SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR CLOSED TUBE SAMPLING AND OPEN TUBE SAMPLING FOR AUTOMATED CLINICAL ANALYZERS

摘要

A centrifuge to which sample tubes can be introduced while the centrifuge is in motion. The centrifuge comprises a carousel (202) having an upper portion (204) and a lower portion (206). The upper portion of the carousel has a plurality of positions for sample tubes for a centrifugation operation, a plurality of drive mechanisms (230) attached to the upper portion of the carousel, a movable element (352) mounted upon each drive mechanism, the movable element capable of traversing the length of the drive mechanism when the drive mechanism is actuated, a sample tube-holding assembly (258) comprising a sample tube holder (260) and a bearing (262) attached to each movable element, and at least one balancing element (320, 322) capable of contributing to a force vector that cancels an imbalance vector generated by rotation of the centrifuge.