Buoy suspension fractionation system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A buoy suspension fractionation system, comprising:
- a separation container and an access port through at least a portion of the separation container, the separation container is enclosed by a container wall, a container bottom and a container top; and
a buoy in the separation container, the buoy having a tuned density and configured to reach an equilibrium position in a suspension, the buoy comprising a buoy upper surface and a buoy sidewall defining a height, a transverse dimension, and a perimeter, the buoy further comprising;
a guide surface on the buoy upper surface inclined in one direction relative to the buoy sidewall for a distance of more than two-thirds the transverse dimension of the buoy;
a collection volume above the buoy upper surface defined relative to the guide surface; and
an accumulation sump defined by the guide surface and being inclined toward the buoy perimeter.
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Abstract
A separator that uses centrifugation to fractionate a suspension such as blood comprises a separation container and a buoy. The buoy is carried in the separation container and has a tuned density that is configured to reach an equilibrium position in a suspension. The guide surface is carried on the buoy upper surface and is inclined to an accumulation position near a buoy perimeter. The buoy suspension fractionation system can be used in a method of isolating a fraction from a suspension, and in a method for re-suspending particulates for withdrawal.
448 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A buoy suspension fractionation system, comprising:
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a separation container and an access port through at least a portion of the separation container, the separation container is enclosed by a container wall, a container bottom and a container top; and a buoy in the separation container, the buoy having a tuned density and configured to reach an equilibrium position in a suspension, the buoy comprising a buoy upper surface and a buoy sidewall defining a height, a transverse dimension, and a perimeter, the buoy further comprising; a guide surface on the buoy upper surface inclined in one direction relative to the buoy sidewall for a distance of more than two-thirds the transverse dimension of the buoy; a collection volume above the buoy upper surface defined relative to the guide surface; and an accumulation sump defined by the guide surface and being inclined toward the buoy perimeter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A buoy suspension fractionation system, comprising:
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a separation container and an access port through at least a portion of the separation container, the separation container having a container wall, a container bottom, and a container top, wherein the separation container defines a container longitudinal axis; and a buoy in the separation container, the buoy having a tuned density and configured to reach an equilibrium position in a suspension, the buoy comprising a buoy upper surface positioned a buoy height from a buoy bottom surface, a buoy sidewall having a variable sidewall height and defining an exterior perimeter, and a buoy maximum transverse dimension that is defined by a line that is transverse to the container longitudinal axis, the buoy further comprising; a guide surface defined at least in part by the buoy upper surface and extending at least two-thirds of the buoy maximum transverse dimension and inclined relative to the buoy sidewall substantially constantly throughout the at least two-thirds of the buoy maximum transverse dimension and substantially through a center of the buoy, a collection volume above the buoy upper surface, and a precision collection region in the collection volume having a sump positioned nearer the buoy sidewall than the container longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A buoy suspension fractionation system, comprising:
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a separation container having a container wall, a container bottom, and a container top; an access port through a portion of the separation container; and a buoy in the separation container, the buoy having a selected density and configured to reach an equilibrium position in a selected suspension, the buoy comprising; a buoy top wall and a buoy bottom wall with a buoy perimeter sidewall defining a maximum height extending between the buoy top wall and the buoy bottom wall and a minimum height extending between the buoy top wall and the buoy bottom wall, a guide surface defined by the buoy top wall extending from a first edge at the buoy perimeter sidewall defining the maximum height at a first angle through a central axis of the buoy to a second edge at the buoy perimeter sidewall defining the minimum height, a collection volume above the buoy top surface defined relative to the guide surface, and an accumulation sump at least partially defined by the buoy top wall at the second edge inclined at a second angle greater than the first angle; an isolator positioned a distance from the guide surface, wherein a volume of the isolator is substantially less than a volume of the buoy; and wherein a submerged volume of the isolator and the buoy below an equilibrium interface is greater than an un-submerged volume of the isolator and the buoy above the equilibrium interface.
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14. A buoy suspension fractionation system, comprising:
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a separation container having a container wall, a container bottom and a container top; an access port through a portion of the separation container; and a buoy in the separation container, the buoy having a selected density and configured to reach an equilibrium position in a selected suspension, the buoy comprising; a buoy top wall and a buoy bottom wall with a buoy perimeter sidewall defining variable height dimensions extending between the buoy top wall and the buoy bottom wall, a guide surface defined by the buoy top wall that extends from a first edge of the buoy where the buoy perimeter sidewall has a first height of the variable height dimension to a second edge of the buoy where the buoy perimeter sidewall has a second height of the variable height dimension less than the first height, and formed at a first angle to the buoy perimeter sidewall, a collection volume above the buoy top surface defined relative to the guide surface, and an accumulation region defined at least by an accumulation wall portion of the buoy top wall that is inclined at a second angle relative to the buoy perimeter sidewall different from the first angle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification