Centrifuge tube assembly and method of using the same
View Patent ↗A centrifuge tube assembly comprising an elongated vial having an open upper end and a closed lower end with a lid mounted on the upper end thereof. The lid has a central opening formed therein which rotatably receives an elongated inner tube extending downwardly into the vial with the bottom of the inner tube being received by an upstanding bottom tube. The lower end of the inner tube has a pair of vertically spaced-apart upper and lower ports. The bottom tube has a pair of upper and lower ports formed therein which are radially offset with respect to one another. A tube actuator is secured to the upper end of the inner tube to facilitate the rotation of the inner tube between first and second positions. When the inner tube is in its first position, the lower ports of the inner tube and bottom tube are in register. When the tube actuator is in its second position, the upper ports of the inner tube and the bottom tube are in register. The method of using the centrifuge tube assembly of the invention is also described.
1. A centrifuge tube assembly, comprising: a centrifuge and a centrifuge tube, said centrifuge tube comprising:
an elongated vial having an open upper end and a closed lower end; a lid mounted on said open upper end of said vial; said lid having a central opening formed therein;
said vial having a centrally disposed hollow bottom tube, having upper and lower ends, extending upwardly from the lower end thereof; said hollow bottom tube having a single lower port and a single upper port formed therein which are radially offset with respect to one another; an inner tube, having upper and lower ends; said inner tube positioned within said vial so as to rotatably extend through said central opening in said lid; said lower end of said inner tube being rotatably received by said bottom tube; said inner tube having a single lower port and a single upper port formed therein; said single lower port of said inner tube being spaced directly below said single upper port; said inner tube being selectively rotatable between first and second positions with respect to said bottom tube; said lower port of said inner tube registering with said lower port of said bottom tube when said inner tube is in its said first position; said upper ports of said bottom tube and said inner tube not being in register when said inner tube is in its said first position; said upper port of said inner tube being in register with said upper port of said bottom tube when said inner tube is in its said second position; said lower port of said inner tube not being in register with said lower port of said bottom tube when said inner tube is in its said second position.
2. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 1 wherein a tube actuator is secured to said upper end of said inner tube so that said inner tube may be selectively rotated with respect to said vial to its said first and second positions.
3. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 2 wherein said tube actuator is secured to said upper end of said inner tube above said lid.
4. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 3 wherein said tube actuator includes a centrally disposed hollow tubular member which fluidly communicates with said upper end of said inner tube.
5. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 4 wherein said tubular member of said tube actuator is sealed to said upper end of said inner tube.
6. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 1 wherein said lid is rotatably sealed to said upper end of inner tube at said central opening in said lid.
7. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 1 wherein said vial includes a generally truncated conical-shaped bottom wall.
8. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 7 wherein said bottom wall includes a central tubular portion which is adapted to rotatably receive said lower end of said inner tube.
9. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 8 wherein said lower end of said bottom tube is snap-fitted into said central tubular portion of said bottom wall.
10. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 9 wherein said lower port of said bottom tube is positioned above said central tubular portion of said bottom wall.
11. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 1 wherein said bottom tube has a liquid guide member positioned adjacent said upper port thereof.
12. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 11 wherein said liquid guide member is positioned adjacent said upper port of said bottom wall member at the lower end thereof.
13. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 1 wherein said lid has a vent opening formed therein.
14. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 13 wherein said vent opening permits air to pass therethrough while preventing the flow of liquid therethrough.
15. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner tube is tapered so that the lower end thereof has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the upper end thereof.
16. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 15 wherein said vial is tapered so that the lower end thereof has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the upper end thereof.
17. A centrifuge tube assembly, comprising: a centrifuge and a centrifuge tube, said centrifuge tube comprising: an elongated vial having an open upper end and a closed lower end; a lid/actuator rotatably mounted on said open upper end of said vial; said lid having a central opening formed therein; said vial having a centrally disposed hollow first tube, having upper and lower ends, extending upwardly from the lower end thereof; said hollow first tube having a single upper port and a single lower port formed therein; said lower port of said first tube being spaced directly below said upper port of said first tube; a hollow second tube, having upper and lower ends; said upper end of said second tube being secured to said lid/actuator for rotation therewith; said lower end of said second tube rotatably embracing said first tube; said second tube having a single upper port and a single lower port formed therein; said lower and upper ports of said second tube being radially offset with respect to one another; said second tube being selectively rotatable with said lid/actuator between first and second positions with respect to said first tube; said lower port of said second tube registering, with said lower port of said first tube when said second tube is in its said first position; said upper ports of said first tube and said second tube not being in register when said second tube is in its said first position; said upper port of said second tube being in register with said upper port of said first tube when said second tube is in its said second position; said lower port of said second tube not being in register with said lower port of said first tube when said second tube is in its said second position.
18. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 17 wherein said lid/actuator includes a centrally disposed hollow tubular member which fluidly communicates with said upper end of said second tube.
19. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 18 wherein said tubular member of said lid/actuator is sealed to said upper end of said second tube.
20. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 17 wherein said lid/actuator is sealed to said upper end of second tube at said central opening in said lid/actuator.
21. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 18 wherein a seal, having upper and lower ends, is positioned in said centrally disposed hollow tubular member, said lower end of said seal embracing said upper end of said second tube.
22. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 21 wherein said upper end of said seal is yieldably sealed by intersecting slits formed therein.
23. The centrifuge tube assembly of claim 21 wherein said centrally disposed hollow tubular member has external threads provided thereon.