Patent ID: 7473216

Claim:
A centrifuge assembly for separating particles of differing density from a fluid mixture of particles comprising: a base component disposed for rotation about a central axis thereof and including an inlet for said mixture, a first particle outlet for a first particle type having a first density, a fluid outlet for fluid from which said first particle type has been substantially removed, and a first channel extending from said mixture inlet to said first outlet, said first channel being defined by a radially inner side wall, a radially outer side wall and a channel bottom wall, the radially inner side wall being radially closer than the outer side wall to an axis of rotation of the base component; wherein at least a part of said first channel extends in an arc proximate an outer peripheral edge of said base component; and a plurality of spaced mixer components disposed to project into said first channel from said radially inner wall of said first channel, so that as said first particles are separated from said mixture while said base component is rotating and as said mixture flows along said first channel, said plurality of mixer components re-mixes at least some of said separated first particles, said radially outer side wall and said channel bottom wall being free from projecting mixer components.