Patent ID: 7846394

Claim:
An apparatus for separating particles within a biological specimen, the apparatus comprising: a reservoir for receiving a biological specimen therein, wherein the biological specimen comprises a plurality of different sized particles in a liquid, and wherein at least one physical state of the biological specimen is capable of being controlled in order to initially separate at least a first type of particles under the influence of gravity; a rotatable disk positioned proximate to the reservoir and configured to receive at least the first type of particles thereon, wherein the rotatable disk has a plurality of different sized holes defined therethrough that are configured to further separate at least a portion of the first type of particles based on particle size; wherein the plurality of different sized holes comprises a plurality of holes of a first diameter proximate to a center portion of the rotatable disk and a plurality of holes of a second diameter proximate to an outer portion of the rotatable disk; a mechanism configured to rotate the disk; at least one collection tube positioned proximate to the rotatable disk and configured to receive at least a portion of the first type of particles passing through respective holes defined in the rotatable disk and/or around the rotatable disk in response to rotation of the disk with the mechanism; and wherein said at least one collection tube comprises a first collection tube is configured to receive particles passing through the holes of the first diameter and a second collection tube is configured to receive particles passing through the holes of the second diameter.