EP3560592B1 - Laboratory centrifuge, centrifuge tubes for a laboratory centrifuge and method for operating a centrifuge container - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for operating a centrifuge container. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a laboratory centrifuge.

Laboratory centrifuges of the type presented here are used, for example, in biotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry, medical technology and environmental analysis. Such a laboratory centrifuge is used to centrifuge a product, in particular a container or vessel with a sample or substance arranged therein, or a large number of such products at speeds which can be more than 3,000 rpm, for example more than 15,000 rpm. As a result of the centrifugation, accelerations acting on the product are to be generated, which can be, for example, more than 15,000 x g (in particular more than 16,000 x g, more than 20,000 x g up to more than 60,000 x g). A mixture of substances formed by the sample or the substance is to be broken down into components of different densities by centrifugation. Depending on the chemical and/or physical properties of the substance mixture, a targeted control of the pressure and/or temperature conditions can additionally take place during the centrifugation. To cite just a few examples, a laboratory centrifuge may be used in connection with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), hematocrit determination, cytological examinations, or the centrifugation of microtiters, blood bags, petroleum jars or blood vessels, and the like.

In laboratory centrifuges of the type presented here, different types of rotors, in particular swing-out rotors, angle rotors or drum rotors, can be used, with a swing-out rotor preferably being used in a laboratory centrifuge according to the invention, on which Centrifuge holders are distributed evenly over the circumference and are held pivotable about a pivot axis oriented in the circumferential direction. Such swing-bucket rotors can be used, for example, for sedimentation for smaller gravitational fields of up to approximately 6,000×g or even up to approximately 8,600×g, which can be the case, for example, in medicine or research.

STATE OF THE ART

DE 10 2013 220 416 A1 relates to a centrifuge having a swing-bucket rotor with centrifuge buckets suspended thereon. In the centrifuge, a liquid to be centrifuged is tempered using electromagnetic waves. The temperature of the liquid can be measured by means of a temperature sensor wetted by the liquid. The measured temperature is then used to regulate the emitted electromagnetic waves, with which an exact specification of the temperature of the liquid can take place. However, it is also proposed that the temperature of a reference liquid rather than the temperature of the liquid to be centrifuged be measured. Temperature sensors based on NTC elements or PTC elements or resistance temperature sensors are used as temperature sensors. It is also possible to use a passive RFID tag with a temperature indicator function. The RFID tag can then be arranged on the centrifuge beaker or a holder in such a way that the signal from the RFID tag is not shielded. It is also proposed that a portion of the centrifuge bucket has a recess in which is placed a material which is transparent to electromagnetic radiation, for example a non-conductive material such as glass, plastic, polypropylene, polyethylene, quartz, polymers or ceramics. An RFID receiver is arranged in the area of the centrifuge and can transmit the temperature information directly to the microwave control or possibly the centrifuge control in order to carry out a regulation in this way. Other information such as a phase change, data on the pH value, information on the rotational status of a stacked centrifugation system or general data for quality control can also be read out and checked using electromagnetic wave technology.

Also EP 2 623 206 A1 relates to a centrifuge with a swing-out rotor and centrifuge containers held thereon, which are used here for separating blood. By means of a sensor should be physical properties of the components of the blood during centrifugation be separated, be recorded. The sensor is placed in a capsule with a glass shell in the shape of an ellipsoid or a sphere. Four electrodes are arranged on the outside of the capsule, which form the sensors and are connected to a transponder in the capsule with lines. The transponder of the capsule communicates with an evaluation unit, which is arranged outside the housing of the centrifuge. The electrical energy for operating the transponder and the electrodes is transmitted from the evaluation unit to the transponder by means of an electromagnetic field. The capsule is placed loosely in the centrifuge bowl directly into the blood. If sensors measure the electrical conductivity of the blood, the hematocrit value can be determined. The measurement signals from the sensors can be transmitted to the evaluation unit from the transponder via antennas which are also arranged on the capsule. The transmitted signals are then evaluated in the evaluation unit. If a predetermined threshold value for the electrical conductivity of the blood is reached, the centrifugation is terminated. The threshold value reached can be stored in the evaluation unit. Alternatively, it is proposed that the transponder, the antenna, the data lines and power lines can be integrated into a wall of the centrifuge container.

EP 2 397 225 A2 proposes equipping a sample container with a label that reacts sensitively to the acceleration acting on the sample container and thus the sample by changing its state when the acceleration exceeds a threshold value. In this case, a machine-readable one-dimensional or two-dimensional code or an alphanumeric code should be displayed. By means of the label it should then also be possible to recognize in a simple manner whether a sample container with a sample arranged therein has already gone through a centrifugation process or not. In addition, it should be possible for the label to also display the magnitude of the acceleration or the approximate period of time during which the acceleration was above a threshold value. The label can have further partial areas in which additional environmental parameters such as a temperature, a sample type or patient-related data can be displayed. It is also proposed that, in addition to the display dependent on the acceleration, a code that is not sensitive to acceleration is displayed on the label or that an RFID tag is present, which displays sample-related or patient-related data.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

• der Betriebssicherheit,
• einer Überwachung der Bestückung eines Rotors,
• einer Aufnahme und Übertragung von Messsignalen,
• einer Überwachung der Zahl der Einsatzzyklen eines Zentrifugenbehälters und/oder
• der Gewährleistung der Betriebsfestigkeit

verbessert ist. Insbesondere betrifft die vorliegende Erfindung die Aufgabe, ein derartiges Verfahren zum Betrieb eines Zentrifugenbehälters in mehreren Zentrifugationsprozessen mit verbesserten Überwachungsmöglichkeiten für die Zahl der von dem Zentrifugenbehälter durchlaufenen Zyklen vorzuschlagen.The present invention has for its object to propose a method for operating a centrifuge container or a laboratory centrifuge, which in particular with regard

• the operational safety,
• a monitoring of the assembly of a rotor,
• a recording and transmission of measurement signals,
• a monitoring of the number of usage cycles of a centrifuge container and/or
• ensuring operational stability

is improved. In particular, the present invention relates to the task of proposing such a method for operating a centrifuge container in several centrifugation processes with improved monitoring options for the number of cycles run through by the centrifuge container.

SOLUTION

The object of the invention is achieved according to the invention with the features of the independent patent claims. Further preferred configurations according to the invention can be found in the dependent patent claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object on which the invention is based is achieved by means of a method for operating a centrifuge container for a laboratory centrifuge, which has an RFID device (or a device with an RFID device). RFID devices of the required quality can now be provided at reasonable prices. The RFID device enables a wireless power supply and/or an exchange of information between the centrifuge container and adjacent components such as a rotor of the laboratory centrifuge or the laboratory centrifuge itself.

