STRESS-BEARING UMBILICUS FOR A COMPACT CENTRIFUGE

摘要

An umbilicus (24) conveys fluid between a stationary body and a rotating body in a small, compact operating environment. The umbilicus comprises an elongated body (200) including a proximal end, a distal end, and a middle region between the proximal and distal ends. A first support block (204) is attached to the proximal end. A second support block (206) is attached to the distal end. The first support block (204) includes a strain relief sleeve (212). The umbilicus is otherwise free of any other strain relief sleeve. A thrust bearing member (214) in the middle region spaced apart from the strain relief sleeve (212) and the distal end. The umbilicus is otherwise free of any other thrust bearing member. The thrust bearing member (214) has an inner annular body (218), an outer annular body (216) about the inner annular body (218), and an array of ball bearings (220) between the inner and outer annular bodies. The ball bearings (220) support the inner annular body (218) for rotation relative to the outer annular body (216).