Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WC~ 9~/193g2 2 1 0 2 3 ~ O PCI/US92J~3~13
~ `:
~ ~
~ .
This applîcatioD is a co~ uado~-in-part ~f applicadon
10 Sesaal Number 07/6~5,871, fil~ May 6, 1991 (IP-0805-B),
which i~ itself a a continuation-in-part of application Scnal
Number 07/5S2,631, filed July 13, 1990 (~-0805-A3, which is
itself a co~tinua~ioa~-in-part of applica~ion S~rial Number
07/432,646, f~llcd Novcmber 7, 1989 (IP-080~)~ all in ~e
15 names of Romanaus~as and Shceran aIId all assig~ed ltO the
as~igDce of the prcscnt inYe~tio~.
~ Thc prcse~t inve~don rclates to
an adaptc~ ~or hold~g a cc~ifuge ~ n a cc~ifuge }otor
cavity, a~d ~ particular, to sn adaptcr having ~vo scgments,
d~e ~gments being in ~om~ cascs 3Oi~ed by a hinge, the hi~ge
~cis e%~c~ding pc~pcndicular to d~c ~xis of ~e adapter.
2~
~ ~ In 1he ope~adon of a
ce~ ugc it is important that thc ~i~c and ~hapc of the tube in
which a liquid samplc is casricd closcly confo~ns to the ~ize
and shape of thc caYity in the cen~ifuge rotor sn which ~he
tubc is recciYcd. Dunng ~ntri~ugation ~he centTifugal force
exer~ed on thc tubc itself a~d the liquid the~ein a~ts to deform-
thc ce~trifugc tubc. A centri~uge tubc which d~s ~o~ closely
ro~ to tbc rotor cavity may tbus bc dcfQrmed to the point
of r~pture. Evcn if thc tubc docs ~ot r~pture thc de~ormation
may malcc ~hc tu~c difffcult to remoYc from thc ~otor c~rity.
~o 92/lg382 2 1 ~ ~ 3 2 ~ PC~/US92/~)3813 ~ ~
i . ,
Moreover, even if the deformcd tube is removable from the
rotor, the ~cturn of the tubç ~o its undefonncd shape may - ~`
a8itate the contents of the tube to aD exlent that dest~oys the
~ample scparation. -~
:
Whcn dte shape ~nd size of a centrifuge tube does s~ot
closely conform to ~he shape and size of thc rotor cavity in
~vhich it is to be disposed a deYicc ~cnown as a tubc adaptcr is :.
us~ally ~mploycd. The tube adaptcr has an i~cn~r ca~ity
having a shape and size which closcly comorms to ~be shapc ~-
~d size of the ccntrifugc tube bdDg adaptcd. llhe csctcrior
~h~pe and sizc ~ the adapter closRly confomas ao 1he shape and
~iæ of the ~otor caYity ~n which the tube is to be osed. The
~d~pter scr~cs to support a n~be within the caYity ~ which it
15 as receiYed and ~hus scrves ~o preYcnt dcformation of the tubc
dunng ~t~ifugationO
Exemplary of an adaptcr formcd of a si~gle u~itary
member is thc dc~rice discloscd in Unitcd Statcs Pate~t
20 4,304,356 ~Cbulay e~ . This adapter supports only thc neck
rcgion of lhc centrifugc tube and is fabric~ted of a matenal
haYing a lowcr density ~an the liquid bei~g c~ried tberein go
prcYer~t bonoming of thc adapter in ~bc ~otor ca~ity in thc
event of tubc ~up~u~
2~
Excmplary of an adaptcr formcd of two pieco
cons~ruction is thc dc~icc shown in Unitcd Statcs Patent
3~674,197 (Mitchcll ct al.), assigncd to the assignee hereof.
This adaptcr compriscs two diswete scgments, each of which
31) has an indcntation thercin. When joined thc indcntations fo~n
a ~eccss for recci~ing a collapsiblc bag du~ring ce~trifugadon.
Thc ad~p~er discloscd in this patent includcs apenurc(s)
t}~ough which tubcs from the bag e~it tbe adaptcr. Thus, the
possibility cxists that thc bag may extrude through these
Wo g2/l9382 2 10 2 3 2 0 PCI`/US92/03813
apertures if the adapter were to undergo centrifuga~on in a
vertical angle rotor.
AD adaptcr arrangemcnt formed of two discrete adapter
segme~ts and useful to support the capped end of a cen~ifalge
tube is availablc as par~ uf thc Nalgone Ul~a-Lok Tube System
sold by Pisher Scientific lnco~porated.
Unitcd States Patcnt 4,692,137 (Anthony) discloscs a
10 tube adapter havislg two segments which are hi~gcd along tbe
later~l edges of the segmcnts. l'he hinge a.ses align iD parallel
re1atio~ship to tbe axis of the cavity in ~hich ~c adapter is
~eedvcd. The disposidon of ~ingcs along tbc latcr~l edges of
~he ~egme,~ s belicvcd disadvantageous in tbat sucb a
15 disposidon may interfere with the iDsenion o~ Temoval of the
adapter i~to or f~om th~ so~or ca~ity.
--o-O-o-
United States Patent 3,998.383 (Romanaus~as et aL) and
United Statcs Pat~nt 4,015,775 (Rohdc), bo~h assig~ed to the
assignec s~f ~he prcse~t invc~tio~, disclosc ¢en~ifuge rotors of
thc ~er~ical a~gle typc. In such a ~otor thc ~s of the ~otor
cavi~ics is substantially pa~allcl to the a~us of ~otadon. When~'
25 usi~g a Y~rdcal al~gle ~otor it is necessasy that a cap be
pro~ided at ~he mo~th of cach cavi~ to impose a verdcal
r~s~ai~ing forcc on the tubc disposcd in ~he cavity. Even
though ~hc tube may bc disposed in an adap~er ~cceiYod within
~he calrity, without such a cappiDg a$Tangernent ~he possibility
30 exists that thc prcssurc of thc liquid dunDg cc~trifuga~ion may
rupt~re tbc tube. United Statcs Patent 3,998,3g3
(Romanauskas ct al.) c~cmplifies a typical cappi~g a~rangemcnt
for a ~vc~cal anglc rotor.
WO 92/19382 ~ 1 0 ;~ ~3 2 0 PCI/US9V03813
Such capping arrangcments must bc individually
threadcd into thc rot~r body. Morcover, in o~dcr to provide
proper support it is necessary that ahe capping arrangement be
m indm~tc contac~ with the tobe, lmproper asscmbly can thus
5 tcad to the possibility of tubc ~upturc and/or cap failure. For
thzse ~easo~s ~uch capping arrangements are belie~red -
disadvantageous. ~ ~:
ln ~ries~ of thc forc~oing it is believed adYa~ageous to
l û provide an adaptcr for ~se in a ~enical anglc ~o~or that
elamanatcs thc Deccssity of a capping mechanism for the rotor
- caYity. .;
l~a~
~5 :
The p~SG~lt ill~cntion relates to an adaptcr haYing an ~:
a~is t~ere~hrough for supporting a centnfugc tube within a ~-
eavit.~y ~ a een~ifuge rotor. ~e eavity itself has an asis
thercthsough. T~e axis of the adapter may, in ~se, align in
20 p~lld ~eladonship with ahe a~us of the eavity. The adapser :
eo~es a first and a ~econd adapter ~egmen~, each ~egment
h~ g ~D e3cterior ~urfaee ~nd a mating ~urfaee tbereon. Eacb ~`
~8me~t has an iident~tioD in i~c madDg ~urface thereof. Tbe
~egmet~ts may be eonneeted by at Icast one binge that suppo~s
25 the seganents for rdative pivotal movement ~bout a hingc a~is
from an open to a mated posi~ion. Thc hingc ~s e~tcnds
pe~pc~dicular to thc alds of the adapter.
Whcn in thc mated position the madng surfaces of ~e
30 ~cgmcnts ~c in contactiDg selationship and the indentatiorls
the~ein c~cr~c to de~m~ a rccess ~aving a predete~ned
~hape. In onc emboditnent of thc adapter of the prcsent
~rention, uscd witb ~ ccntrifugc tubc having a body ~ a
~cck thcTeon in which a portion of tbc ncck has a constric~
35 ~egioII whc~ Ihc tubc is cappcd, ~hc ~dcnta~on in each
WV 92/19382 P{~US92/~)3813
21 02320
s
segme~ is shaped ~uch that wben the scgmcnts are in thc
ma~ed posidon the recess is sizcd to closely co~rcspond t~ thc
configura~on of at least thc ncck of Ihe tube. ln ~his
embodime~t ~t le~st one csf thc segmcnts has a fcaturc on t~e
S mating surfacc th~reof that projects i~ the iI~de~tation
ther~m. When the segmcnts arc in ~h& mated position and thc
of thc ~bc is receivcd within the adapter the fcature is
~celvcd within thc cons~icted rcgion of thc nec~ ~f ~bc tubc.
A coll~r may be providcd to prc~vent thc bo~toming of ~c tubc
10 i~ the c~nty.
~,_. ln aDother embodim~n~ of the adap~er of thc prcse~t
inYeDti~ thc L~dcntadon in cach segment is ~hapcd ~uch that
wheal thc segme~ts are in tbe ma~ed posidon ~e rccess
S defincd is sized to slosdy co~Tcspond to the siz~ ~nd
comiguratio~ of thc cen~i~uge tubc o~cr its en~irc Icng~h.