According to the invention, there is a memory unit for storing at least one operating variable. According to the invention, a number of the operating cycles which the centrifuge container has gone through are stored by the memory unit.

1. 1. Es kann sich bei den Informationen um eine Kennzeichnung des Zentrifugenbehälters handeln, welche in einer Speichereinheit der RFID-Einrichtung gespeichert ist. Eine Kennzeichnung der RFID-Einrichtung und damit des zugeordneten Zentrifugenbehälters kann spezifisch für den jeweiligen Zentrifugenbehälter sein oder aber spezifisch für einen Typ des Zentrifugenbehälters sein. Wird ein Zentrifugenbehälter mit einem Rotor in die Laborzentrifuge eingesetzt, kann eine Anregung der RFID-Einrichtung erfolgen und ein Auslesen der Kennzeichnung des Zentrifugenbehälters erfolgen, so dass bekannt ist, ob ein Zentrifugenbehälter und ggf. welcher spezifische Zentrifugenbehälter oder welcher Typ von Zentrifugenbehälter in dem Rotor und der Laborzentrifuge eingesetzt ist.
2. 2. Alternativ oder zusätzlich möglich ist, dass es sich bei den Informationen um Betriebsdaten des Zentrifugenbehälters (und damit der in dem Zentrufgenbehälter angeordneten Produkte) handelt.
   1. a) Betriebsdaten können beispielsweise in der RFID-Einrichtung gespeicherte Informationen zu dem mindestens einen Produkt oder dem Zentrifugenbehälter, wie beispielsweise ein Herstellungsdatum der Probe oder des Zentrifugenbehälters, ein Datum der Anordnung des Produkts in dem Zentrifugenbehälter, eine Spezifizierung der Probe oder des Zentrifugenbehälters, eine maximal zulässige Temperatur der Probe oder des Zentrifugenbehälters, eine Kompensationsabhängigkeit wie eine Kompensationskurve, welche die Abhängigkeit der Temperatur der Probe oder des Zentrifugenbehälters von einer gemessenen Temperatur in einem Innenraum der Zentrifugationskammer beschreibt, u. ä., sein.
   2. b) Um lediglich einige weitere nicht beschränkende Beispiele für Betriebsdaten zu nennen, kann die RFID-Einrichtung des Zentrifugenbehälters Informationen über den gewünschten bestimmungsgemäßen Prozess des Zentrifugierens, wie beispielsweise eine Dauer des Zentrifugierens, ein Drehzahlverlauf oder eine maximale Drehzahl während des Zentrifugierens, eine maximale Winkelbeschleunigung oder eine maximal auf die Probe wirkende Zentrifugalbeschleunigung u. ä., enthalten, welche dann von der Laborzentrifuge ausgelesen werden und dann von einer Prozesssteuerung der Laborzentrifuge verarbeitet und für die Steuerung oder Regelung der Durchführung der Zentrifugation berücksichtigt werden.
      • Möglich ist aber auch, dass die vorgenannten Betriebsdaten während des Zentrifugationsprozesses über Sensoren erfasst und dokumentiert werden, so dass diese von der Laborzentrifuge während der Zentrifugation ausgelesen werden können zur Überwachung und/oder Dokumentation des Zentrifugationsprozesses oder auch zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt zwecks Dokumentation und/oder weiterer Auswertung außerhalb der Laborzentrifuge ausgelesen werden können
      • Ebenfalls möglich ist, dass die Betriebsdaten Messsignale eines Sensors des Zentrifugenbehälters sind, welche vor, während oder nach der Zentrifugation aufgenommen werden und (ohne oder mit Speicherung) dann ausgetauscht werden können. Um lediglich einige nicht beschränkende Beispiele zu nennen, kann es sich um Messsignale
        • eines Beschleunigungssensors für eine Winkelbeschleunigung oder die Zentrifugalbeschleunigung des Zentrifugenbehälters,
        • eines Drehzahlsensors des Zentrifugenbehälters,
        • eines Winkelgeschwindigkeitssensors des Zentrifugenbehälters,
        • eines Neigungssensors für die Erfassung der Neigung des Zentrifugenbehälters bei Einsatz in einem Ausschwingrotor,
        • eines Temperatursensors des Zentrifugenbehälters, der vorzugsweise die Temperatur im Inneren des Zentrifugenbehälters und/oder die Temperatur außerhalb des Zentrifugenbehälters und damit in der Zentrifugationskammer misst,
        • eines Sensors zur Erfassung der Dauer und/oder des Ausmaßes der Zentrifugation des Zentrifugenbehälters und/oder
        • eines Sensors, der die Zusammensetzung des Gases in dem Zentrifugenbehälter oder außerhalb desselben, insbesondere in der Zentrifugationskammer, misst, um beispielsweise zu überwachen, dass inerte Bedingungen, insbesondere in Form von die Proben umgebendem reinem Sauerstoff oder Stickstoff, vorliegen
        handeln.
3. 3. Alternativ oder kumulativ möglich ist, dass die Informationen Prozessinformationen (insbesondere eine Kennzeichnung eines eingesetzten vorbestimmten Zentrifugationsprofils, eine Zentrifugationsdrehzahl und/oder -dauer, ein Drehzahlverlauf, eine erzeugte Zentrifugalbeschleunigung, ein Datum und/oder eine Uhrzeit des durchgeführten Zentrifugationsprozesses u. ä.) sind, welche von der Laborzentrifuge an die RFID-Einrichtung übertragen werden und zwecks Dokumentation in der Einrichtung des Zentrifugenbehälters gespeichert werden. Um lediglich einige die Erfindung nicht beschränkende Beispiele zu nennen, können in einem Zentrifugenbehälter Blutbeutel angeordnet sein. In diesem Fall können die Prozessinformationen eine minimale, maximale oder durchschnittliche Temperatur sein, welcher der Zentrifugenbehälter oder der Blutbeutel ausgesetzt ist. Als weitere Prozessinformationen kann eine durchschnittliche, maximale, minimale oder integrierte Beschleunigung dienen.
   Hinsichtlich der grundsätzlichen Ausgestaltung, möglichen Bauformen, Komponenten und der Anregung sowie Kommunikation von und mit im Rahmen der Erfindung einsetzbaren RFID-Einrichtungen wird grundsätzlich auf die Website www.wikipedia.de unter dem Suchbegriff RFID und RFID-Einrichtungen betreffende Standardwerke und Veröffentlichungen, insbesondere
   Klaus Finkenzeller: "RFID-Handbuch: Grundlagen und praktische Anwendungen von Transpondern, kontaktlosen Chipkarten und NFC", Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 7. Aufl., ISBN: 9783446439436
   verwiesen.

There are a variety of options for information that can be exchanged within the scope of the invention, of which only a few examples are given below, without the invention being restricted to the examples:

1. 1. The information can be an identification of the centrifuge container, which is stored in a memory unit of the RFID device. An identification of the RFID device and thus of the associated centrifuge container can be specific to the respective centrifuge container or specific to a type of centrifuge container. If a centrifuge container with a rotor is inserted into the laboratory centrifuge, the RFID device can be activated and the identification of the centrifuge container can be read out, so that it is known whether a centrifuge container and, if applicable, which specific centrifuge container or which type of centrifuge container is in the rotor and the laboratory centrifuge is used.
2. 2. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for the information to be operating data of the centrifuge container (and thus of the products arranged in the centrifuge container).
   1. a) Operating data can, for example, be information stored in the RFID device about the at least one product or the centrifuge container, such as a date of manufacture of the sample or the centrifuge container, a date on which the product was arranged in the centrifuge container, a specification of the sample or the centrifuge container, a maximum allowable temperature of the sample or the centrifuge container, a compensation dependency such as a compensation curve describing the dependency of the temperature of the sample or the centrifuge container on a measured temperature in an inner space of the centrifugation chamber, and the like.
   2. b) To name just a few other non-limiting examples of operational data, the RFID device of the centrifuge container information about the desired intended process of centrifugation, such as a duration of centrifugation, a speed profile or a maximum speed during centrifugation, a maximum angular acceleration or a maximum centrifugal acceleration acting on the sample, etc., which are then read out by the laboratory centrifuge and then processed by a process controller of the laboratory centrifuge and taken into account for controlling or regulating the implementation of the centrifugation.
      • However, it is also possible for the aforementioned operating data to be recorded and documented by sensors during the centrifugation process, so that they can be read out by the laboratory centrifuge during centrifugation for monitoring and/or documentation of the centrifugation process or at a later point in time for the purpose of documentation and/or further evaluation outside of the laboratory centrifuge
      • It is also possible for the operating data to be measurement signals from a sensor in the centrifuge container, which are recorded before, during or after centrifugation and can then be exchanged (with or without storage). To name just a few non-limiting examples, it can be measurement signals
        • an acceleration sensor for an angular acceleration or the centrifugal acceleration of the centrifuge container,
        • a speed sensor of the centrifuge container,
        • an angular velocity sensor of the centrifuge container,
        • an inclination sensor for detecting the inclination of the centrifuge container when used in a swing-bucket rotor,
        • a temperature sensor of the centrifuge container, which preferably measures the temperature inside the centrifuge container and/or the temperature outside the centrifuge container and thus in the centrifugation chamber,
        • a sensor for detecting the duration and/or the extent of the centrifugation of the centrifuge container and/or
        • a sensor measuring the composition of the gas in the centrifuge container or outside it, in particular in the centrifugation chamber, for example to monitor that inert conditions exist, in particular in the form of pure oxygen or nitrogen surrounding the samples
        act.
3. 3. Alternatively or cumulatively, it is possible that the information includes process information (in particular an identification of a predetermined centrifugation profile used, a centrifugation speed and/or duration, a speed profile, a centrifugal acceleration generated, a date and/or time of the centrifugation process carried out, etc. ) which are transmitted from the laboratory centrifuge to the RFID device and stored in the device of the centrifuge container for the purpose of documentation. To name just a few examples that do not limit the invention, blood bags can be arranged in a centrifuge container. In this case the process information can be a minimum, maximum or average temperature to which the centrifuge container or the blood bag is exposed. An average, maximum, minimum or integrated acceleration can serve as additional process information.
   With regard to the basic design, possible designs, components and the suggestion and communication of and with RFID devices that can be used within the scope of the invention, reference is made to the website www.wikipedia.de under the search term RFID and RFID devices relevant standard works and publications, in particular
   Klaus Finkenzeller: "RFID Handbook: Basics and practical applications of transponders, contactless chip cards and NFC", Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 7th edition, ISBN: 9783446439436
   referred.

1. a) Einerseits ist für eine drahtlose Anregung der Einrichtung zur Leistungsversorgung derselben und andererseits für den (uni-direktionalen oder bi-direktionalen) Austausch von Informationen zwischen der Einrichtung und benachbarten Bauelementen, insbesondere des Rotors und/oder der Laborzentrifuge, erforderlich, dass die Einrichtung und insbesondere eine Antenne derselben nicht durch den Zentrifugenbehälter, den Rotor oder andere Bauelemente abgeschirmt ist, womit die Anregung und der Austausch von Informationen zumindest erschwert würde.
2. b) Des Weiteren haben Untersuchungen gezeigt, dass infolge der hohen, in Laborzentrifugen eingesetzten Drehzahlen und dadurch hervorgerufenen Zentripetalbeschleunigungen Bauelemente der Einrichtung Schaden nehmen können.
3. c) Möglich ist auch, dass eine Anregung und/oder ein Austausch von Informationen nur möglich sind/ist, wenn die Relativgeschwindigkeit zwischen der Einrichtung des Zentrifugenbehälters gegenüber einer Sende- und/oder Empfangseinrichtung der Laborzentrifuge, durch welche die Anregung erfolgt und/oder Informationen gesendet und/oder empfangen werden, einen Schwellwert nicht überschreitet. So sind beispielsweise in der Literaturstelle
   " Prüftechnik für RFID bei Hochgeschwindigkeitsanwendungen im Transportwesen", Mathias Baum, Björn Niemann, Ludger Overmeyer, Institut für Transport- und Automatisierungstechnik (ITA), Universität Hannover, ISBN 1860-5923
   Sende- und/oder Empfangseinrichtungen und zugeordnete RFID-Einrichtungen eingesetzt worden, welche nur bis zu Relativgeschwindigkeiten von 11,5 m/s arbeitsfähig waren. Für eine Rotation des Rotors der Laborzentrifuge mit einer Drehzahl von 6.000 U/min hat dies zur Folge, dass die Einrichtung, insbesondere die Antenne derselben, einen maximalen Abstand von 1,8 cm von der Rotationsachse des Rotors aufweisen darf, wenn die Sende- und/oder Empfangseinrichtung gehäusefest angeordnet ist und somit nicht mit dem Rotor rotiert.
4. d) Angesichts der in der Laborzentrifuge wirkenden hohen Beschleunigungen kann eine Lösung der Einrichtung von dem Zentrifugenbehälter im Betrieb der Laborzentrifuge zu beträchtlichen Schäden an der Laborzentrifuge und Bauelementen derselben führen.

