Patent ID: 7628955

Claim:
A centrifugation device comprising a combined sample chamber and slide holder adapted to be mounted, with a microscope slide, in a centrifuge in a predetermined position, after placing, in the sample chamber, a fluid biological sample containing cells, the centrifugation device comprising an integrally moulded body affording a base adapted for engagement with a microscope slide, structure on one side of the base defining a chamber for a fluid sample, with an opening for the introduction of fluid to said chamber, the base including an aperture and carrying a means for sealing the edges of such aperture with respect to the surface of a microscope slide placed across the base, or for allowing the passage of liquid but obstructing the passage of cells, the centrifugation device further including a back plate connected with the base plate by an integral hinge and a latch mechanism formed integrally with the remainder of the device and arranged, when the back plate is closed against the rear of a microscope slide engaged with the base, to locate the slide between the base and the back plate and to hold the back plate in this closed position until fracture of a retaining element from the integrally moulded body; wherein the latch mechanism comprises a back plate detent carried by the back plate adjacent a free edge of the latter and which, in operation, co-operates in the closed position of the device, with a complementary latch carried by the body of the device and connected with said body by an integral live hinge, the latch mechanism further comprising a shield element which in the condition of the device before use, is secured in a position in which it extends over the complementary latch at a predetermined distance from the integral live hinge of the complementary latch, the arrangement being such that in the closed position, with the shield element still attached, the back plate detent is retained between the shield element and the complementary latch and the shield element counteracts a turning moment applied to the complementary latch as a result of tension in the back plate detent, whilst on breaking of a frangible retaining element holding the shield member in position relative to the device body, the shield element is able to move away from the complementary latch allowing the latter to swing away from the back plate detent for release of the back plate detent to allow the back plate to swing away from the body of the device and to allow removal of the microscope slide.