-o-O-o- ~
In a~other ~spcct tbe prcs~t invention ~clates to aD
~d~pter for ~upporli~g a closed ccntrifuge tube ba~ring a
p~cdete~nincd size and coDfiguradon ~vitbin a cavity in a
ve~cal a~glc ccn~rifugc totor. Thc rotor is rota~Ue to a
prcdetc~mincd ma~imum spcEd. The adap~cr has a ccntral axis
cx~ding tbercthrough that, in use, aligns in parallcl
~dadonship both with ~c axis of thc ~otor cavity in which ~he
adaptcr is disposed and with tbe a~cis of rotation of the vc~ical
aDglc ~otor. Tbc adapter com~scs a first and a second
adaptcr segment, cach of which has an c~tcrior ~u~facc and a
madng s~rface thcrcon. Each cgmcnt has an i~dcDtation in
thc mating smfacc thcrcof. Thc indcntations arc shapcd such
~hat whcn thc ~cgmcnls are joi~cd along their mating ~urfaccs
tbc indcntadons coopcratc to dcfinc a ~cccss ablc to totally
s~.ound a ccntrifugc tubc disposed therdn. Each adaptcr
scgmeDt is fabncat~d of a matcrial tbat has sufficicn~ s~rcngth
PCl /US92/03813
wo ~119382 ~ 1 0 2 3 ~ l3
to wi~hstand ~hc vcrtical forces crcatcd by the pressure of a
- liquid urader eentriIuga~on. Thus, l~se of an adap~cr in --
accordancc wi~ thls aspcct s~f thc prescrlt invention pcrmits a ~:
tubc to be centri~ugcd in a vcrtical angle cen~rifuge rotor ~ .
without the neces~ity of a cappirtg mechanism bcing placcd in `:-:
the ~otor c~vity.
In sdll anothcr aspect thc mating susfacc on cach adapt~r
segment de~incs a predetermi~cd angle wi~h ~espcct to a pla~e
I Q tbat is ~onDal to a planc contai~ing the li~e of action along
which the adap~er scgme~ts ar~ jo~ed. Inclinadon ~f the
mating sur~aces of ~hc adapscr ~egments ~llows the same to
displace ~elatiYc ~o each otber to to~lly ill u~e ~otor ca~
b^~- which thcy are disp~$ed without any separatio~ being defined
betwecn ~hc segmeats. Incli~ed mad~g ~urfacos may b~
providcd o~ any of thc sldap2er s~gme~ts discloscd in ~e
presc~t application. ~:
-o-O-o~
In still anothcr aspcct the p~escnt irlYcntion relates to an -:
adapgcr ~or supporti~g a closed cc~ifuge tube in which at
Icast one of ~c.adap~er segmcnts has an effecdYe weight ~:
suf~cient to balance ~orces c~ca~ed by thc ~ssur~ of a liquid
camcd in thc lube undcr cent~ifugation that act transvcrsely :~
to ~hc ce~tral axis. In use, wi~h ~hc adapter ~serted into a
ca~ity ~f a ~otor, thc one segmcnt is disposcd closer to the axis --
of ~tadon so that thc mating surfaccs of the adapter scgments :-
. - lic in a plane that i~ pcTpcndicular to a ~adius of the rotor
c~ttcnding ~rough the caYity, ln such a disposition thc weight
of thc onc ~cgmcnt whilc unde~ ccntrifugadon is suf~lcient to ~:
maint~in the mating surfaces sf the adaptcr segmcnts in
contacdng Jclationsbip with eacb otber. Suitablc keying may
bc p~ovided to idcntify thc o~c scgmcnt ha~i~g thc
predct~mincd cffectiYc wcight.
3~
!. , ' . . . : , . .,,, . ~
W~ 92/1938~ o2320 PCIIUS92/03813
Thc invcndon will be more fully lmders~ood from the
following detailcd desc~ipdon thereof, takcn in connec~on with
the accomp~nying drawings, which form a pan of this
- applic~ion and in which:
Piglsre 1 is a pcrspecd~e ~ iew of an adap~r accordiDg to
10 a ~st cmbodirnent of the prescnt inYendon for supporting thc
~eck region of a cen~ uge hlbe of thc ~rpe in which a po~don
of tbe tube ~ec~ has a co~stric~d segion the~eon whcn c~pped,
the adapter bcing sh~wn in the opcn posido~; :
igure 2 is a ~agmentary elevadon ~ncw, ~ scction, of
Lhe tube ~daptcr of Figurc I in usc a~d suppor~ing ~e ~cck
por~on of a eentrifugc tubc in a ~lxcd angle ro~or cavi~
; .
Figure 3 a perspecti~e YiCW of an adap~er ~ccordi~g to a
20 second embodime~t of tbe prcscnt in~ention for suppord~g the
full length of a ccn~rifugc tubc wi~hin a ~otor ca~nty, thc
adaptcr ~CiDg shown ~ ~bc opcn po~ition;
Figurc 4 is a f~agmentary elcYation ~riew, in sccsion, o~ :~
25 the tubc adaptcr of Figure 3 in use and supporting a ccntrifuge
tubc ovcr its cn~re axiat length in a fixed anglc rotor cavity;
Figutc ~ is a perspcctive ~ricw simi}ar to P`igure 3 OI a
modiffcation of the embodimcnt of the tube adapter ~here
30 shown fsr usc with an open top tube;
Pigurc 6 is a fragmcnta~y cleYadon ~riew, in ~ection, of
hc centnfuge tubc adapter of Figure S in usz and ~upporting a
cen~rifuge tubc ovcr its entirc a~cial lcngth in a ~lxed angle
35 ~oto~ ca~ity;
WO 92/19382 2 1 0 2 3 2 0 PCr/US9t/03813
Figurc 7A is a persp~dvc ~ricw of an adapter i~
accordance with anoth~ aspect of the prcscnt in~vention used
lo support a closcd tube within thc caYity of a ~ertical angle
5 ~o~or, the adapter scgments bcing independent of e~ch ~hcr,
while Figu~c 7B is a modi~leadc~n of the embodime~t of adapter
shown in ~Igurc 7A in which thc adaptcr ~me~ts arc hingcd;
~ig~re 8 is a ~ragmc~tasy clc~ational ~ric~v of an adap~er
1 û shown in ci~bcr Pigure 7A or 7B i~ use and xupp~dng a
ccntrifugc tube oYcr its endre axial leng~ il~ a ver~cal anglc
cc~trifuge ~o~or cavi~ wiah a por~ion of the tubc bci~g brolcc~
~way;
~igures 9A and 9B arc ~ o~ ws ta~en along sec~Dn
li~es 9A-9A, 9B-9B in Fig~e 8 ~howing the i~cliDado~ of the
matillg su~faces of the adaptcr scgmcnts, the ~icw of Pigurc 9A
illustrating thc ~eladonship of the adapter segmc~ts with
~espec~ t~ cach o~er, with ~espcct to thc tubc ~eccived ~ the
20 adaptcr, and with ~cspect to ~hc rotor ca~ity ;n which the
adapter is placed while ~otor is at rcst whilc thc ~new of Piguse
9B ~hows d~c scladonship of the adaptcr scgmc~as with ~espect
to eacb other, ~ esp~ct to ~hc ~ eceiYcd ira the adapaer,
and ~th r~spcct to ~hc ~otor ca~ity in which the adapter is
25 placed when thc rotor is solating;
Figure 10 is a perspcctiYc ~icw -of an adapter in
accorta~cc with yct another aspcct of the prescnt in~cntion
uscd to suppon a closed tube within ~c cavity of a vertical
3 0 angle totor;
Flgurc llA is a gidc Kc~o~al view of an adapter of
PiguTc 19 in usc and ~uppo~g a cc~trifuge tube oYer its
cntirc a~ial IcDgt~ in a vcr~cal angle centrifuge rotor caYity,
35 ~vhilc Figurcs llB and llC are, ~spccdYcly, ~c~o~al views of
wo 9~/19382 2 1 0~2 3 2 0 Pcr/uss2/03~l3
the adapter as shown in Figurc llA taken along ~ec~ion lincs
llB-llB and l~C-llC; a~d -
F~g~c l~A is a pcrspccti~c ~ w of a modification of she
emb~diment of the adapter sht~wn in Figurcs 10 and 11 with :~
the inboard adaptcr segmcnt having a kcyi~g configura~io~
, while Pigure 12~ is a sidc scctio~al Yiew of ~hc
adaptcr of Fig~re 12A with Ihc adaptcr segme~s joi~cd
toge~er; :
:-
Figure 13 is a pcrspcctivc ~vicw of an~ther m~ cadon of
~e embodime~t of the adapter sbswn ~ Fig~cs ~0 and 11;
: .
~_. Pigu~e 14 is an c~llargcd ~Iricw of a portion of ~e
13 pcrspecti~rc ~iew of Figure 13 illustra~i~g a hi~ge arrangemen~
~scful ~ h ~c modif;cd adap20r shown therein; -~
Pigure 15 is an e~ ed vicw of thc inboa~d scgment of
ahe modi~lcd sdaptor shown in Figure 13 ~cn along Yiew
2 0 li~cs 1~-15 thcrein;
Figurc 16 is a sidc scctional ~iew of an adap~r of Figure
~0 in use and ~upponing a ce~trifuge ~ube o~cr i~s c~c a~;al
~CDgth U~ a vertical anglc eentlifugc rotor caYity.
Throughout ~hc fo}lowing detailed description, ~imilar
~cfcrcnce numcrals ~efcr to similar elements in all Figures of
3û tbe drawiDgs. Supcrscnptcd ~umcrals generally ~clatc to
coTrcsponding functional elements or featurcs throughout all of
- thc Figurcs of ~hc d~awings.