A further embodiment of the invention is dedicated to the conflicting interests of using an RFID device in a centrifuge container for a laboratory centrifuge:

1. a) On the one hand, for wireless excitation of the device for power supply of the same and on the other hand for the (unidirectional or bidirectional) exchange of information between the device and neighboring components, in particular the rotor and / or the laboratory centrifuge, it is necessary that the device and in particular an antenna thereof is not shielded by the centrifuge container, the rotor or other components, which would at least make the excitation and the exchange of information more difficult.
2. b) Furthermore, investigations have shown that due to the high speeds used in laboratory centrifuges and the resulting centripetal accelerations, components of the device can be damaged.
3. c) It is also possible that an excitation and/or an exchange of information is/is only possible if the relative speed between the device of the centrifuge container in relation to a transmitting and/or receiving device of the laboratory centrifuge through which the excitation takes place and/or information are sent and/or received does not exceed a threshold value. For example, in the reference
   " Testing technology for RFID in high-speed applications in transport", Mathias Baum, Björn Niemann, Ludger Overmeyer, Institute for Transport and Automation Technology (ITA), University of Hanover, ISBN 1860-5923
   Sending and / or receiving devices and associated RFID devices have been used, which were only able to work up to relative speeds of 11.5 m / s. For a rotation of the rotor of the laboratory centrifuge at a speed of 6,000 rpm, this means that the device, in particular the antenna of the same, may have a maximum distance of 1.8 cm from the axis of rotation of the rotor if the transmitting and / or receiving device is arranged fixed to the housing and therefore does not rotate with the rotor.
4. d) In view of the high accelerations acting in the laboratory centrifuge, detaching the device from the centrifuge container during operation of the laboratory centrifuge can lead to considerable damage to the laboratory centrifuge and its components.

The invention takes this field of tension into account for one embodiment in that there is a coupling area for coupling the centrifuge container to a rotor, which predetermines an alignment of the centrifuge container with respect to an axis of rotation of the rotor. If the centrifuge container is used with a swing-bucket rotor, the orientation of the centrifuge container relative to the rotor can still change about the pivot axis oriented in the circumferential direction. In this case, however, the coupling area specifies which side of the centrifuge container is arranged on the side facing the axis of rotation of the rotor and which side of the centrifuge container is arranged on the opposite side, which is arranged adjacent to the wall of the laboratory centrifuge, which delimits the centrifugation chamber of the laboratory centrifuge . For this configuration, the device (or a part thereof such as a circuit board with the electronic components excluding the antenna) is arranged on the side of the centrifuge container which faces the axis of rotation in the state in which the centrifuge container is coupled to the rotor. The consequence of this is that the device (or part of it) has a small distance from the axis of rotation, which means that the acceleration forces acting on the device or parts of it are small, which on the one hand extends the working capacity of the device towards higher speeds and /or mechanical or electronic damage to the device can be avoided.

For a further embodiment, an antenna of the device is arranged on the side of the centrifuge container which faces away from the axis of rotation in the state in which the centrifuge container is coupled to the rotor. In this case, further components of the device are arranged on the side of the centrifuge container which faces the axis of rotation. Components of the device are thus arranged on different sides of the centrifuge container and are preferably electrically coupled to one another. This idea of the solution ensures that the antenna of the device is not shielded by the centrifuge container from a transmitting and/or receiving device that is arranged in the area of the wall of the laboratory centrifuge that delimits the centrifugation chamber of the laboratory centrifuge. In this case, it is accepted that the antenna of the device is exposed to relatively large accelerations as a result of the relatively large distance from the axis of rotation. Other components of the device, which are then arranged on the side facing the axis of rotation, but are stressed with smaller accelerations, which is advantageous for sensitive electrical or electronic components such as an electronic control unit or the RFID device and/or a sensor may be the case.

For another embodiment of the centrifuge container according to the invention, there is also a coupling area for coupling the centrifuge container to a rotor, which specifies an alignment of the centrifuge container with respect to an axis of rotation of the rotor. In this case, the antenna of the device (or even the entire device) is arranged on the side of the centrifuge container which, in the rotor-coupled state of the centrifuge container, faces the lid or the bottom of the laboratory centrifuge, which is preferably at a small distance from the axis of rotation takes place. In this case, the antenna of the device can be excited and/or exchange information with a transmitting and/or receiving device, the antenna of which is arranged in the area of the base or the lid of the laboratory centrifuge.

For one proposal of the invention, the device has an antenna via which the device can be supplied with energy wirelessly from a power source which is arranged outside the centrifuge container. This energy source can be a transmission device ensuring excitation, which is rotated with the rotor or is arranged fixed to the housing of the laboratory centrifuge and is arranged, for example, in the area of a wall delimiting a centrifugation chamber or even in the interior of the centrifugation chamber.

• lediglich ein einzelner Wert, ein Mittelwert, ein Maximalwert, ein Minimalwert, ein Wert nach einer vorgegebenen Zeitspanne oder ein Wert zu einem vorgegebenen Prozesszeitpunkt des Zentrifugationsprozesses,
• eine Änderung des Messsignals,
• ein Verlauf des Messsignals oder einer Änderung desselben

von der RFID-Einrichtung gespeichert werden und/oder an eine Sende- und/oder Empfangseinrichtung kommuniziert werden.For a further proposal of the invention, the centrifuge container has at least one sensor for detecting an operating variable. In this case, the sensor can be formed separately from the RFID device or a circuit board forming this, but the measurement signal of the sensor can be fed to the circuit board or the RFID device via an electrical measurement signal line. It is also possible for the sensor to be integrated into the RFID device or to be arranged on a circuit board forming or carrying the RFID device or on some other carrier device, which can also be flexible. The detected operating variable can then be stored by the device or communicated as information to neighboring components. Here, from the measurement signal of the sensor, e.g.

• only a single value, an average value, a maximum value, a minimum value, a value after a specified period of time or a value at a specified process time of the centrifugation process,
• a change in the measurement signal,
• a course of the measurement signal or a change in the same

are stored by the RFID device and/or are communicated to a transmitting and/or receiving device.

There are many options for the operating variables that the sensor records. For example, a sensor can count the number of operating cycles that the centrifuge container has gone through. In this way, it can be documented and checked in the device and by reading out the number of operating cycles, how many operating cycles the centrifuge container has gone through, so that the centrifuge container can be exchanged when a predetermined number of operating cycles has been reached. It is possible here for the number of operating cycles to be detected using measurement signals during centrifugation, in particular acceleration curves or when a maximum is reached or when a braking and/or acceleration process of the laboratory centrifuge is detected using a suitable sensor in the centrifuge container. However, it is also possible that a counting pulse is sent to the RFID device via a transmitting and/or receiving device of the laboratory centrifuge when the centrifuge container with a rotor is inserted into the laboratory centrifuge, which pulse increases the current number of the counter by 1. It is alternatively or cumulatively possible for the laboratory centrifuge to send a counting pulse to the RFID device when a lid of the laboratory centrifuge is closed or a centrifugation process is started and/or ended and, for example, a threshold value for the rotor speed is exceeded. For example, it can be advantageous if no counting pulse is sent to the RFID device and this is processed by the RFID device if only one centrifuge container is inserted into the laboratory centrifuge and this is removed from the laboratory centrifuge again without centrifugation having taken place.

