Measurement of a small most dense constituent layer in a stratified mixture.

摘要

@ A complex liquid, such as a biological liquid, is stratified, as by centrifugation in a tube (2), into constituent layers. The most dense or heaviest constituent layer (A) is measured volumetrically by physically expanding the entire layer with a cylindrical float (6) which is inserted in the tube (2) and which occupies the portion of the tube also occupied by the constituent layer being measured. The axial extent of the expanded layer (A) is measured to provide an indication of the volume of the layer being measured. The end of the tube (2) proximate to the layer being measured contains a plug (12) of a more dense material which is immiscible with the subject liquid and into which the float (6) will settle during centrifugation. The float (6) thus settles into the plug (12) of dense material and "floats" therein so as to extend through the entirety of the layer (A) being measured.