SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS EXTRACTION OF A LIQUID PHASE OF MICROSAMPLES, AND AUTOMATED INSTALLATION FOR THE WITHDRAWAL THEREOF, FOR CARRYING OUT THE EXTRACTION AND TAKING MEASUREMENTS THAT RELATE THERETO

摘要

The present invention relates in particular to a continuous automated extraction system and method for physically extracting at least one liquid phase of a series of liquid microsamples which are withdrawn beforehand in discrete packets, both in space and in time, and are stored. An extraction system (10) according to the invention comprises a centrifuge (13) provided with a plurality of microholders (12), at least one of which is filled with the corresponding microsample and includes a filling upper portion that is extended by a separating lower portion of smaller cross section than that of the upper portion. According to the invention, this system is provided with a computer-aided control device which is capable of controlling the centrifuge, means for transferring each microsample to the holders, and means for ejecting/positioning the latter, the or each filled holder having a mass which is more than 10 times the mass of the microsample, in such a way that it is possible to extract, by centrifugation, one or more microsample(s) contained in one or more of the holder(s), progressively as they are filled.