Figure 1 is an c%pl~ded pcrspectivc vie~ of an adaptcr,
35 gcn~ally indicatcd by lhe scfere~cc character 10, according to
WO 92~'193~2 ~ 1 0 2 3 2 0 ` PCI/US~2/03813
a first embodiment o~ thc prescna invcntior.. The adaptcr 10 in
accordance wi~ this embodimcnt is uscful for supponing a
cen~ uge tube T of 2he type having a body portion B with a ::closed cnd C, ~e body B tapering through a ~ansition rcgion R
5 to a narrowed neck region N. The neck N senrcs as the liquid
po~ ough which a li~quit und~ tes~ may be ~oadcd into ~he ~--
tubs T. Wherl the tubc T is capped at least one p~rtio~ D of thc
N becomcs sadially i~wardly cons~ictcd, thc~cby forming
a cons~ricted rcgion in ~c nec~ of the ~ubc. Prehrably the
10 cappirlg assembly disclosed in Unitcd Sta~es Pasent 4,552,278
~Roma~auskas) is used ~o cap the tubc, ~o tha~ the ncc~ N of
thc ~bc has a co~rugated co~lguration impartcd ~hercto. Thc ::co~gatcd coflfiguradon has at lcast o~c a~d optionally ~
~- pl~rality of ei~cumferc~ially actc~ding corruga~ions formcd in
1~ ~he necl~ N. It should be understood that aDy othcr capping
a~Tan~emeat may bc used~ so long ~s any ~o~n of cons~cted
~egion is imparted to the configurado~ of the neck ~.
Tbc adaptcr 10 is compnscd of a first ada~te~ segmeslt
20 12 and an ideDtical second adaptcr segment 14. Each scgment
12, 14 has an cxtcrior surfacc 16 and a planar mati~g sur~ace
18 thCJeOn. The e~terior ~urfacc 16 of eacb segmcni is defined
by a gçr~crally cylindrical latcrsl s~face pordon 20 and a
planar ~ppcr surfacc p~r~on 22. In the prcfe~cd illstance an
25 e~larged collar 24 is disposed intc~mediate the latcral ~urface
psrtion 20 and the uppcr surfacc portion 22. When thc
scgmcnts 12, 14 are mated together ~hc mating surfaces 18
thercof arc joined i~ abutting contact. As will bccomc clea~er
hcrein the member so produced has an ~s IOA ~bcst seen in
30 Figure 2) e~tendi~g tberethrough. As is best ~een in Figl3rc 2
the eonf1g~ration a~d size of tbe adjacent lateral sl~rface
portions 20 closely corresponds to the con~lguradon and
diameter of a rotor caYity 40 in wbich the adapter 10 is used.
The upper s~rface portions 22 of the eonjoined se~ments are
wo ~2/1~382 2 1 0 2 3 2 0 Pcr/uss2/038l3
1 1 :
accessible whcn the adapter 10 is recciYed in the rotor cavity
40. ~`
The segmen~s 12 a~ld 14 are connected and supportcd for
relativc pi~rotal movement with rcspcct to each othcr by at ::least one hinge 26. Thc hinge 26 may takc thc fonn of a livc
hinge bridging thc upper ~urfacc pordons 22 of thc segmc~
12, 14, or may, if dcsir~d, take the ~orm ~ a coined binge. The -~
term "liYe hingc" refers ~o a hingc ~pc, typically madc of a
10 polypropylcne matenal, whicb must bc flcxed or bcnt bcforc
the plastic is ~ooled or pcrmal~cn~ly ~ct. Such hi~gcs ~re
complctc without sccondary opcrations. Thc tcnn "coi~cd
hinge" rcfcrs to a hi~gc ~hat is cold-formcd, usually by a
st~ping operation. The stampi~g opcration creates a
~5 nar~ower and a lhinner flcxi~g rcgion which defines a hinge.
These forms of hingcs are defincd in ~he Handbook of Plastics
and Elastomers, McGraw-~Iill Bool~ Company 1975, (Charlcs A.
Hasper, Editor) at page 12-9.
Howc~er fonncd, in aeco~dance with thc prese~
inv~ntion the axis 26A of thc hinge 26, that is, the a~is ahout
which 4ccurs ~c rclativc piYo~l motion of ~e segments,
cxtends pc~pcndicular to the axis IOA of the adaptcr 10. Ihas
r~lationship of thc hingc asis 26A to the axis lOA of ~e
adapter 10 is bcst illustrated in Figurc 2.
The mating surface 18 of cach of the adapler segmc~ts
12, 14 has an indentation 28 thcrein. Tbe indentalion 28 in
each segmcnt 12, 14 corresp~nds to the size and contour of at ~:Icast a porti~n of the tube T. Thus, when ~e ~egments 12, 14
are matcd, thc indcntations 28 thcrein coopcrate to de~nc a
~cccss 30 (Figure 2) that co~rcsponds to tbe sizc a~d shape of
at least a prcdetcrmincd portion ~f the tNbe T that is ~cceivcd
thcrein.
-
WO 92~1~382 ~ 1 U ~ 3 ~ ~ PCI~US92/03813
- 12
In ~he embodimcnt of Figure 1, in which ~he adapter 10
is configured and ~ized to support only the ncck N and thc :~
~ansi~on rcgion R of thc tube T, at lcast one but preferably
bosh i~dentations 28 contains a featurc 34, in the form of a
5 circumferentially extending radge, tha~ correspo~ds in siz~ and
is loca~ed complementarily to ~e posidon of thc constriction D
in ~he ~eck N of ~he tube. :~
The ada~ter ~0 show~ in Figurcs 1 and 2 is cspecially
O useful when ~c diameter of body B of tbe tube T is equal to
the di~cte~ of a ca~rity 40 in a ccnt~ifug~ roto~ 42, but the
o~erall lc~gth L ~f the tube T is lcss tha~ the alcial lcngth of thc
eaYity. The ~otor cavity 40 has an altis 4~A ~hc~cthrough that
alig~s in parallel seladonship ~th the alcis lOA of thc adap~er
~5 10 whcn ~hc sa~s~e is disposcd thcrein. In use, as is best ~een
~ con~ection ~nth Pigurc 2, the adaptcr 10 defined by thc
matcd scgments 12~ 14 scntes to support ~he DU:~ N u~d thc
transition rcgiosl R of thc tubc T within the ca~ity 40.
To mount the tube T in tbc ca~rity, the tube T is ~serted
into one of thc segments 12~ 14, so that thc fea~u~e 34 on t~c
s~gmcn~(s~ is ~ccci~ed within the constric~cd segion D in thc
~cck N of thc tubc T when the segments are in the mated
~sit~on. Thc segmell~s 12, 14 sre ~hcn pivo~cd about the hinge
a~sis 26A to placc the mating surfaces lB thcreon in abusti~g
co~ltact. This closes thc adapter 10 around the tube T and thus
permits thc tube T to bc manipulatcd by manipula~ion of the
ulapter 10. The tube T and thc adaptcr 10 are ~hcn a~ially
inscrtcd into thc caYity 40. ln the prefcrred instance ~he tube
T bottoms against thc closed end of ~c cavity 40.
Tbe axial le~gth of tbc adap~er 10 is sclcc~d such that
when thc tube T is rcccivcd in thc cavity 40, the upper surface
po~tions 22 on the scgmcnts 12, 14 are accessible to a uscr.
35 Thc hingc 26 may bc fo~ned so as to define a uscful liftiDg
W0 92/~g382 2 1 ~ 2 3 2 0 PCI`/VS92/03813
applian~c, as sh~wn in Figure 2. Thus, to wi~hdraw thc tubc T
at ~ end of a ccntrifugation ru~, a user grasps the hinge 26
and lifts the ~ube from ~he cavity 40. It should be apprcciatcd
~rom ~e ~oregoing that the featurc 34 in such an instance
3 de~ines a lifting surfacc which acts aga;nst th~ material of thc
tube in thc constricted region D i~l the neck N t}screo~, and thus
- scr~cs to ~ra~smi~ the lifti3~g forcc to thc tubc T to withdraw
the samc ~rom dle ca~ity. The tube T may be w~thd~
~vithout u~duly agitati~g the separation within thc aubc T.
1~
In ~ome cases ~e rotor 42 may ha~c a shoulder 44
dcfincd about thc mouth of the c~ 40. The sh~uld~r 44 is
pre~erably ~oeatcd ~n the sotor 42 at a positi~n that is alcially
~f ~l~ea~ thc collars 24 sn the segments I2, 14 whc~ the
15 adap8er is ~eccivcd within the ca~rity, thercby to goasd against
the possib;lity ~at tube rupture ~vill permit the adaptcr 10 to
e~ter into tbc sa~rity ~.
The segmcnts 12, 14 with ~hc hin~ge 26 therebetwecn are :
prc~crably i~egrally ~ormcd from a suitable material. ~uch as ::-
polypropylene. Of course, the scgments 12, 14 may be
otherwise ~abncated from onc or more p.ieces, using other :~:
manufacturing techn;ques aDd otlaer matcrials, a~d assembled :-
ltO dcfine the adaptcr 10. Similar tcchniques may be used t~ ~-
2 5 form any o~her cmbodiment of the adap~cr illustr~ted and ~:
discusscd hercin.
F~ those instances whercin thc diameter of the tube T is
less than thc ~oT~esponding diameter of the caYity 40 ~he
~dap~cr 10' shown in Pigures 3 and 4 finds utility. ln this ~:
cmbodiment of thc in ention the rccess 30' tPigurc 4) formed ~-
by thc cooperative associadon of thc indentadons 28' in the ::.
matcd adaptcr segmcnts 12', 14' is con~lgurcd to correspond to
- ~e sizc and sbape ~f the tu~e T oYe~ the cntire alcial length L'
thcr~of. Por this pusposc the segmcnts 12', 14' are cach
WO 92/193~2 2 ~ 2 U PCrJUS9~/03813
pro~ided with an ax~al cxtension 36 ha~ing a bottom wall 3~.