It is also possible for the centrifuge container or the RFID device to have a memory unit which enables at least one operating variable to be stored. In this case, any operating variable can be stored in the memory unit, cf. the previously mentioned operating variables. In order to name just one example that does not limit the invention, a cycle count can be stored in the memory unit, which indicates how many centrifugation cycles the centrifuge container equipped with the memory unit has already run through. The cycles can be counted by the centrifuge container itself be done by using an acceleration sensor of the centrifuge container, for example, to detect when a threshold value is exceeded when a centrifugation process is run through, so that a cycle counter reading is increased when the threshold value is exceeded. It is also possible for the laboratory centrifuge to trigger an impulse to change the stored cycle counter reading of the centrifuge container and then transmit this impulse to the centrifuge container, where the cycle counter reading stored in the memory unit can then be increased by one. In this case, for example, the laboratory centrifuge can trigger a pulse when a lid is closed or when a centrifugation process is initiated or run through, for example when a rotor speed exceeds a threshold value.

To name just one example that does not limit the invention, the configuration according to the invention can contribute to the treatment of the following problem: For laboratory centrifuges known from the prior art, the centrifugation processes are counted by the laboratory centrifuge, assuming that the same centrifuge containers are always in the laboratory centrifuge can be used. If the number of counted centrifugation processes exceeds a threshold value, the user is signaled that the centrifuge container needs to be replaced or the laboratory centrifuge is even shut down. Such monitoring of the number of centrifugation processes that a centrifuge container has gone through fails if different centrifuge containers are used with the laboratory centrifuge for different centrifugation processes or a centrifuge container is used in different laboratory centrifuges. Furthermore, with such a known laboratory centrifuge, it cannot be automatically detected when the centrifuge containers have actually been replaced (possibly as a result of the signaled need to replace the centrifuge containers). Rather, in this case a kind of reset of the laboratory centrifuge is required, with which a count is reset again and the renewed operation of the laboratory centrifuge is made possible. According to the invention, the number of continuous centrifugation processes can be counted by the RFID device for each centrifuge container itself, which then allows the use of any centrifuge container with a laboratory centrifuge and a specific display and monitoring of the number of continuous centrifugation processes of the respective centrifuge container is possible. It is also possible for the laboratory centrifuge to automatically detect whether the centrifuge containers arranged in the laboratory centrifuge have undergone a number of centrifugation processes that is less than a predetermined threshold value that ensures operational reliability.

An example of another operating variable detected by a sensor of the centrifuge container can be a centrifugation time, with which the process conditions of the products that have been centrifuged in the centrifuge container can be documented.

• eine Winkelgeschwindigkeit der Rotation des Zentrifugenbehälters um die Rotationsachse und/oder
• eine Beschleunigung des Zentrifugenbehälters (insbesondere eine Zentripetalbeschleunigung des Zentrifugenbehälters infolge des Zentrifugierens) und/oder
• einen Ausschwingwinkel des Zentrifugenbehälters, welcher als Mittelwert Aufschluss gibt über die Drehzahl des Rotors und dessen instationäre Änderungen Aufschluss geben über die homogenen Prozessbedingungen während der Zentrifugation,
• eine Temperatur des Zentrifugenbehälters und damit der in dem Zentrifugenbehälter angeordneten Produkte und/oder
• aktuellen, minimalen, maximalen, durchschnittlichen und/oder aufintegrierten Beschleunigungswert oder Unwuchtwert

erfasst.It is also possible that the sensor as an operating variable

• an angular velocity of the rotation of the centrifuge container about the axis of rotation and/or
• an acceleration of the centrifuge container (in particular a centripetal acceleration of the centrifuge container as a result of centrifugation) and/or
• a swing-out angle of the centrifuge container, which as a mean value provides information about the speed of the rotor and whose transient changes provide information about the homogeneous process conditions during centrifugation,
• a temperature of the centrifuge container and thus of the products arranged in the centrifuge container and/or
• current, minimum, maximum, average and/or integrated acceleration value or imbalance value

recorded.

The device can be arranged anywhere inside or outside the centrifuge container or can be distributed to any desired location and connected to a housing of the centrifuge container or a cover of the same in any way, in particular by flanging, screwing, gluing, a latching or locking device or a positive connection or snap connection. However, it is also possible for the device, in particular at least the antenna, to be arranged in a recess of a component of the centrifuge container such as the housing. For one proposal of the invention, in this case the device in the recess can be covered by a radiation-transmissive cover element, so that electromagnetic radiation can pass through the radiation-transmissive cover element on the one hand for excitation and on the other hand for an exchange of information. For such an embodiment, the device or the component thereof is protected on the one hand in the interior of the recess by the component of the centrifuge container, in particular the housing of the same, and on the other hand protected by the radiation-transmissive cover element, without the excitation and/or the exchange of information being significantly impaired.

For a further proposal according to the invention, the centrifuge container has a transmitting and/or receiving device. Information from at least one sample container arranged in the centrifuge container can be received by means of the transmitting and/or receiving device. To name just one example that does not limit the invention, the sample containers arranged in the centrifuge container can be blood bags, which are also equipped with an RFID device. In this case, the information transmitted from the blood bag's RFID device to the centrifuge container's RFID device can be information that specifies the blood bag or the blood contained therein (e.g. a number or other identification of the bag, a name or an identification of the person from whom the blood was taken, a date when the blood was taken, a typing of the blood, in particular according to the blood group, an expiry date, etc.). It is also possible that the information is information regarding the centrifugation process through which the blood bag and thus the centrifuge container is to go. This can be, for example, a maximum acceleration, a centrifugation time, a speed, a maximum temperature to which the blood in the blood bag may be exposed, a speed profile, and the like. The at least one piece of information that is transmitted from the RFID device of the sample container to the RFID device of the centrifuge container can (with or without further processing) then be sent directly to a receiving device on the laboratory centrifuge or indirectly via a transmitting and/or receiving device on the rotor be transferred to the laboratory centrifuge. The laboratory centrifuge then uses this information for storage, for determining the operating parameters of the laboratory centrifuge so that the centrifugation process can be carried out in accordance with the transmitted information and/or for monitoring the centrifugation process. Alternatively or cumulatively, it is possible for the laboratory centrifuge to transmit information directly or indirectly via the rotor to the RFID device of the centrifuge container, which is then (without or with further processing) from the RFID device of the centrifuge container to the RFID device of the sample container transferred, where they can then be stored. This information can be, for example, data on the centrifugation process (e.g. the date of the centrifugation process, parameters of the centrifugation such as a speed profile, duration, etc., results of the monitoring with an indication of any errors that have occurred or critical states, the temperatures, which have prevailed during the centrifugation in the centrifugation chamber or in the centrifuge container, generated accelerations, etc.). Finally, it is also possible for information present in or generated by the RFID device of the centrifuge container, as explained above, to be transmitted from the RFID device of the centrifuge container to the RFID device of the sample container and then stored there. In this case, the transmitting and/or receiving device used for the communication between the RFID device of the centrifuge container and the RFID device of the sample container can only be used for this communication. It is also possible, however, for the transmitting and/or receiving device to be used multifunctionally as the transmitting and/or receiving device for this communication, via which the RFID device of the centrifuge container communicates with the rotor or the laboratory centrifuge.

