetée qui s'engage sur ladite première surface filetée.
     
    4. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit élément (20, 520) comprend une ouverture (26) destinée à recevoir ledit bouchon (50, 550).
     
    5. Système selon la revendication 4, dans lequel ladite ouverture (26) est ménagée dans une portion horizontale (27).
     
    6. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel ledit élément (20, 520) est en forme de U inversé.
     
    7. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel ledit élément (20, 520) est en polypropylène.
     
    8. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel ledit récipient (10, 510) est réalisé dans une matière plastique choisie dans le groupe composé du polyéthylène téréphtalate, du polypropylène, et du polycarbonate.
     
    9. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel ledit récipient (510) comprend un sac (508).
     
    10. Système selon la revendication 9, dans lequel ledit goulot (515) est soudé par voie ultrasonique audit sac (508).
     
    11. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel la portion supérieure dudit récipient (10) comprend un épaulement (12) et ledit élément (20) présente une portion inclinée (28) épousant un contour dudit épaulement (12).
     




    Drawing























    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description