The b~ttom wall 38 need ~IOt complctely c~ose ~hc bottom of
the adapter 12', 14', as is illus¢atcd, but may on3y partly close
the same. The presence of the extension 36 and the bottom
wall 3~ pennit the rcccss 30' defined when the segmcnts 12',
14' are joined to ~cccive thc entire a~ual lcngth L' of the tube r.
Pigure 4 illus~atcs this embodimcnt of tbc i~vc~don i~
use. Whcn the tube T as ~ecdYed i~ thc recess 30' thc closed
10 end C of the tube r is contacted by the intcri~r surface of the
bottom wall 38. Preferably the indentadons 28' in thc
segmc~ts 12', 14' arc placed such that the tube T lics as closc
20 the botton of th~ ~o~or ca~rity 40,`thcrcby to m~mizc thc
f cen~rifugal forGe imposed on thc liquid ~ample. It should also
bç DOtCd thag irl this em~odiment of thc inYe~tion ~h~ fcaturc
34 p~csent ~ thc embodimcnt of Figure 1 is not ~equircd, sincc
Ube requisite lifting forcc ~ smission surface is dcfilaed by the
bottom wall 38 ope~ g against thc bottom end C' of thc tube
T. It is slso no~d that in this cmbodiment of the inYcndon thc
20 collar 24 may bc climi~ated.
Pigure 5 illustratçs an adapter 10" that de~mes a
modific~ion of the embodiment of ~hc in~endon show~ is
Pi~rc 3. 1~ this cmbodimcn~, thc tubc T" has thc ~onn of a - -
25 ICSt tubc, witb no co~s~riction p~cscnt to de~mc a Reck. In this
i~stance, thc segmcnts l~n~ 14" arc modified to exhibit
indenta~ions 28" similar to thosc shown in ~igure 3, ~ut which
corr~spond in sizc and shapc to thc test tube r over thc entire
a~cial length L" thercof.
ID whatcYcr onc of thc cmbodime~ts ~scd, the hinge
betwcen thc scgmcnts is disposcd on the uppcr ~urface portion
of thc e~tcri~r surfa~c of Ihc adapter scgmcnts. Such a
disposition is belicvcd advantagcous in that it locates thc hinge
3S at a position whc~c thc hingc docs not iDtcrfcre with the
wo g~/19382 :2: 1 0 2 3 2 0 PC~/US9~/03X13
rcceipt of the adapter within thc rotor cavity. At thc same
timc the hinge defines a useful lifting appliance.
-o-û-o-
Although the adapt~r prcviously illustrated and
discusscd may find utility in ~e enYironmcn~ of a venical ~-
~gle ~ot~r, such ~ utilizatio~ may typically requ~rc ~c
proYisioIl of a sllitab~c cappi~g ana~gcment to prevc~t ~ube
10 failure. Thc capping a~ gemcnt is ~cqui~ thc case tbat
the adap~er does ~oa completcly smround the tube, ~uch as
~how~ i~ Pigures 1 and 2~ Howc~er, ~ e~ppi~g a~angem~t is
also rcqui~ed if thc adapter does complc~cly ~urround the ~ube,
. as shown in Pigures 3 ~rough 6, but d~es ~ot havc suf~lcient
15 s~ength to withstand thc ~er~ical forcc due to liquid pressurc
u~dcr centrifugation.
As o~tlincd carlicr, a apping a~Tangement may be
~ricwed as disadYantagcous for ~arious rc~so~as. Acc~rdi~gly, it
20 is belie~ed dcsirable to proYidc ~n adapter able aD ~l~ppOTt a
closcd tubc T in a ~rcrtical anglc ~otor with~sut the nccessi~y of a
~apping ~rrangcment. Figurcs 7A a~d 7B illus~atc such an
adaptcr in ac~orda~ce with another aspec~ of the psese~ -inYention. Pigurc 7A illustratcs an unhinged cmbodimc~t of
25 the vcrdcal anglc ~otor adapter, while Pigure 7B sh~ws a
hinged embodiment thcreof.
The Yersical anglc rotor adap~cr shov~n in Fig~es 7A and
7B i~ gcnerally indicatcd by thc scference character 103 and is -:
30 gcncrally ~imilar to thc adaptcrs 10' and 10" discussed in
connccdon ~nth Pigurcs 3 ~3d 5 in thc ~ensc tbat ~c adaptcr
103 is arrangcd to t~tally ~urround the tubc T disposcd :thcrcwi~hin. Thc adaptcr 103 c~mpnses a first ~daptcr ~cgmcnt
123 and a sccond adapter scgmcnt }43. Each segme~t 1~3, 143
35 bas ~n CXt~iOT ~urfacc 163 thc~on. Tbe c~tenor surfacc 163
w~ g2/l9382 ~ 2 3 2 0 PCI/US92/03813
1~
~f ea h segmcnt 123, 143 is defincd by a gcnerally cylindrical
lateral su~face portio~ 203 and a planar upper surface pordon
223.
S In accordance with the embodimcnt of thc in-~ention
sbo~ in Figures 7A ~d 7B t~e adaptcr segment 123 has a
plaIlar mating surface 183 thereon w~ile the adapter segmcnt
143 has a pla~ mating ~ur~ace 193 ~cr~o~. For a Jeæo~ :~
which is e~tplained ~ c ~ully hercin the madng ~urfa*es 183
and 193 o~ the segme~ts 123 and 143, respectiYcly, are angled
with respect to ~ predct~uned rcferenc~ planc, to bc defincd.
Tbc i~clination of d~c mati~g surfa~cs 1~3 aDd lg3 o~ ~c
segmeJlts 123 and ~43, Tesp~dvGly, is belie~red bes~ ~ccn i~
;igures 9A a~ld 9B. lt sh~uld bc und~rstood ~hat thc ma~ing
~u~faccs of ~c adaptes scgmcnts in any of thc embodime~ts
sbown i~ ~igures I ~rough 6 may also bc ~clincd in tbe
ma~ncr shown in Figu~es 9A a~d 9B.
T~c mating surfaccs 183 snd 193 of cach of ~he adaptcr
segments 123a~d 143, ~cspecdvcly, cach ha~c an inden~tion
~83 thçrcin. The indentation 283 in cach segment 123 and 143
c~responds to the sizc and shapc of the entire a~ial length L of
~c tube T. Thus, whc~ ~c scgmcnts 123 and 143 arc matcd
the indentations 283 therein coopcratc to defi~e a recess 303
(Flgure 8) that corrcsponds to the sizc and shape of the cntire
asial length of thc tubc T (Flgures 1 and 8) that is TeceiYcd
~erein. That is to say, ~e indentations 283 in cach segment
arc ~hapcd such ~hat whc~ thc scgmcn~s 123 and 143 arc
joined along ~hcir rcspcctivc mating surfaces 183 ~d 193 the
indcntations 283 in cach scgment cooperatc to de~lne a ~ecess
303 ablc to totally s~Tound a centsifugc tube T disposcd
thcrcin.
Figurc ~ illustratcs thc adap~er 103 in aesordance with
this ~spcct of thc prcscnt in~cntion in ~se in the cnvironmcnt
WO 92/i9382 2 1 0 2 3 2 0 PCI/US92/03813
17
vf a ve~i~al angle centrifuge rotor 42~. ln such a ~ot~r thc aa~is
of cach cavity 40V is parallel or appro~ching parallel (with an
inclination angle of IIOt more than fifleen (15) degrces) to the
axis of rotation A of thc ~or. As seen from Figure 8 thc
S adaptcr 103 has a cen~al a~is 103A ~at, in usc, aligns wi~h ~c
a~cis of thc ca~ ity 40~r in ~bich it is disposcd and with ~he axis
of r~atioD A of ah~ vcrtical angle rotor 42V. ~-
In ahe embodime~t of th5 invention shown in Fig~re 7A
10 the segments 123, 143 are indepcndcnt of c~ch othcr. These
segmcnts 123, 143 may bc joincd by moYing cach segm~t
toward thc otber alollg a linc of actio~ 48 ~hescby to bring thc ~:
mating s~rfaces 123, 143 ~ercof in a~utting con~aca. As used ::
~,. be~cin thc ~rm "line of ac~ion" is meant to dcnote ~at --:
1~ direG~on of m~ion which j~ins tbe segments 123, 143 such ::
tbat, in a giYeD predc~e~ncd pla~c pe~pc~dicular to thc ;~:
cc~tral axis 103A simulaancous contact of both sides of thc
scgmcnts 123,143 oc~urs.
ln Figure 7B thc s~gments 123, 143 arc co~ected and
supportcd for rclativc pi~otal mo~cme~t with ~cspcct t~ cach
othc~ by at least onc hingc 263. The piYotal aus 263A ~Figure
8) of the hingc 263, that is, thc a~cis about which occurs t~c :~Tcl~dYe piYo~al motion of tbc se~ments 123, 143, extc~lds ;~pcspendicular to the a~cis 103A of ~e adaptcr 103. As
discusscd carl~er the hinge 263 may take the fo~n of a live
hingc bridging thc uppcr surface por~ons 223 of ~e segments
123, 143, or may, if dcsircd, ~c Ihc fo~m of a coincd hingc.
Accordingly thc scgmcnts 123, 143, a~ shown in the
embodimcnt of Figurc 7B may also bc joined by mo~iDg cach
~cgmcnt toward thc other along the line of action 48. ln ~hG
embodiment of Figurc 7B it is notcd that ~c line of acdon 48
also lics in thc planç pe~pcndicular to thc pivotal axis 263A of
thc hingc 2~3.
wo 92/19382 2 1 0 2 3 2 0 P~r/USg2/03813 .