A further solution to the problem on which the invention is based is a method for operating a laboratory centrifuge in which a centrifuge container is used, in which there is a memory unit for storing at least one operating variable and a number of operating cycles which the centrifuge container (4) has gone through. stored by the storage unit.

In particular, the laboratory centrifuge has a rotor with at least one centrifuge container that is held, in particular suspended, on the rotor. The laboratory centrifuge according to the invention has a transmitting and/or receiving device. The transmitting and/or receiving device ensures (unidirectional or bidirectional) communication with a device of at least one centrifuge container held on a rotor. This communication can consist, on the one hand, in an excitation of the power supply device and/or, on the other hand, in an exchange of information.

For another variant, the transmitting and/or receiving device of the laboratory centrifuge communicates with a rotor. In this case, the rotor again communicates with a device of at least one centrifuge container held on a rotor. In this case, the communication between the device of the centrifuge container and the rotor is simplified, since here at most relative movements occur as a result of the pivoting angle of the centrifuge container in relation to the rotor. On the other hand, the relative arrangement of the transmitting and receiving device of the laboratory centrifuge relative to the rotor can then be selected in such a way that good communication is also ensured for this transmission path of the information. For example For example, an antenna can be placed on the rotor at a smaller distance from the axis of rotation than could be the case for the centrifuge bowl.

Within the scope of the invention, the transmitting and receiving device of the laboratory centrifuge can be arranged in any area of the laboratory centrifuge. The transmitting and/or receiving device is preferably arranged directly on the wall of the laboratory centrifuge, which delimits a centrifugation chamber. It is also possible for this wall to have a radiation-permeable cover element in the area of the transmitting and/or receiving device, which is arranged between the centrifugation chamber and the transmitting and/or receiving device. In this case, the transmitting and/or receiving device can be arranged in the area of a peripheral surface of the wall around the axis of rotation. It is also possible for the transmitting and/or receiving device to be arranged in the area of a base of the centrifugation chamber or in the area of a cover of the laboratory centrifuge. The possible locations for the arrangement of the transmitting and/or receiving device explained above can apply to the entire transmitting and/or receiving device or only to a transmitting and/or receiving antenna of the same.

Information from the laboratory centrifuge and/or the centrifuge container can be written to and/or read from a memory of the RFID device during operation of the laboratory centrifuge or when the rotor is at a standstill or in dedicated maintenance phases. It is possible within the scope of the invention for the laboratory centrifuge to have a control device. In this case, the control device has control logic, for example, which evaluates information from the transmitting and/or receiving device.

For a first variant, an evaluation can be made as to the number of centrifuge containers with which the rotor is equipped. If, for example, four receptacles for centrifuge containers are provided on a rotor and are distributed evenly over the circumference, equipping the rotor with only three centrifuge containers would lead to an imbalance, which would impair the operation of the laboratory centrifuge and even damage the laboratory centrifuge or even the area around the laboratory centrifuge can result. An evaluation of the number of centrifuge containers in the rotor thus provides important information for the process and operational reliability of the laboratory centrifuge.

For a second variant of the invention, an evaluation is carried out as to the type (or types) of centrifuge containers with which the rotor is equipped. For example, the evaluation can be used to detect whether an intended type or several intended types of centrifuge containers are used on the rotor. If this is not the case, there can also be an imbalance with the previously explained problems when rotating the rotor with the centrifuge containers. It is also possible that, for example, the rotor is not suitable for the non-intended type, which can be detected from the evaluation, with which suitable remedial measures can then be initiated.

It is also possible that, depending on the type(s) of centrifuge containers held on the rotor, the centrifugation profile (ie the maximum speed, a speed profile, durations for individual speeds, etc.) must be adapted. Within the scope of the invention, the control logic can use the determined types of centrifuge containers that are held on the rotor to carry out an evaluation as to which centrifugation profile the at least one type of centrifuge container must be used to carry out the centrifugation process, and the drive unit can then be controlled accordingly the laboratory centrifuge to carry out the centrifugation process with the centrifugation profile specific to that type or types.

The control device preferably has control logic which, in the event that the evaluation of the information from the transmitting and/or receiving device shows that the rotor is not equipped with the required number of centrifuge containers and/or the rotor is not of the correct type or correct types of centrifuge containers, generates an error signal and/or restricts or prevents operation of the laboratory centrifuge. For example, an optical or acoustic error signal can be generated which signals to the user of the laboratory centrifuge that the required number of centrifuge containers is not provided on the rotor or an impermissible type of centrifuge containers is used in connection with the rotor and the laboratory centrifuge. To cite just one more example, a suitable error indication can be generated on a display of the laboratory centrifuge. However, it is also possible that operation of the laboratory centrifuge is restricted, so that, for example, if the number of centrifuge containers is incorrect or the type of centrifuge container is incorrect, the maximum permissible speed of the rotor is adjusted. It is possible, for example, that in a characteristic map of the laboratory centrifuge is stored, for which number of centrifuge containers and/or which type of a recognized centrifuge container which maximum speed is permissible or which type of centrifugation profile is to be used.

