DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PORTABLE AND COMPACT CENTRIFUGATION
Embodiments of a portable and compact centrifugal system are described, comprising a centrifuge body comprising a motor; and a monolithic rotor, suitable for manufacturing in a straight-pull injection mold, with an attachment hub, fixed retainer for exactly one sample tube, arms for the retainer, and a thin, aerodynamic counterweight. Embodiments include a rotor with a counterweight and wherein the tube retainer and the counterweight are angled downward; a central clearance volume for manual placement of a sample tube; and dimensions optimized to just fill a fixed rotational circle. Embodiments include a centrifuge with: an enclosure, hinged lid, lid-closure sensor, motor, and automatic timer; free of both user controls and user displays.
1 . A centrifuge comprising:
an enclosure, comprising internally:
a motor with a motor shaft aligned on a rotation axis;
a power source;
a rotation timer;
a lid-closure sensor;
wherein the centrifuge further comprises:
a lid with a hinge attached to the enclosure;
a rotor comprising:
a rotor plane, normal to the rotation axis;
a motor attachment hub, adapted to be attached to the motor shaft
exactly one tube retainer adapted to manually, removably hold exactly a single, fluid sample tube at a fixed, predetermined angle from the rotor plane;
a counterweight adapted to counterbalance the rotor when rotating with the single, fluid sample tube; and
an open, central portion adapted manually pass through the single, fluid sample tube into the single tube retainer.
2 . The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein:
the rotor is monolithic.
3 . The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein:
the centrifuge is free of user controls and free of user displays.
4 . The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein:
the centrifuge is free of attached wires.
5 . The centrifuge of claim 4 , wherein:
the centrifuge is free of a wireless data interface.
6 . The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein:
the centrifuge starts rotation of the rotor automatically when the lid is closed; and
wherein the rotation timer starts automatically when the lid is closed.
7 . The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein:
the centrifuge stops rotation of the rotor automatically the earlier of: (i) when the rotation timer expires, or, (ii) when the lid is opened.
8 . The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein:
the tube retainer further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion;
wherein the one or more support arms connect to the upper portion and the motor attachment hub connects to the lower portion.
9 . The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein:
the rotor further comprises: a curved or angled counterweight support structure mechanically connecting the motor attachment hub to the counterweight wherein a shape of the counterweight support structure is free of interference with the open central portion.
10 . The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein:
the counterweight comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the leading edge and trailing edges are adapted, along with the remainder of the counterweight, to minimize air resistance when the rotor is spinning.
11 . The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein:
the rotor is free of moving parts, other than an elasticity of a material of which the rotor is fabricated.
12 . The centrifuge of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vibration damping motor mount.
13 . A method of use of a centrifuge wherein:
the centrifuge comprises an enclosure, comprising internally:
a motor with a motor shaft aligned on a rotation axis;
a power source;
a rotation timer;
a lid-closure sensor;
wherein the centrifuge further comprises:
a lid with a hinge attached to the enclosure;
a rotor comprising:
a rotor plane, normal to the rotation axis;
a motor attachment hub, adapted to be attached to the motor shaft exactly one tube retainer adapted to manually, removably hold exactly
a single, fluid sample tube at a fixed, predetermined angle from the rotor plane;
a counterweight adapted to counterbalance the rotor when rotating with the single, fluid sample tube; and
an open, central portion adapted manually pass through the single, fluid sample tube into the single tube retainer;
comprising the steps:
placing manually a sample tube comprising a sample fluid into the rotor;
closing manually the lid;
spinning automatically the rotor; and
removing manually the sample tube after the centrifuge has stopped spinning.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
placing and removing the sample tube is manual and free of tools.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the centrifuge is free of visual user controls, free of user displays, free of connecting wires, and free of a wireless data interface.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the method steps are free of a user activating a start of spinning of the rotor, other than closing the lid.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the method steps are free of a user activating a stop of spinning of the rotor.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the method steps are free of tools.
19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the method steps are free manual balancing of the rotor.
20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the fluid sample tube length is less than or equal to 50 mm and the fluid sample volume is in the range of 20 μL to 1000 μL.