.
18
With reference to thc sectional ~iews c~f Figures 9A and
9B, the iDctination of the su~faccs 183, 193 may be most clcarly
see~. (Sectioning of the adaptcr has been o~ittcd ~rom Figures
9A and 9B for clarity of illus~a~ion). When ~he segmen~s 123,
143 are joined, the tube 7 is totally sur~oundcd by the ad~plcr
103~ By inclining thc madng sur~aces 183, 193 thc scgments ~:
123, 143 may expand during cen~ifugation to fill the entirc~y
of thc rotor cavity 40V. Thus, ~ny va~ia~D~s iD tho s~zc of the
various cavities 40~ in a gi~en sotor, ~anations in ca~ity size
10 from rotor ~o rotor, and vanadons iIl ~hc thicl~ncss of ~e
segmcnts from adapter to adap~cr may be accommodated
~ithout b~caldng the tDtal c~n~nment of thc tube T by thc
~daptcr.
~.--
1 SIt is ~lso clear ~rom Figurc 9A that whcn thc segments
123, 143 ar~ mat~d the intenor surface of the interior ~ecess
303 of tbE ~d~ter 103 is intesrup~ed by the inwardly
projecting co~ners ~0 on d~e mating surface 193 of thc segment
143. The c~rncrs S0 lie inwardly of tbc corresponding co~ners
20 52 d~fined on thc mating ~urface 123. The ~adial distance Rl
measurcd bctwccn thc ccntral a~is 103A and thc in~crior
surfacc ~f thc adapter segment 143 i~ ~c region of the
i~dentation 283 thcrdn is less than the radial dastancc R2
mcasured between thc ccntral s.lcis 103A and ~hc interior
25 s~r~acc of thc adap~cr ~egmcnt 123in thc region of ~he
indentation 283 thercin. For rcfercncc purposes it is
convcnient at this point to dcfine the sadial dislan~e R3 as ~he
distancc bet~vcen the central a~cis 103 and the cx~enor surface
of the adapter scgment 143 in the region of lhc îndensation 283
30 t~crcin and the ~adial distancc R2 as the distance betwecn the
ce~tral axis 103 and thc cxterior surfacc of thc adaptcr
scgment 123 in t~e region of thc inde~tadon 2~3 thacin. Thc
thiclalcss of thc scgmcnt 123 is equal ~o the diffcrcnce bctween
~he distances R~, and R2, whilc thiclcness of thc scgmcnt 143 is
3S cq~al to thc differcnce ~#twccn thc distances R3 and Rl.
WQ 9~/19382 ~ 2 1 0 2 3 2 1) PCI/US92/03~13
`
19
T~ accommodate ~e instance where the rotor cavity 40V ~ ~:
is at its largest possiblc tolerance and ~he ~hickncss of thc
segments of thc adapter are at thcir smallest possiblc :~
tolcrance, the arc length of ~he inncr surfacc of thc scgment
143 (i.e., thc distance bctwcen thc points 50-50) in a planc
pe~pendicular to the adaptcr a~cis 103A (thc planc of Figure 9A3
plus thc ar~ leagth of ~he inncr sur~a~e of thc s~gment 123 (i.c.,
the distance betwecn the poin~s 52-52) in the samc planc
10 must equal the ci~cumferenee of tbe inside of the adapter in A
plane perperldicular to the adapter ~s 103A in the ease wben -:
the adapter of ~e srnallest ~egment thic~ness is eonfonned to --
the largest rotor caYity, as illus~atcd in ~igure 9B. ~-
I'he magnitude of aYIgles of inelination of the surfaees
may be measured by ~efe~ence to a ~cfere~ce pls~e 54. The
~e~erence pla~e ~4 is that plane that contai~s both tbe venical
eentral axis 103 of the adapter 103 and at least one of dlc
iDwardly projec~J~g corI~ers 50 of the adap~er segment 143. --
20 Al~er~atively, the ~efe~enee plane 54 may be de~med as the
plane that is nomlal to the line of acdon 48 (supcnmposcd on
~igure 9A) along which the scgments 123, 143 are joL~cd
togcther. Me~sured wiah rcspcct ~o the refercnce planc S4 ~e
inelination of thc surfaccs 183 and 193 lies in the range of
25 anglcs from about 10 to about 80 dc~rces. Preferably, each
angle is fony fi~c (45) dcgrccs.
It ~hould be noted tha~ although the ~urfaces 183 uld 193
are shown as bcing inclincd to the samc dcgree (i.e., the angles
30 of the surfaccs 183ar~d 193with rcspect to thc rcfercnce plane
54 ~rc equal), such is not Decessarily sequired. It is only
nccessary that the inclinatio~ of the ~urfaces 183 and 193 be
such tbat thc ~ogments arc main~aincd i~ mutual coniact if ..
thcy e~pand dunng centrifugation to fill thc cavity 40V~ lt
WO 92/19382 P~/USg2~3813
21U232l~
- should also bc notcd ~hat the segmcnts 1"3 and ~43 may be
o~her ~han circular~ and can be ellipsoidal, if desired.
An adapter in accordance with this cmbodiment of ~hc
present inven~on may bc fabricatcd from any suitable
material so long as the resulting adaptcr has suf~cicnt stsength
(~s tha~ te~n is dcfincd bcrein). Th~ matcrial of choicc must
cxhilbit other desir~le propcr~cs, ~uch as appropriate ultimate
strength, appropJiate modulus of clasticity, suitable chemical
O compatibility with any liquid samplc bei~g ce~trifugcd a~d
ability to wi~hsta~d autocla~i~g. Suitablc plastic matcrials
i~elude polypropylene, poly~midc, acetal, polypbcnyleDe o~cidc,
. poly~ yl choloridc, polycarb~atc or polycthyleDc. Othcr
plastie or mctallic materials (cither homoge~cous (neat) ~r
1~ fiber rcin~orccd) with simi~ar or bctter mcchanical a~d
clacmical propertics for ~hc application u~der co~sidera~iQn
may also bc used. The adapter may bc formed ~ a~y
convcnic~t manner consistcnt with thc material sclcctcd, such
as molding, machini~g, cas~ing or forging.
ln order to support a tubc T in a ~ertical a~gle ~otor
without the assistancc of thc rcstraining forcc proYided by a
capping mccha~ism, ~hc adapter 103 musi exhibit sufficicnt
~cngth to absorb the forces ~nposcd on thc ~ube T by the ~-
2S pressure of the liquid ~hcrcin. Thus, as ~e term is us~d herein,
~suf~lcient strength" means that thc adapter must bc able to
~ hstand thc forccs imposcd on il during centrifuga~ion
wi~hout failing ~r dcforming to the cxtcnt that thc tube carried
thcrcin rupturcs.
Whethcr a giVCD adaptcr is of sufficicnt strength, and
tbus ~alls witbin tbc scope of tbc claims of the present
i~vcntion, can be dctcssnincd from ~rious ~eadily
asc~ainablc operating parameters of tho Ycrtical anglc rotor
35 in wh;ch thc adapter is to bc uscd and tbc application to which
wo 92/1938~ 2 1 0:2 ~ 2 0 PC~r/US92/03813 : -
2 1
the adapter is to bc put. Thcse paramcters ~e thc specific
wci~ght of the liquid samplc within the tube recei~cd by
adap~cr, the radius Ri which reprcsents ~e minimum d;stance
to thc sample from thc axis A of rotation (Pigure 8~, thc
diamster Do ~:igurc 8) of thc rotor ca~ity, the thickness of the
adapter segment, thc inside diameter of the tubc, and the
~peed of ro~adon of the ~crtical anglc rotor.
I'hc prcssure at any locadon across the diasnc~er of the
10 ~ubc in which ahc liquid ~ample is disposed is
~2 ..
P = l~ ,o2 - Rj2)
,~ ~ 2g
wherc P is the p~essure (psi~,
is thc ro~asi~nal ~clscity of the r~tor (radi~ns pcr
second),
g is aeeeleration due to gravity (inehes per sec~d23, :`
a is the specific ~vsight of the sample (~b per
ineb3~,
is the distance to the po~t of interest ~ where
the pressure Yalue is desired from the
eenter of rota~on (inehes), and
2~ Rjis ~he minimum distance to the sample
from the alcis A of sota~ion (inches~. -
Tbe total Ycr~cal force FV ~hat the adapter must
withstand is then found by integrating tbis pressure function
30 o~er the CitCUIaI' C~OSS ~ectional area of ahe inside of the tube.
Knowing the adapter dimensi~ns and the force Fv, ~he
average stress in t~e wall of tbe adapter can be detennincd in
accordance with thc rel~.tionsbip:
3S
WQ92/19382 21~ 20 PCr/US92/03813
22
Fv
s = _ ~2
(J~/4 )( l)o2 Di~)
,~; , .
where s is ~e s~ess (psi),
~v is t}le ~orce (Lb~)
DVis ~e dials~ctcr of ~c rotor ca~r~ty, and
l); is the inside diam~tcr of ~hc sdap~r ~vh~
ope~ g at spccd, which equals ~hc diamcter
of tbe ~otor cavity ~inus t~c thick~ess of
e~ch of the scgments of tbe adap~er (Pigu~e
9B~.
