Centrifuge apparatus with measuring device on a transparent cover

The present invention is a centrifuge essentially comprised of a rotor and a transparent cover which can be fixed to the rotor. The cover is provided with a plurality of spaced concentration lines each extending around the cover and a plurality of different graduated scales extending radially from the center of the cover across the concentration lines at spaced angular intervals. The rotor and the cover also have opposing snap lock elements at a central portion of the rotor and the cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a centrifuge device. 
The principle of centrifugation has been long known. Particles of differing 
density contained in liquids can be separated by centrifugal force. 
A number of possible structures for centrifuge devices are known in the 
art. A first structure, is used, e.g., to separate and collect components 
of blood as the centrifugation proceeds. This known structure is generally 
practicable only where a substantial amount of the liquid matrix which is 
to be centrifuged to accomplish the separation is present; the container 
for said liquid must be provided with one or more connections to supply 
and withdraw liquid. 
A hematocrit centrifuge apparatus employs small capillary tubes. The 
present invention is particularly applicable to such a centrifuge and such 
a process. According to the state of the art, following the centrifugation 
the tube must be removed from the rotor and inserted in a reading device, 
or else the cover of the rotor must be removed and a separate reading 
device must be applied. This entails excessive and costly handling. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The underlying problem of the present invention was to improve a centrifuge 
of the above-described type so as to appreciably facilitate the handling 
involved. 
According to the present invention, a centrifuge is provided which 
comprises a rotor, and a transparent cover removably secured to the rotor, 
the cover having a measuring device comprising a graduated scale for 
reading values established after a centrifuging procedure. In this way, 
monitoring and measurement are facilitated. The scales may be uniform, 
wherewith the concentration lines may comprise circles; or scales having 
different measurement layouts may be provided, wherewith the units and 
interrelations of the measurements afforded by the different scales may 
differ, and moreover the concentration lines may be generally spirally 
configured. 
When the second alternative as just stated is adopted, a given cover may be 
employed for a large variety of liquids to be centrifuged. 
This presents opportunities for optical monitoring and readout--which is 
adequate for the majority of applications. In particular, it is noted that 
the components of the liquid which have different densities, in respect of 
the centrifugation process, also have different colors; therefore the 
results provided by optical monitoring and readout, possibly with 
optically mediated control, can be very acceptable. This is particularly 
the case for hematocrit or other blood centrifugation applications. 
The invention allows the hematocrit to be read directly and easily, as soon 
as the centrifugation is completed. No separate readout devices are 
needed. 
In addition to or alternatively to the described scales and concentration 
lines, a pattern (or overlay or the like) may be employed which is 
specific to the given liquid to be centrifuged. This pattern may be fixed 
to the cover and/or rotor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The centrifuge illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is comprised essentially of a 
rotor 1 onto which a cover 2 can be applied. The cover is transparent. The 
lower end of rotor 1 bears a connection 3 for drive means, and the upper 
end of rotor 1 bears a connection 4 for the cover 2. 
The cover 2 may be provided with a catch element 5 which engages a 
corresponding groove in the connection 4, to secure the cover 2 to the 
rotor. 
FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of scales 6 and concentration lines 7 
provided on the cover 2. In the embodiment shown, the scales 6 and 
concentration lines 7 extend around the cover in a generally spiral or 
screw-shaped configuration. This has the advantage of admitting a 
plurality of different scales and associated concentration lines on a 
given cover. Thereby a single cover can be used with a variety of liquids 
to be centrifuged, without the need to modify the cover or to convert the 
readings. 
Further, the underside of cover 2 may be provided with a projection 8 
extending around its circumferential region, which projection comes to 
abut against a corresponding counter-surface of the rotor 1. The 
(hematocrit) tubes which are to undergo centrifugation can then be 
accommodated in normal fashion, in the cavity which is formed between the 
rotor 1 and the cover 2. 
The inventive centrifuge offers enhanced versatility and ease of use, 
whereby capillary tubes containing materials which are to undergo 
centrifugation can be handled and monitored easily and quickly. 
All information and features disclosed in the application, including the 
disclosures in the Abstract, and particularly the spatial configurations 
illustrated in the drawings, are claimed as essential to the invention, to 
the extent they are novel in the light of the state of the art. 
Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above 
by way of example only, it will be understood by those skilled in the 
field that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment without 
departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the 
appended claims. The claimed matter of the invention lies in the 
individual claims and in the combination of same.