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Concentrator for separating small samples in a centrifuge

  • US 5,728,267 A
  • Filed: 11/15/1994
  • Issued: 03/17/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A concentrator for concentrating a sample solution including molecules in solution which are larger than the molecular weight cutoff of a membrane in the concentrator, said concentrator comprising:

  • a sample reservoir having a cylindrical side wall, an open top and a bottom including a bottom floor having a lower surface and an upper surface terminating in a central wall surrounding a central opening, said central wall having an annular crest parallel to said bottom floor and the volume below said annular crest and above said bottom floor being a concentrated sample well;

    a membrane support member held below said bottom of said sample reservoir, said membrane support including a membrane support web positioned below said central opening in the bottom of said sample reservoir;

    a membrane held on said membrane support web, said membrane held in a leak proof manner by membrane sealing means so that any liquid on the top of said membrane cannot pass around said membrane;

    a generally cylindrical filtrate vial having an open top, a closed bottom, said filtrate vial being held by said membrane support member and positioned below said membrane so that filtrate passing through said membrane will be collected in said filtrate vial; and

    a retentate vial held over the open top of said sample reservoir whereby a sample to be concentrated may be placed in said sample reservoir and the filtrate vial may be removed and the rest of the assembly may be placed in a centrifuge and spun so that the molecules in the sample which are smaller than the cutoff of the membrane will pass through the membrane but a small volume of concentrated sample will be held in the concentrated sample well after which the assembly may be inverted and spun again forcing the concentrated sample into the retentate vial.

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