IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CENTRIFUGES

摘要

Centrifuge apparatus comprises a rotor (20) having an axis of rotation (22) and a sample holder (24), the longitudinal axis (28) of the sample holder being oriented to extend along a chord of a circle defined by the rotational path of the perimeter of the rotor, the chord being spaced from the axis of rotation by as great a distance as possible. The sample holder may be fixed relative to rotor, but is preferably movable during operation of the apparatus such that the angle between the centrifugal force direction and the longitudinal axis may be varied in a predetermined manner whilst the apparatus is operating at effective centrifugation speeds, said angle being controlled by a biassing mechanism (32). A similar biassing mechanism may also be applied to an otherwise conventional "swinging-bucket" type centrifuge. The apparatus provides improved speed and uniformity of centrifugation.