It is also possible that one or the aforementioned control device has control logic that generates a signal that is dependent on the number of operating cycles that the centrifuge container has run through. This embodiment is based on the knowledge that a centrifuge container must be serviced or replaced after a predetermined number of operating cycles. However, if a laboratory centrifuge is used with a large number of centrifuge containers, it is only possible with great effort to monitor the number of operating cycles that an individual centrifuge container has run through. For the embodiment according to the invention, the number of operating cycles completed is recorded for each centrifuge container by means of the associated device, in particular in the form of a counter. If a threshold value for the number of operating cycles is then exceeded, this can be signaled by the laboratory centrifuge, in particular via a display or a warning tone. It is also possible here for a multi-stage signaling to the user to take place, in which case, for example, a color code corresponding to a traffic light green, yellow, red can also be used. In this case, a green tint signals that the centrifuge bowl is safe to operate, a yellow tint signals that the centrifuge bowl will need maintenance or replacement soon, and a red tint signals that the centrifuge bowl has reached its maximum number of operating cycles and needs maintenance or the centrifuge bowl needs to be replaced. It is also possible that the operation of the laboratory centrifuge is stopped when a maximum number of operating cycles is reached. Furthermore, it is possible for a centrifuge container arranged in the laboratory centrifuge to be checked, via a corresponding input device of the laboratory centrifuge, how many operating cycles the centrifuge container has already run through. By way of another non-limiting example, the laboratory centrifuge can also display a display such as "centrifuge bowl 123 has reached 76% of its life", where "123" is an identifier specific to the centrifuge bowl.

There are many possibilities within the scope of the invention for the type of design of the transmitting and/or receiving device of the laboratory centrifuge and in particular the antenna of the same for transmitting and/or receiving. For one embodiment of the invention, the transmission and/or receiving device has a ring segment or ring antenna, which is arranged in the area of a cover of the laboratory centrifuge or a base of the laboratory centrifuge and extends concentrically to the axis of rotation over at least a partial circumference or the entire circumference. In this case, the device of the centrifuge container and in particular an antenna of the same can be moved closely adjacent to the ring segment or ring antenna with the rotation of the laboratory centrifuge, with not only a temporary communication of the antenna of the RFID device with an antenna of the transmitting and / or Receiving device takes place in a specific circumferential angle, but communication over all angles of rotation (or a large range of rotation angles) is possible as a result of the use of the ring antenna. Within the scope of the invention, the ring segment or ring antenna can be arranged concentrically or eccentrically to the axis of rotation.

However, within the scope of the invention it is also entirely possible to use any other antenna, for example a plate antenna, a cable antenna or a rod antenna, in which case these can be arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation or eccentrically thereto. To name just a few examples that do not limit the invention, a cable antenna or other antenna can be elliptical, rectangular or have any shape, in which case the antenna is then preferably arranged in a plane transverse to the axis of rotation and/or arranged concentrically or eccentrically to the axis of rotation can be. Investigations on which the invention is based have shown that, as a result of the reflections occurring in the stainless steel tank of the laboratory centrifuge, in some applications it can even be more favorable if the antenna is arranged eccentrically to the axis of rotation.

It is entirely possible within the scope of the invention for information to be stimulated and/or exchanged during the operation of the laboratory centrifuge and at all the speeds passed through. For a particular proposal of the invention, one or the control device has control logic that limits communication and/or evaluation of information to operating ranges in which the rotor is at a standstill. However, it is also possible for the communication and/or the evaluation to be limited to operating ranges in which the rotational speed of the rotor is lower than a predefined rotational speed threshold value. This threshold value of the rotational speed is determined in such a way that a reliable transmission of information between the RFID device and the transmitting and/or receiving device is ensured.

A further solution to the problem on which the invention is based is a method for operating a centrifuge container, which is a centrifuge container in which there is a storage unit for storing at least one operating variable and a number of operating cycles that the centrifuge container has run through, stored by the storage unit.

In this method, the same centrifuge container is used in several centrifugation processes, with the centrifuge container not always being operated in the same laboratory centrifuge, but in at least two laboratory centrifuges of the same type or of different types. The invention is based on the finding that when the centrifuge container is operated alternately in different laboratory centrifuges, it is not possible for the laboratory centrifuge itself to count the cycles of the centrifugation processes to which the centrifuge container was subjected. According to the invention it is proposed that the centrifuge container is first introduced into a first laboratory centrifuge. A pulse for a cycle counter is then generated before, with or after a centrifugation process is run through. This pulse can be generated, for example, by evaluating an acceleration of the centrifuge container, by opening or closing a lid of the laboratory centrifuge, or by the control unit of the laboratory centrifuge as the centrifugation process is run through. The impulse is then transmitted to the centrifuge container, whereby the aforementioned communication types and ways can be used. A cycle counter reading is stored in the storage unit of the centrifuge container, which represents how many cycles the centrifuge container has already run through. When the centrifuge container is used for the first time for a centrifugation process, the cycle counter reading is therefore set to zero. As a result of the pulse, the cycle count is incremented by one. The increased cycle count is then stored in the storage unit of the centrifuge container. It is possible that further centrifugation processes are subsequently carried out using the same laboratory centrifuge and the same centrifuge container, with the result that the cycle counter reading is increased by one in each case. If the centrifuge container is then placed in a second laboratory centrifuge, a pulse for a cycle counter is generated by the second laboratory centrifuge (according to the explanations above) before, with or after running through a centrifugation process with the centrifuge container in the second laboratory centrifuge. The pulse then results in an increment of the cycle count stored by the memory unit of the centrifuge bowl. The increased cycle count is then stored on the Storage unit of the centrifuge container. Further centrifugation processes can then be carried out with the second laboratory centrifuge and/or further centrifugation processes can be carried out again with the first laboratory centrifuge or a third laboratory centrifuge (etc.), with the cycle counter reading then being increased in each case. According to the invention, the cycle counter reading stored on the memory unit of the centrifuge container accurately reflects the cycles of centrifugation processes run through by the centrifuge container, regardless of the laboratory centrifuge in which the centrifuge container was used.

The cycle counter reading stored in the memory unit in this way can be used, for example, as follows:
When the centrifuge container is placed in a laboratory centrifuge, the cycle counter reading can be read from the control unit of the laboratory centrifuge. If the cycle count is greater than a threshold value, a centrifugation process can be blocked in order not to unduly stress the centrifuge container. Alternatively or cumulatively, an optical or acoustic display can be generated on the laboratory centrifuge in order to signal to the user that the centrifuge container has run through a maximum number of cycles. In this case, the control unit of the laboratory centrifuge can compare the cycle counter reading with predetermined threshold values of the cycle counter reading that are available on the laboratory centrifuge. It is also possible that the maximum number of cycles for the centrifuge container is stored in the RFID device of the centrifuge container, that this is read out by the control unit of the laboratory centrifuge and that the control unit of the laboratory centrifuge compares the current cycle counter reading with the specific threshold value read out for the maximum number of cycles.

