Patent ID: 8057758

Claim:
A valved process chamber on a sample processing device, the sample processing device configured to be rotated about an axis of rotation, the valved process chamber comprising: a process chamber comprising a process chamber volume located between opposing first and second major sides of the sample processing device, wherein the process chamber occupies a process chamber area on the sample processing device, and wherein the process chamber includes an axis that is oriented substantially radially with respect to the axis of rotation; and a valve chamber located at least partially within the process chamber area, the valve chamber located between the process chamber volume and the second major side of the sample processing device, wherein the valve chamber is isolated from the process chamber by a valve septum separating the valve chamber and the process chamber, wherein a portion of the process chamber volume lies between the valve septum and the first major side of the sample processing device, and wherein the valve septum has a length that extends along or substantially parallel to the axis of the process chamber, such that the valve septum is configured to allow for adjustment of the location, along the length of the valve septum, at which fluid communication is provided between the process chamber and the valve chamber, such that the location is positioned to allow a selected portion of material in the process chamber located closer to the axis of rotation than the location to exit the process chamber when the sample processing device is rotated about the axis of rotation.