1~ Based on Ihe ideJIdt.~y of thc ~naterial used in ~e gi~en
~dapter, ahc modulus of elasdci~y of that matenal may be
~cadily obtained. AII es~imation of the Yertical defonnation of
the ~daptcr may be fo~nd by mul~plying ~he inidal Icngth of
t~e adapter by the a~rage stress di~ided by the modulus of
20 clasticity of tbe adapter matenal. If th~ aererage ~¢ss ~ ~
calculated i~ Equation ~2) is Icss than thc ultima~e s~el~gth of ~:
the adapt~r material, ~d the predie~d defonna~ion is Icss :
~an the dcformation ~hat will sausc ~lrst lea~agc in the hlbe
casnied within the adapt~r, ~hcn tbc given adapter is to be
25 e~stmcd to have suf~lcient s~cngth for at least orle C~pCr21tiDg
cycle, and thercfore falls within ~e con~emplation of Ihe :~
prcsent in~ention. Thc dcterminadon of ~u~icicnt strength as
sct forth aboYc under operadng condidons will Ycrify both ~he
~nalysis and thc conclusion of Ihe sufficiency of ~ng~h of the
3 0 ~daptcr~
It should bc undcrstood that it is within the
co~mplation of this in~rcDtion to usc an adapter i~ a~cordance ::~
herewith to support a tube or a predetermiDed portion thereof
35 avithin a ~winging buckct, ~ eby ma~ing lbe usc of ~e
WO~2/19382 2l02~2n PCr/lJ~i92/03~13
.
~3
adapter in accordance with ~his invenlion amcnablc for use in -~
the environment of a swinging bucl~et ro~or.
-o-O~
':.
l`o recapitulatc, ~c adap~cr bcretoIo~e dcscri~ed in
conncction with ~igures 7A through 9B for use pnmar~ly in a
vertical angle Jotor is fabricated of a matcrial a~d in a manne~ :-
such tba~ the adaptcr, while undcr centrifugation, has suf~lcic~t
10 strength ~ withstand ~e venical forces Fv (that is, ~orces that
act pa~allel to tho ccn~ sis of thc &dapter). Vertical stresses
in ~c tube T ~re thcrefQre mi~imized. ~nglcd ma~g edgcs on
the adapter segmcnts (Figures 7A and 9A) arc provided to
"~- pre~erlt a ~cparati~n ~rom forming bc~een the segments in ~:
1~ responsc to thc radial cxpansion of thc tube under pressurç.
The p~cvcntion of such a scparaeion insures that ~c tube is
suppor~cd about ~he enli~ety of its circ~meJcnce such ~at the
possibili~y of tube f~lurc is nuni~cd.
2 9 As yet a~othcr alt~native embodimcnt c~f ghe prcsen~
i~ventio~, the adaptcr may be dcsigncd and fabriratcd such
that, under ceDtri~l~gation, the body fo~ce of one adaptcr
~cgme~lt is sufficicnt to balancc thc fo~cc ~rcatcd by ~e ::
p~essurc ~f a liquid ca~ied in ~hc tubc undcr cc~i~gation
2~ ~hat acts tr~sYcrscly to t~c ccn~al axis. As will bc develspcd,
whcn in usc thc prcfc~rcd form of such an adaptcr must be
disposcd within a cavity of a rotor ~n an onentation such that
th2 ma~ng su~faccs of thc ~daptcr segmcnts lie in a plane ~hat -is substantially pcrpe~d-cular to a radius of ~h~ totor cxtcnding ~;
30 ~tou~h thc cavity. In such an ~ricntation the linc of action of
closuTe of the prcfcncd f~m of such an adaptcr al;gns with a
~adial liDC cxtending from thc LlCis of rotation of the sotor 10
~c centcr of thc caYity i~ which thc adaptcr is disposcd.
WO 92/19382 ~ P~US92/03813
21`02320
24
Figure 10 illustrates a prefurcd arrangemcnt of a split
adapter 104 for use ~ a vertical angle ~o~or in accordance wi~
this embodiment of thc prcsent inYention. The struc~usc of the
adapter 104 is geDcrally similar to the adaptc~ 10' shown a~d
discussed in connectdon with Figures 3A and 3B a~ld to the
adapter 103 shown and discussed i~ co~ncction wnh Figur~s
7A a~d 7B i~ ~c sc~se that the adaptcr 104~ he adaptcrs
10' and 103, is a~ranged ~o totally surrsund a tubc T disp~sed
~hercwi~hi~.
Structurally, the adap~cr 104 includcs a ~lrst.adap~r
scgment 124 a~d ~ ~cco~d adapter ~cgme~t ~44. Each ~cgment
124, 144 has ~n ~%tcn~ surfacc 164 and a madng surfacc ~84
b~-- thcrcon. The e~tcnor ~ace 164 of ~ach segmc~t 124, ~44 is
1~ dc~med by a gcncrally cylindncal latcral sur~ace portio~ 204 ~:
and a plaIIar upper ~urfacc portio~. 224. Tbc extcrior surface
164 of each segmcnt 1249144 is sizcd and shapcd fo~ rlose
~lttiDg ~eceip~ with~ the cavity 40V of 8 YCrtiCa~ g15~ rotor
42V ~Figures llA through llC).
~O
Eacb scgment 124, 144 is pr~ridcd with ~ ~dc~ ion
284in ~hc mating surface 184 tbcrcof. The indcntation 284i~
each ~eg~cnt 124, 144 is shaped so that when ~c ~egments ;~
124a~d 144are j~incd along fbcir mating surfaces 184 the :::
2~ inden~adons 284 coopesate to de~me a secess 304 a~le to totally
surround a centrifugc tube T disposcd theTcin. The adapter -104 has a cen~ cis 104A uctcnding thercthrough (Figu~c
llA). As Y~rill be discusscd later, the ~eccss 304 may bc
i~clined with respcct to t~c ccntral axis 104A a~d Femain
30 w;thin thc contcmplation ~f tbis in~ention.
Thc mating surfaces 184 of tbc scgments 124, 144 Dccd
not bc angled wilh rcspcct to thc rcfcrcncc planc as discussed
preYiously in conncct;on with Flgures 9A, 9B, although they
35 may bc 80 aTl'allgCd if dcsi~ed. AlterDatiYely o~ additionally, it
wo 92/193~2 2 1 0 2 3 2 0 Pcr/U~92/03~13
should be no~d tbat an adapter 104 iD accordance with ~is
embodiment of the prese~t in-~ention may bc provided wi~ a
hinge on the upper sur~ace 224 of thc segmen~s, simila~ to the
~mbodime~t shown i~ ~igu~e 7B. lf a hingc is pro~ded, the
pi~rotal axis of the hinge cxtends perp~ndicular to thc axis of
d~e adaptcr. As discusscd carlier, the hinge may tal~e thc fonn
of a live hinge or a coincd h~ge.
I~ accordancc witb this emb~diment of thc iD~ve~tion, at
10 Icas~ one of the segments of u~e adapter 104 must havc a
predetenni~ed effecti~ e weight ~nder ce~fugadon tbat is
suf~icie~t to pr~vent s~paratio~ of the adapter segme~ts. The
effecti~e weight of the adapter scgmen~ is dc~l~ed as the
~_. ~dgh~ of the segme~t a~ ~ea level muldplicd by the g (gra~rity)
15 forcc imposçd o~ the segment ~hcn thc same is rota~cd at a
p~edetc~rled g~ atiflg spc~d wi~h the ecnter of mass of the
scgment ~ g a predetermi~cd radial distance from a~ axis of
~otation.
At least o~c, but prcfc~ably, both of ~h~ sogmcnts 124,
144 has at least onc, but prc~crably, a pai~ of rcsilic~t
c~tc~sions S84, 604, sespccdvcly, ths~con. ln thc prefe~ed
casc ~e rcsilient cxtcnsio~s 584, 604 are flcx;bly mou~ed, as
by hinging, to thc outsidc surfacc 1640f the segmcnt along a
2~ line of bendi~g 624. The sesilieDt uctcnsio~s 584, 604 ar~
biased to nare outwardly from thc adaptcr scgme~, and are
bendablc along thc linc of bending 624to close inwardly
t~ward thc la~cral ~rfacc ponion 204 of ~c outsidc surface
164 of thc scgment to which thcy a~c attachcd. In thc slosed
positisn thc rcsilicnt e~tensions 584, 604 arc in co~tact with the
lateral surfacc po~tion 204 of ~c outside surface î64 of ~e
~egment to which t}~cy arc attached. Thc lower end of each
extensioD is tapeTed, as at 644. It sbould bc noted that ~vhen
thc adapter segmcnts 124, 144 a~e matcd the edges of resilient
3S cxtensions 5~4, 604 ~rc circ~mfcrentially ~paced a ~light
wo g2/l~382 ~ 1 0 ~ ~.2 0 PCI`/US92/03813
26
dis~nce apar~, Ihereby to pr~vide sufficienl clearancc to
accommodate the flcxing motion of thc resilicnt extensions 584,
604 during inse~ion into the rotor caYity. As will become
clesrer hercil~ cach cxtcnsion ~84, 604~c~ves ~o fnctionally
intcract with the bound~rics of a so~or cavity 42V (~:igurc llA
through llC) to prc~ent rotation of the adapler 104 about i~s
L~iS 104A ~nth rcspæt ~o thc body of the rot~r 40Y ~here~y to
mai~tairl tbe adap~er 104 in a predc~m~incd angular
~icnta~ion within the caYity during operation of the rotor.
