Patent ID: 6589155
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: A61M,B04B

Abstract:
A blood centrifuge, comprising:a drive shaft assembly including a stationary base, an outer shell mounted on the base for rotation about an axis of the centrifuge at an input rotation speed, and an internal drive system coupled to an inner surface of the outer shell to at least partially rotate with the outer shell about the centrifuge axis; a rotor assembly connected to the internal drive system of the drive shaft assembly to be rotated about the centrifuge axis by the internal drive system when the outer shell rotates, wherein the rotor assembly is rotated by the internal drive system at an output rotation speed that is greater than the input rotation speed; a drive device mounted adjacent the drive shaft assembly in force transmitting contact with the outer shell to rotate the outer shell at the input rotation speed, wherein the drive device includes a drive belt for driving the outer shell at the input rotation speed and a pulley that is rotatable at about the input rotation rate, the drive belt contacting the pulley and an exterior timing surface formed around the circumference of the outer shell; and a mounting base with a substantially planar upper surface, wherein the stationary base of the drive shaft assembly and the drive device are mounted on the upper surface.