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 in which a plurality of reaction vessels are arranged in a two-dimensional array and each of the reaction vessels has at least one opening, the centrifuge comprising:
 an outer housing comprising an opening for loading and unloading the centrifuge with the reaction vessel unit;   a rotor arranged within the outer housing and configured to rotate about a horizontal rotation axis, the rotor further being configured to hold the reaction vessel unit or a reaction vessel unit carrier releasably carrying the reaction vessel unit, with the at least one opening of each reaction vessel directed radially outwards with respect to the horizontal rotation axis of the rotor;   a dispensing device comprising at least one dispensing nozzle arranged to dispense a fluid into reaction vessels of the reaction vessel unit; and   a loading mechanism configured to move the reaction vessel unit below the dispensing device in a moving direction so that, with the at least one dispensing nozzle, a plurality of reaction vessels of the reaction vessel unit arranged in line in the moving direction of the reaction vessel unit can be consecutively filled with the fluid;   wherein the dispensing device is disposed adjacent to the opening of the outer housing or within the outer housing.   
     
     
         20 . A centrifuge according to  claim 19 , wherein the dispensing device is disposed adjacent to the opening of the outer housing and within the outer housing. 
     
     
         21 . A centrifuge according to  claim 19 , wherein the dispensing device is connected to the outer housing. 
     
     
         22 . A centrifuge according to  claim 19 , wherein the dispensing device is provided adjacent to an upper section of the opening of the outer housing. 
     
     
         23 . A centrifuge according to  claim 19 , wherein the dispensing device is arranged adjacent to a rotor housing arranged within the outer housing. 
     
     
         24 . A centrifuge according to  claim 19 , wherein the dispensing device comprises a plurality of dispensing nozzles. 
     
     
         25 . A centrifuge according to  claim 19 , wherein the dispensing device is a dispensing bar comprising a plurality of dispensing nozzles arranged in line. 
     
     
         26 . A centrifuge according to  claim 24 ,
 wherein each dispensing nozzle is provided for a column of reaction vessels of the reaction vessel unit in the moving direction of the reaction vessel unit so that each column of the two-dimensional array of the plurality of reaction vessels can be filled with a dispensing solution.   
     
     
         27 . A centrifuge according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a reservoir for a dispensing solution;   a pump;   wherein the dispensing device is connected to the reservoir; and   wherein the pump is arranged to automatically pump the dispensing solution from the reservoir to the dispensing device.   
     
     
         28 . A centrifuge according to  claim 27 , wherein the dispensing solution in the reservoir is heated. 
     
     
         29 . A centrifuge according to  claim 27 , wherein the dispensing solution is a washing fluid. 
     
     
         30 . A centrifuge according to  claim 19 :
 wherein the loading mechanism comprises a beam configured to couple with a reaction vessel unit or a reaction vessel unit carrier, the beam being movable to extend and retract the reaction vessel unit, and a motor coupled with the beam to extend and retract the beam, wherein the beam in its extended state extends through a centrifuge section comprising the rotor and a rotor housing arranged within the outer housing, and is removed from the centrifuge section in its retracted state so that the rotor can rotate freely.   
     
     
         31 . A centrifuge according to  claim 30 , further comprising:
 a magnetic coupling provided at a free end of the beam for coupling to the reaction vessel unit or to the reaction vessel unit carrier.   
     
     
         32 . A centrifuge according to  claim 31 ,
 wherein the magnetic coupling is configured to be coupled to a counter coupling element of the reaction vessel unit or the reaction vessel unit carrier.   
     
     
         33 . A centrifuge according to  claim 31 ,
 wherein the motor of the loading mechanism is arranged at a side of the rotor opposite the opening of the housing, and wherein the beam in its extended state extends through the rotor and the opening of the outer housing.   
     
     
         34 . A centrifuge according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a stopper provided at a rear side of the rotor opposite to a side of the rotor where the reaction vessel unit or the reaction vessel unit carrier can be inserted into the rotor.   
     
     
         35 . A centrifuge according to  claim 34 ,
 wherein the magnetic coupling provided at the free end of the beam is configured to be decoupled 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.   
     
     
         36 . A centrifuge according to  claim 34 ,
 wherein the magnetic coupling provided at the free end of the beam is configured to be decoupled from the counter coupling element when the reaction vessel unit or the reaction vessel unit carrier abuts the stopper.   
     
     
         37 . A centrifuge according to  claim 34 ,
 wherein the rotor comprises a magnetic coupling element capable of holding the reaction vessel unit or the reaction vessel unit carrier by coupling to a counter coupling element of the reaction vessel unit or the reaction vessel unit carrier.   
     
     
         38 . A centrifuge according to  claim 37 , wherein the stopper comprises the magnetic coupling element. 
     
     
         39 . A centrifuge according to  claim 38 , wherein the magnetic counter coupling element is configured to be coupled to the stopper upon decoupling from the magnetic coupling. 
     
     
         40 . A centrifuge according to  claim 19 , wherein the centrifuge is configured to repeat a plurality of washing steps comprising a cleaning or a washing step by centrifuging the reaction vessel unit and a dispensing step between the respective washing steps. 
     
     
         41 . A system for cleaning a reaction vessel unit, comprising:
 a centrifuge according to  claim 19 ; and   a reaction vessel unit comprising a plurality of reaction vessels arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein each reaction vessel comprises at least one opening;   wherein the rotor of the centrifuge is configured to hold the reaction vessel unit with its openings facing radially outwards with respect to the horizontal rotation axis of the rotor.   
     
     
         42 . A system according to  claim 41 , further comprising:
 a reaction vessel unit carrier configured to releasably carry the reaction vessel unit;   wherein the rotor of the centrifuge is configured to hold the reaction vessel unit carrier with the reaction vessel unit releasably carried in the reaction vessel unit carrier.   
     
     
         43 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the reaction vessel unit carrier comprises a rectangular frame with rims at side edges of the rectangular frame, wherein each rim comprises an upper surface that is tilted inwards. 
     
     
         44 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the reaction vessel unit carrier comprises a rectangular frame with rims at side edges of the rectangular frame, wherein at least one of the rims is non-continuous along one side edge of the rectangular frame. 
     
     
         45 . A system according to  claim 44 , wherein at least two rims on opposite side edges of the rectangular frame are non-continuous.