~0
Pigurcs llA ~hrough llC illus~ate tbc adaptcr 104 of
Figure ~0 in use ~ a cavity 40V of a vestical anglc cen~ifugc
~o~or 42~. Scctioning of the adapt~r has b~n omittcd fJom
Pig~c llC ~or clarity of illuslradon. Wben disp~sed i~ ~e
bI~ ~otor 42V the scgmerlt ~for examplc, the ~egmcnt 124) whicb
lies closer to ~hc ~s of ~otation A of tbe ro~or is termcd ~e
"ir~board" segmcIIt. The othcr segmc~ 144 which lies fareher
from the axis OI ~ota~on lOA is tesmed the 'outboard"
scgmcnt. Tbc inboard segment 124 must ~ave an e~fccdve
20 sreighl s~fficient to balance thc f~rcc PT c~cated by UbC
pressl~rc of a liquid carried in the tube under ce~trifugatioD
that 8CtS transvcrscly to the cen~ral a~tis 104A of thc adaptcr
104. Such an ar~angemcnt prccludcs ~parati~n of tbc adapter
~egments 124, 144 dun~g centnfuga~ion. When properly
25 posi~ioncd in thc caYity 40V of the r~tor 42V the madng
surfaces 184 of thc adapter segments 124, 144 are disposed so
as to lic in a plane 68 (Figurc llA) tbat is substantially
pcrpendicular to a radius of the ~otor 42V c~te~ding through
the cavity 40V. The planc 68 is thc plane of Figure llE~.
lt sbDuld bc notcd that in somc instances the ~eccss 304
may bc a~ranged within thc adapter 104 such tbat an axis
e~tcDding centrally through the rcccss 304 of thc adaptcr 104
is offsct radially with ~espcct to the axis 104A of ~c adapter
35 104~ L~a sucb an a~angcmcnt t~c r~ccss 394 is ~ot conccn~ic
WO 92/19382 2 1 0 2 3 2 0 PCrJU~92/03813
27
with the generally cylindrical l~teral surface portion 204 of the
adapter 104. If so o~fset it its p~cferrcd that the recess 304 be
displaccd radially outwardly with respcct to the asis lO4A of
~he adapter 104. Such an arrangement may be udlized ~o
S in~rcase the effec2ive wcight of thc inboard segmçnt 12~ :
~nd/or t~ disp~se the sample to higher g-f~rces resulting ~rom
~he increased radial distancc to the sample.
Whcther the inboa~d adaptcr ~gme~t 124 has a~ ~;
cffectiYe weight sufficic~t for thc purposc of contai~ing lhe
~ansY~rsc force PT. a~d thlls fall within tbc scopc of the claims
o ~he prcsent invc~io~, can bc dctc~ned from co~sideradon
OI the idcntical operating paramcters as pre~fiously deYel~ped
~d- described in conncction ~nth the "suf~lcient strcng~" :'~5 detern~ination f~r accomTnodation of the vertical forcc Fv.
As carlier ~ot~d ~e pressure P across tbe diamcter of the
tubc is defîncd by Es~uation (1~. The Yalue of Ihe pressure P
~ngcs from z~ro at the inboard cdge of the tubc to a maximun
Yalue at the farthest ~adial location of thc liquid sample from
thc axis of rotation of the rotor. Ihc inboard segment 124 of
t~e adaptcr 104 is subjcsted to a ~adially i~wardly dirccted
force FT tbat rcsults from liquid prcssure in the inb~ard half of
tbe tube. Tbc magnitudc of this radially inwardly dircctcd
force PT jS detcrmhned by iDtcgradng the comp~ncn~ o the
pressure function dcfined by Equation (1) that is pa~allel to a
~adial linc through thc ccnter of mass of ~he iI~board segment
124 ovcr ~he surfacc area of the indcntad~n 284 of ~hc adapter
segment 124. So long as thc cffcctive weight of the inboard
segment 124 is equal to or greatcr than the force FT duc ~
liquid prcsswc, then centrifugal f~rcc cffects aeting on the
inboa~d scgmcnt 124 causc tbc mating surfaccs 184 of thc
adapter scgments 124, 144 to rcmain in co~tacting rela~ionship.
Tbe adaptcr 104 will lhus maintain complete c~nt~inment of
3S ~hc tubc during opcratio~ of thc rotor.
WO 92/1~3$2 2 1 0 ~ 3 ~ O PCI/US92/03813
:28
An adap~er 104 haYing segments 124, 144 in accordancc
with this embodiment of thc invention may be fabricated ~rom
any sui~ble mat~rial so long as thc resultirlg adapter ~egme~t ::
124 has su~I~cicnt cffecdYe wcight ~as that terrn is dcffned
herein) alid exhibi~s suitablc cbemical compadbility witb aJIy
liquid sa~TIple being c~ntrifugcd. lt ~hould p~cf~rably havc d~e
ability to wi~hsta~d sterilizado~, ~s by autoclavi~g. Sui~ble
plastic ~aaaterials i~cludc polypropylene, polyamide~, acctal,
10 polypbcnylenc oxidc, poly~ yl cbolo~idc, polycarbonate or
polyethylene. Othcr plasdc or mctallic matcnals (cithcr
bomogeneous (neat) or ~bcr ~cinforrcd~ h similar or be~ter
mech~ical and chemical properiies ~or ~he applicatiDn under
,_. co~sidcration may also ~ used. Thc adap~er may be fom~cd in
5 any con~cnien~ manncr consistcnt with the matcnal selccted,
such as molding, machining, eas~g or forging.
It should be understood tba~ bo~h the segmcnts 124, 144
may bc subst~ntially identical in wcight or ~hey may be
20 ~ubs~dally diffcrent in weight, so lo~lg as ~e ihboard adaptcr
~egmcnt has the sequisite cffcctivc wcigbt to completely
eon~in ~he tubc T dunng operation of thc rotor.
Although not rcquired of this embodimeni, it is preferred
25 tbat the adapter 104 also be fabrieatcd of a material tbat has
sufficient strength to withstand the Yer~ical force Fv due to
liquid pressure under eentrifugation, as discussed in eonnection
with Figures 7A through 9B. Of eourse, if the adapter ~04 is not
able ~o withstand ~he ~rertical force Fv, then a sepa~te capping
3 0 a~TangemeD~ on the To~or is required.
By pro~iding the iDboard ~egment 124 having a ~ui~ble
effective weight tbe matiDg smfaces on the inboa~d and
outboa~d segments Temain in con~ct during operadon of the
35 roto~ and ~o gap therebetween may form. The tube T is thus
WO 9~/193B2 210 2 3 2 i3 PCr/US92/03gl3
29
complctely contained withiIl thc conjc~ined adaptcr segmcnts
duri~g op~ra2ion of the ~otor, a~d the possibility of tube failure
due to ex~sion in~o a gap is precludçd. l'he prcsen~
embodimc~t earnes the additiona} bcnc~lt of minimizi~g
5 circum~eYential s~ess in the ~ube causcd by the pressur~ of thc
liquid, th~reforc furthcr reduci~g thc possibility of tubc ~ailure.
Since the ef~ecdYe wcigbt of thc inb~ard segment o~ ~bc
~Idap~ is at lcast as great as the ~ans~e~s~ fo~cc duc ~o
prcssure ~T, ~he i~bo~rd segmc~t limits expansion of ~be.
10 Grcater tubc reliability o~rcr a grcatcr range of tubc, adap~cr
and caYity tolcra~ces is thus produccd.
As p~eviously mentio~cd, thc adapter 104 must be
~_. disposed ~ thc caYi~y 4~V of ~e ~otor 42V iD an onc~tadon
1 S svhich subs~antially alig~s thc l~nc of actio~ 48 of closllre of the
adap~cr segmcnls 124, 144 witb a radial li~c cxte~ding from
d~c a~cis of rota~on of dle ~otor ~o thc ce~tcr 6~f Ihe ca~rity 40V
in w~ich the adapecr is disposed snd which placcs ~hc madng
sur~accs 184 of t~e adapte~ segments 124, 144 in thc planc 68
20 ~FIgure llA) that is pc~pe~dicular t~ thc ~adius extc~diDg
through Lbe caYity 40V. To mcct ~his ~ccd, tbe segmc~ts 124,
144 may bc kcyed ~ a fashi~n to bc des~ibcd.
If bo~h scgme~ts 124, 144 ha~rc ~k.e requisite cffec~ive
25 ~cight ~uf~lcicD~ ~o ensure complctc contai~me~t of the tubc in
thc adap~cr rcccss, thcn eithcr scgment may ~ssume the
position of thc inboard scgmen~. Tbus, d~c adapter may be
~s~rtcd iDto the ca~rity in cithcr of t~o differcnt oricntations
and Ihe dcs~d performancc will occur.
Tbc kc~g can ~c implcmcnted by providiDg any
~uitable distinctivc physical fcat~re o~ thc adapteI, ~uch as a
~visually dis~nctiYc ma~ g or a distinctiYe shape.
W(~ g2/19382 ~ PCr/US92/03813
'~10232U
Sh~uld o~ly one scgment 124 cxhibit thc rcquisitc
c~fec~iYe weight then a form of kcysng is neccssary which both:
(1) identi~les that segment as ~hc inboard scgment; and (2)
aligns the mati~g surfaccs 184 of the adapter segmen~s ~24,
5 144 in ~he planc 68.
A particular modified configuration of an adap~cr 104 in
which only o~e segmc~t 124e~hibits thc requisite eff~cd~c
wcight is illus~ated in Figurcs 12A and 12B. In ~is
10 modi~lcation th~ i~board adap~cr segmc~t 124 has a distinc~ive
con~lgura~on imparted ~hercao i~ thc form of the fla~ surfaces
684 pro~rided on th~ exterior surface 164 of the segme~t 124.
