Centrifuge and method for centrifuging a reaction vessel unit

Abstract

A centrifuge for cleaning a reaction vessel unit, having a rotor for holding at least one reaction vessel unit with its opening(s) directed outwardly, a motor for rotating the rotor around a rotation axis, a housing having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, wherein a drain is provided for discharging fluid expelled from the reaction vessel unit, wherein a gap is provided between the inner surface and the rotor so that by rotating the rotor a wind is generated which drives the expelled fluid on the inner surface to the drain wherein an aspiration pump is connected to the drain for discharging fluid.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A centrifuge for cleaning a reaction vessel unit with at least one opening, comprising:
 a housing having a substantially cylindrical inner surface and a drain for discharging fluid expelled from the reaction vessel unit;   a rotor disposed within the housing and configured to hold the reaction vessel unit with the at least one opening directed outwardly; and   a motor coupled with the rotor to rotate the rotor around a rotation axis;   wherein the rotor comprises a magnetic coupling element configured to hold the reaction vessel unit or a reaction vessel unit carrier by coupling with a counter coupling element of the reaction vessel unit or the reaction vessel unit carrier.   
     
     
         20 . The centrifuge according to  claim 19 , further comprising a stopper at a rear side of the rotor. 
     
     
         21 . The centrifuge according to  claim 20 , wherein the magnetic coupling element comprises the stopper. 
     
     
         22 . The centrifuge according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a loading mechanism configured to load and unload the centrifuge with a reaction vessel unit;   wherein the loading mechanism comprises a beam for extension and retraction of a reaction vessel unit and a driving mechanism configured to extend and retract the beam, wherein the beam extends through the centrifuge section in an extended state and is removed from the centrifuge section in a retracted state so that the rotor can freely rotate.   
     
     
         23 . The centrifuge according to  claim 22 , further comprising a magnet coupling at a free end of the beam for coupling with the reaction vessel unit or with a reaction vessel unit carrier. 
     
     
         24 . The centrifuge according to  claim 23 , wherein the magnet coupling at the free end of the beam is configured to be coupled with a counter coupling element of the reaction vessel unit or a reaction vessel unit carrier. 
     
     
         25 . The centrifuge according to  claim 24 , wherein the magnet coupling at the free end of the beam is configured to be released from the reaction vessel unit or the reaction vessel unit carrier when the reaction vessel unit or the reaction vessel unit carrier abuts the stopper. 
     
     
         26 . The centrifuge according to  claim 25 , wherein the stopper is configured to be coupled with the counter coupling element of the reaction vessel unit or a reaction vessel unit carrier upon release from the magnet coupling at the free end of the beam. 
     
     
         27 . The centrifuge according to  claim 26 , wherein the housing comprises an opening for loading and unloading the centrifuge with a reaction vessel unit; and
 wherein the driving mechanism of the loading mechanism is arranged at a side of the rotor opposite the opening of the housing, wherein in its extended state the beam extends through the rotor and the opening of the housing.   
     
     
         28 . The centrifuge according to  claim 19 , wherein a gap is provided between the inner surface of the housing and the rotor so that by rotating the rotor a wind is generated which drives the expelled fluid on the inner surface to the drain. 
     
     
         29 . The centrifuge according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a magnetic element arranged in the rotor to apply a magnetic field to reaction vessels of a reaction vessel unit.   
     
     
         30 . The centrifuge according to  claim 29 , wherein the magnetic element is part of a releasable carrier for a reaction vessel unit. 
     
     
         31 . The centrifuge according to  claim 19 , further comprising a platform configured to support the reaction vessel unit in accordance with its designated use, wherein the platform is oriented parallel to the rotation axis of the rotor. 
     
     
         32 . A reaction vessel unit comprising:
 a plurality of reaction vessels which are arranged in a two-dimensional array; and   a counter coupling element coupled with the plurality of reaction vessels and configured to be coupled with at least one of a magnet coupling at a free end of a beam for loading and unloading a centrifuge and a magnetic coupling element of a rotor configured to hold the reaction vessel unit in a centrifuge.   
     
     
         33 . A reaction vessel unit carrier for carrying a reaction vessel unit comprising a plurality of reaction vessels which are arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein the reaction vessel unit carrier comprises:
 a carrier configured to hold the reaction vessel unit; and   a counter coupling element coupled with the carrier and configured to be coupled with at least one of a magnet coupling at a free end of a beam for loading and unloading a centrifuge and a magnetic coupling element of a rotor configured to hold the reaction vessel unit in a centrifuge.   
     
     
         34 . A system for cleaning a reaction vessel unit, comprising:
 a centrifuge according to  19 ; and   a reaction vessel unit comprising a plurality of reaction vessels with a plurality of corresponding openings arranged in a two-dimensional array;   wherein the rotor of the centrifuge is configured to hold the reaction vessel unit with the plurality of corresponding openings directed outwardly.   
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein the reaction vessel unit comprises a counter coupling element configured to be coupled with the magnetic coupling element of the rotor. 
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 34 , further comprising a loading mechanism configured to load and unload the centrifuge with the reaction vessel unit,
 wherein the loading mechanism comprises a beam for extension and retraction of the reaction vessel unit and a magnet coupling at a free end of the beam, and wherein the reaction vessel unit comprises a counter coupling element configured to be coupled with the magnet coupling at the free end of the beam.   
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 34 , further comprising a reaction vessel unit carrier configured to carry the reaction vessel unit, wherein the reaction vessel unit is carried by the reaction vessel unit carrier, and wherein the rotor is configured to hold the reaction vessel unit carrier such that the plurality of corresponding openings of the reaction vessel unit carried by the reaction vessel unit carrier are directed outwardly. 
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 37 , further comprising a loading mechanism configured to load and unload the centrifuge with the reaction vessel unit,
 wherein the loading mechanism comprises a beam for extension and retraction of the reaction vessel unit carrier and a magnet coupling at a free end of the beam, and wherein the reaction vessel unit carrier comprises a counter coupling element configured to be coupled with the magnet coupling at the free end of the beam.   
     
     
         39 . A method for cleaning a reaction vessel unit comprising at least one opening using a centrifuge comprising a housing having a substantially cylindrical inner surface and a drain for discharging fluid expelled from the reaction vessel unit, and a rotor which includes a magnetic coupling element, the method comprising:
 holding the reaction vessel unit, by use of the magnetic coupling element of the rotor, such that the at least one opening of the reaction vessel unit is directed outwardly; and   rotating the rotor around a rotation axis while the reaction vessel unit is held by the magnetic coupling element of the rotor.