Patent ID: 6981427

Claim:
An apparatus for deconstituting biological samples, wherein to apparatus includes: at least one support element ( 54 ) with a plurality of housings ( 62 ); at least one deconstituting device ( 2 ), which fits in the housings ( 62 ), wherein the deconstituting device comprises; a cupshaped container ( 4 ), a shaft ( 26 ) mounted for rotation inside the container ( 4 ), the shaft having a blade-type deconstituting member ( 28 ) on the end inside the container and engagement means ( 36 ) on its end outside the container for coupling to motor means, wherein the shaft ( 26 ) is supported axially by the bottom ( 12 ) of the container on ball coupling means ( 30 , 34 ) acting as the only anti-friction bearing of the device, the shaft and blade-type deconstituting member being freely rotatable inside the container, when driven by motor means, at a sufficiently high speed; a deconstitution station ( 50 ) which includes at least one motor ( 52 ) with a drive shaft ( 55 ) for coupling with the engagements means ( 36 ) of the shaft ( 26 ) of the deconstituting device, the motor being movable between a position disengaged from and a position engaged with the said shaft ( 26 ); and conveyor means ( 66 , 68 , 78 ) for conveying the support element ( 54 ) to the deconstitution station.