The ca~ity 40~ into which tbc adapter 104 of Pigure 12 is
e~able is correspo~di~g}y shapcd, thus to ensures ~at thc
15 ~dapter 104is propc~ly ~ccci~ed in~ the rotor 42V.
ln additio~, a po~don of ~he upper surf~ce æ4 of thc
i~board segment 124is rcmoved to define a channel 704
thcrei~. The matinB surfaccs 1840n thcinboard scgmc~a 124
20 a~c flush with thc boundaries ~f the cha~ncl 704. The uppcr
~urfacc 224 of thc outboard segmcnt 144 is providcd ~vith a
project;ng ~angc 724 that is shapcd in co~respondcDce t~ thc
c~ el 704. In addition, tbe ~nat~g surfaccs 1840n ~hc
o~tboa~d segment 144arc arra~gcd to slidably engagc ~he
25 co~r~spondin~g mating surfaces 1840n ~beinbosrd segmcn~ 124.
The undcrsurface of the nange 724 has a pocket 764 thcrein
that alccepts ~hc ~ppcr cappcd end of the tube T.
This structure de~lncs a compact, cartridgc-like adapter
30 104 for the tube T. Wben thc segmcnts are scparated, the n~be
T is ~etaincd in thc outboard scgment 144 with tbe capped ~end
of thc tube T rc~civcd in thc poc~cct 764 thercin. Tbis
disposition is bclieved to facilitatc handling of the tube T.
WO g2~19382 P~/US9~!/03813
21û2320
31
As bnefly notcd earlicr, it may bc d~sirable in some
instances to oricnt the indentations wi~hin each adapter
segrncnt such ~hat a ccntral axis through the rccess formed
whcn the scgments are joined is inclincd to thc ~sis of ~e
S adapter~ Such an adapter may be usc~ul in con~cning a
Ycrdcal anglc rotor to a rotor baving a "near ~rcrdcal" ca~rity
orientatiorl. The matil~g surfaccs of the segments in ~uch a casc
w~ll lie in a plane ~hat contains ~c axis of thc rec~ss, 3aid pla~c
~Iso being i~elined wish respect to tbe axis of the adap~er.
Tbese mating surfaces of such ~ adaptcr llccd ~ot, thcreforc,
~lign with the planc pespendicular ~o a radius e~tcndi~g from
~e asis OI rotation of the totor through thc ccnter of thc
cavi~y, as is thc case in con~cction wi~b the pre~cr~cd
embodimcnt of this aspect of thc invcnsion as shown in Figurcs
10 through 12. It should be understood, howeYer, that so long
as ~c cffcctive wcight of ~hc ~board segmcnt whilc u~dcr
centrifugation is su~cicn~ to maintain tbc ma~ing surfaces of
thc ~daptes segments in con~acdng sclationship with each
other, such a modified "near Yenical" adaptcr lics within the
co~8en~plation of thc prcsent in-ention as dcfil~cd by thc ~:
appcndcd claims.
-~-O-o-
Figurcs 13, 14, 15 and 16 illustra~e anothcr modified
configuration for a compact, car~idge-like adapter 104 similar
~o that shown in ~igurcs 12A and 12B. Thc adaptor 104
includcs adaptcr segments 124, 144, cach of which has an
c%tenor surfacc 164 and a mating surfacc 184 ~hereon. When
the segmcnts 124, 1440f the adaplor lO~are eonjoined the
e~terior surface 164bas a eylindrical con~lgurasion similar to
t~c adaptor of Figurc llC (without thc resilien~ e~ctcnsisns 584
and 604) and is thus insertable in a eo~respondingly Ehaped
cylindrical rotor cavi~y 40~ (Pigurc 16).
3S
wo 92/19382 210 ~ 3 2 0 P~/US92~03~13
~ imlar to the case shown in Figures 12A and 12B, the
mating surfaces 184 inelude those planar sur~aces of the
adapter segments 124, 144 that align in ~he plane 68
(perpendicular to the radius of the rotor 424) when the adapter
5 is received within the rotor, as well as planar lateral surfaces
tha~ ex~end generally perpen~iculaT thereto. The former are
indicated in the Figures by the characterl84 and 184
respectively. The mating surface 184 in each segment is
provided wi~h an indentation 284 that coopera~e to de~lne a
10 recess 304 sized to accept a centrifuge tube T Iherein. As is
also the case with the arrangement of Figures 12A, 12B7 in the
adapter 104 of ~igures 13 through 16 on}y one segment, e. g.,
the inboard segment 124, exhibits the ~equisite effectiYe
weigh~ to insure that the mating surfaces 184 on the inboard
i's segment 124 and the outboard segment 144 remain in contact
duriDg operation of tbe rotor ss that no gap therebetween may
forrn.
In the arrangement of Pigures 13 throughl6 a portion of
20 Ihe upper surface 224 of the ou~board segment 144is removed
to define the channel 704 therein. The upper surface 224 of ahe
inboard segmena 124is prov;ded with the projec~ing flange 724
that is shaped in correspondence to thc hannel 704. The
lateral portions 184 of the mating surfaces 1840n theinboard
2 5 segment 124 are arranged to slidably engage the corresponding
lateral portions 1840f the mating surfaces 184 on theou~board
segment 144. The undersurface of the flange 724 may bave a
pocket 764 therein ahat accep~s the upper capped end of Ihe
tube T. Thus, when the segments 124, 144 are separated a ~ube
30 T is retained in the inboard segment 124
The projecting nange 724 on the upper surface 224 of the
inboard segment 124 has gripping serrations 804 provided
thereon. These gripping serrations 804 faci}itate manipulations
35 of the segments In addition the presence of the serralions B04
WO 92/19382 ~ 2 1 0 2 3 2 0 PCl`/US92/03813
33
~ervcs as a lrisual indica~or kcy which both identifics ~he
inboard ~egment and aligns ~hc mating sur~aces 184 of the
adapter scgm~nts 124, 144 in thc plane 6B. As perhaps best
secn în Pigu~ 15 a portîon 824 of ~he flange ?24 also projects
forwardly thercby to o~crhang cxtcsior surface 164 on thc
inboard ~cgme~t 124- As is secn in Figuse 16 when ~he adaptor
104 i~ rcccivcd wi~în Shc caYity 40~ of the ~cnîcal rotor 42V
the fo~wardly projectî~g pordon 824abuts agaînst a shelf 45V
tbat îs formcd about the mou~h of thc W~Yity 0~ hC inboard
1 û sîde ~hereof. It should abc undcrsaood by those dcillcd in the
art that an adaptcr as shown L~ Figu~cs 10 through 16 can also
be used i~ rotors other tha~ Yertîcal rotors.
~ A~ bAefly ~oted earlier, the scgmcnts 124, 144 may be
15 hingcd. Sincc tbc sc~ated flangc 724 îs loca~ed at ~he uppcr
e~d of ~ c~r~îdgc adaptor 104 a more convenicnt f~m of
bi~ge a~r~g~mc~t 264 is sh~ Pîg~es t3 and ~4. Thc
hîng~ angement 264 ;~GIUdCS a pa~ o~ stu~li~c a~tlcs 864
disposed opposcd latcral ~urface portio~s 184' of tbe ma~g
20 ~ur~acc 184 of the înboa~d segmc~t 124. The hinge
arran~gcment 264 funhcr încludcs a pair of trunnion recesscs
884 proYided on the opposcd con~ron~ing latcral s~rface
por~ions 184 of ~he matîng surface 184 of the olltboard
segment 144~ Thc stub-lilcc axles 8* on ~he înboard segmcnt
2S 124~nappîngly engage i~o thc ~unnivn rec~sses 884 on the
outboard scgmcnt }44. ~he a~îs 26A4 of the hin~e 264is
pcrpcndicular to ~he axis of the adap~er 104 and supports the
~elative pi~otal movem~.lt, ibout thc hinge axis 26A4 of ~e
segmcnt 124, 144 vrith ~espcct to thc other from an open to a
3 0 matcd position~
Thc adaptcr 1~4 of Figures 13-16 may be fab~icated of
thc samc ~aterial as u~cd foT thc adaptcr 104 vf Figures 12A,
12B~
3S
wo ~2/19382 2 1 U ~ 3 2 0 Pcr/uss2/~38l3
34
ln connecdon with thc a~rangcment-of Figures 12A, 12B
as well as Figures 13-16 it should be understood.that in somc
instances it may be dcsirable to oricnt thc indcntations wi~hin
each adap~er segment such that a central axis through the ~-
S reccss fonned when she segments arc ioincd is inclincd to ~be
axis of the, adapter. Such an adaptcr may bc uscful i~
c~Dverting a ver~cal anglc rotor to a rotor ha~i~g a "near
~erticaI" caYity onentatioJl. The mating ~urfaces of the
segmcnts in such a casc wilI lie i~ a p1anc that co~tains the a~is
of the recess, said pla~e also bcing inclincd with respcct to tbe :`
a,lcis of the adaptcr. l~esc mati~g ~urfaccs o~ wch a~ ~dap~er
necd ~o~, the~cfo~e, align ~th thc plane pc~pendic~lar to a
radius ex~ending ~rom the axis of rotation of ~he totor thr~ugh
~- ~e center of thc caYity, as is the casc in connecdon with the
1~ prefe~ed cmbodiment of this aspect of the inve~tion as sbown
in ~:igurcs 10 through 12. It should bc understood, however,
that so Io~g as the effcctiYe weight of the inboard scgment
whilc undcr centrifi~gation is suff;cie~t to munt~in tbe mating
sur~aces of dle adapter segmcnts in contacting ~clationship ~`
20 with cach other, such a modified "near verti~al" adaptcr lies
withiD the contcmplation of the prcscnt inYcntion as dcfincd
by thc appcndcd claims.
-~-0^~-
Those s~illed in thc a~, haYing the bencfit of the
teachings of the prescnt in~rcndon may impart numerous
modifications thercto. lt shQuld be understo~d that sucb
msdificadsns are also to bc construcd to lie within the scope of
30 the prcsent in~rcntion, as dcftncd by thc appendcd claims. ~
