Centrifugal analyzer rotor unit and insert elements

Claim 2

A rotor unit for a centrifugal analyzer for analytically determining components of a sample, comprising: a rotatably driven circular rotor base; and a rotor head comprising a plurality of disposable insert elements and means for releasably mounting each insert element on the rotor base interchangeably at any one of a plurality of different selectable angular positions to positionally fix each insert element in place during rotation of the base and to enable the removal of each insert element after use, wherein the plurality of insert elements include at least one rigid sample analysis insert element for determining at least one sample component and having at least one first means forming a sample chamber for the reception of a liquid sample, at least one second means for forming a measuring chamber radially outwardly from the associated sample chamber when the sample analysis element is mounted on the base for the measurement of characteristic parameters during the rotation of a rotor head for the detection of components of a sample, at least one third means comprising means defining a plurality of interconnected hollow space and forming a liquid channel connecting the sample chamber with the measuring chamber and configured for an analysis to be carried out, and an analysis reagent in storage stable dry form positioned in the liquid chamber radially between the sample chamber and the measurement chamber for being mounted and removed with the analysis insert element and at least partly dissolvable by a sample to effect combination and mixing with a sample in response to the effect of centrifugal force before arriving at the measurement chamber.

Claim 3

The rotor unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one rigid sample analysis insert element includes multiple sample analysis insert elements, each of said multiple sample analysis insert elements having a plurality of first, second and third means for the analytical determination of at least one component of at least one sample.

Claim 4

The rotor unit according to claim 1, wherein the rotor head further includes an intermediate disc and wherein the means for mounting the insert elements to the rotor base are formed on said intermediate disc.

Claim 5

The rotor unit according to claim 1, wherein the rotor base has machine readable coding thereon for effecting the reproducible and exact adjustment of particular rotor positions.

Claim 6

The rotor unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the insert elements, in plan view on the rotor base, is substantially sector-shaped.

Claim 7

The rotor unit according to claim 1, wherein the insert elements bear codings identifying at least one of a sample and components of a sample to be determined.

Claim 8

The rotor unit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one analysis insert element has triggering marks theron for starting a measurement procedure.

Claim 9

The rotor unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sample chamber, at least one liquid channel and at least one measuring chamber have a height along the axis of rotation of the rotor when, mounted and a width along radius of the rotor when mounted, the height and width being substantially greater than the depth, wherein their height and width comprise their major dimensions which are disposed in one plane and the means mounting each insert element disposes said one plane in a vertical orientation.

Claim 10

A rotor unit for a centrifugal analyzer for analytically determining components of a sample, comprising: a rotatably driven circular rotor base, and a rotor head comprising a plurality of disposable insert elements and means for releasably mounting each insert element on the rotor base interchangeably at any one of a plurality of different selectable angular positions to positionally fix each insert element in place during rotation of the base and to enable the removal of each insert element after use, wherein the plurality of insert elements include at least one rigid sample analysis insert element for determining at least one sample component and having at least one first means forming a sample chamber for the reception of a liquid sample, at least one second means forming a measuring chamber radially outwardly from the associated sample chamber when the sample analysis element is mouted on the base for the measurement of characteristic parameters during the rotation of the rotor head for the detection of components of a sample, wherein the second means forming the measuring chamber is disposed in a first annular region at the periphery of the rotor head when the insert is mounted on the rotor base and includes means forming an optical window in the first annular region for optical measurement, at least one third means forming a liquid channel connecting the sample chamber with the measuring chamber and configured for an analysis to be carried out, and an analysis reagent in storage stable dry form positioned in the liquid channel radially between the sample chamber and the measurement chamber for being mounted and removed with the analysis insert element and at least partly dissolvable by a sample to effect combination and mixing with a sample in response to the effect of centrifugal force before arriving at the measurement chamber, and wherein the means for releasably mounting each insert element on the rotor base comprises cooperating form-locking holding means on the rotor base in close proximity to the first annular region and on each at least one rigid sample analysis insert element in close proximity to the optical window, whereby the entire form-locking holding means when cooperating is disposed in close proximity to the optical window to maintain the position of the optical window to high precision for a normally low tolerance disposable insert element.

Claim 11

A rotor unit for a centrifugal analyzer for analytically determining components of a sample, comprising: a rotatably driven circular rotor base, and a rotor head comprising a plurality of disposable insert elements and means for releasably mounting each insert element on the rotor base interchangeably at any one of a plurality of different selectable angular positions to positionally fix each insert element in place during rotation of the base and to enable the removal of each insert element after use, wherein the plurality of insert elements include at least one rigid sample analysis insert element for determining at least one sample component and having at least one first means forming a sample chamber for the reception of a liquid sample, at least one second means forming a measuring chamber radially outwardly from the associated sample chamber when the sample analysis element is mouted on the base for the measurement of characteristic parameters during the rotation of the rotor head for the detection of components of a sample, wherein the second means forming the measuring chamber is disposed in a first annular region at the periphery of the rotor head when the insert is mounted on the rotor base and includes means forming an optical window in the first annular region for optical measurement, at least one third means forming a liquid channel connecting the sample chamber with the measuring chamber and configured for an analysis to be carried out, and an analysis reagent in storage stable dry form positioned in the liquid channel radially between the sample chamber and the measurement chamber for being mounted and removed with the analysis insert element and at least partly dissolvable by a sample to effect combination and mixing with a sample in response to the effect of centrifugal force before arriving at the measurement chamber, and wherein the means for releasably mounting each insert element on the rotor base comprises cooperating form-locking holding means on the rotor base in close proximity to the first annular region and on each at least one rigid sample analysis insert element in close proximity to the optical window, whereby the entire form-locking holding means when cooperating is disposed in close proximity to the optical window to maintain the position of the optical window to high precision for a normally low tolerance disposable insert element.