Advantageous developments of the invention result from the patent claims, the description and the drawings. The advantages of features and combinations of several features mentioned in the description are merely exemplary and can have an effect alternatively or cumulatively without the advantages necessarily having to be achieved by embodiments according to the invention. Without changing the subject matter of the appended claims, the following applies with regard to the disclosure content of the original application documents and the utility model: further features are the drawings - in particular the illustrated geometries and the relative dimensions several components to each other as well as their relative arrangement and operative connection - to be taken. The combination of features of different embodiments of the invention or of features of different patent claims is also possible, deviating from the selected dependencies of the patent claims and is hereby suggested. This also applies to those features that are shown in separate drawings or are mentioned in their description. These features can also be combined with features of different patent claims. Likewise, features listed in the patent claims can be omitted for further embodiments of the invention.

The features mentioned in the patent claims and the description are to be understood with regard to their number in such a way that exactly this number or a larger number than the number mentioned is present without the need for an explicit use of the adverb "at least". So if, for example, an element is mentioned, this is to be understood in such a way that exactly one element, two elements or more elements are present. These characteristics may be complemented by other characteristics or they may be the only characteristics that make up the product in question.

The reference signs contained in the claims do not limit the scope of the subject-matter protected by the claims. They only serve the purpose of making the claims easier to understand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1 und 2

zeigen stark schematisiert Ausführungsbeispiele einer Laborzentrifuge.

Fig. 3

zeigt schematisch eine Laborzentrifuge in einem Vertikalschnitt.

Fig. 4

zeigt schematisch eine Komponente eines Zentrifugenbehälters mit einer Antenne, einer Frequenzweiche und einer RFID-Einrichtung und einem Temperatursensor.

The invention is further explained and described below with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures.

Figures 1 and 2

show highly schematic examples of a laboratory centrifuge.

3

shows schematically a laboratory centrifuge in a vertical section.

4

shows schematically a component of a centrifuge container with an antenna, a crossover and an RFID device and a temperature sensor.

FIGURE DESCRIPTION

1 shows a laboratory centrifuge 1 in a rough schematic diagram. In a centrifugation chamber 2 of the laboratory centrifuge 1 there is a motor-driven rotor 3 on which several centrifuge containers 4a, 4b, ... (which are also referred to as "centrifuge buckets" in some embodiments) held, especially hung. The laboratory centrifuge 1 has a transmitting and/or receiving device 5 , preferably adjacent to the centrifugation chamber 2 . Furthermore, the laboratory centrifuge 1 has a control device 6 and an output device 7 , which is preferably a display 8 .

• Kommunikation mit der Sende- und/oder Empfangseinrichtung 5 zum Austausch von Informationen (uni- oder bi-direktional);
• Speicherung von Informationen;
• Messung einer Betriebsgröße;
• quantitative Erfassung der Betriebshäufigkeit des Zentrifugenbehälters 4, insbesondere die Gesamtdauer der Zentrifugation des Zentrifugenbehälters 4, die Zahl der Zentrifugationsprozesse, in welchen der Zentrifugenbehälter 4 eingesetzt worden ist oder ein kumuliertes Maß für die Beaufschlagung des Zentrifugenbehälters 4 mit Beschleunigungen und Kräften während der Zentrifugationsprozesse und/oder
• Ermöglichung einer nicht kabelgebundenen Anregung zwecks Energieversorgung der Einrichtung 9.

The centrifuge container 4 has an electrical or electronic device 9 . The device 9 is suitably designed to perform the following functions, for example:

• Communication with the transmitting and/or receiving device 5 for exchanging information (unidirectional or bidirectional);
• storage of information;
• Measurement of an operating variable;
• quantitative detection of the operating frequency of the centrifuge container 4, in particular the total duration of the centrifugation of the centrifuge container 4, the number of centrifugation processes in which the centrifuge container 4 has been used or a cumulative measure of the impact of the centrifuge container 4 with accelerations and forces during the centrifugation processes and/or
• Enable non-wired excitation to power the facility 9.

For the exemplary embodiment shown, the device 9 has at least one antenna 10. One antenna can be used for the unidirectional or bidirectional exchange of information, while another antenna is used to stimulate the energy supply. However, it is also possible for the exchange of information and the initiation of the energy supply to be ensured via the same antenna 10 .

Furthermore, the device 9 has an RFID device 11. The device 9 can also have at least one sensor 12 for detecting an operating variable of the centrifuge container 4. The antenna 10, the RFID device 11 and the sensor 12 are designed in the usual way and connected to one another. These can form a unit be combined or distributed and connected to one another via electrical connecting lines. It is possible for the RFID device 11 and/or the sensor 12 to be arranged on a circuit board 13. It is possible, for example, for the RFID device 11 and/or the sensor 12, in particular on the circuit board 13, to be at a small distance from an axis of rotation of the laboratory centrifuge 1 are arranged so that they are exposed to the smallest possible accelerations. On the other hand, the antenna 10 can be freely positioned in such a way that optimal communication with the transmitting and/or receiving device 5 of the laboratory centrifuge 1 results. For this purpose, for example, the antenna 10 can be arranged at a location which has the smallest possible distance from the transmitting and/or receiving device 5, for which purpose the antenna 10 is preferably arranged at a small distance from a wall 14 that delimits the centrifugation chamber 2 . In this case, the antenna 10 can be arranged at a small distance from a vertical, in particular cylindrical side wall or from the base or the cover of the centrifugation chamber 2 .

In 1 an exchange 15 of information and an excitation 16 between the antenna 10 of the device 9 of the centrifuge container 4 and an antenna 17 of the transmitting and/or receiving device 5 are shown in dots. A communication 18 between the antennas 10, 17 can consist of the exchange 15 of information and/or the excitation 16, whereby an exchange 15 and an excitation 16 can also take place simultaneously or the exchange 15 and the excitation 16 alternately and in different operating phases can take place.

Operation of a laboratory centrifuge 1 according to FIG 1 explained. After the centrifuge containers 4 have been loaded with products and the centrifuge containers 4 have been suspended from the rotor 3, the rotor 3 with the centrifuge containers 4 is inserted into the centrifugation chamber 2 and a drive connection to the drive of the laboratory centrifuge 1 is created. In the device 9, which also forms a transmitting and/or receiving device 19, an identification of the associated centrifuge container 4 is stored in a memory unit. This identifier can denote the type of centrifuge container 4 used, which means that several centrifuge containers 4 of the same type have the same identifier. It is alternatively or additionally possible for an identifier to be stored in the form of an identifier specific to each centrifuge container 4 . Triggered, for example, by a manual input by the user of the laboratory centrifuge 1, by closing the lid of the laboratory centrifuge 1 or by starting the operation of the laboratory centrifuge 1 the control software of the same generates a control unit 20 of the transmitting and/or receiving device 5 an excitation 16 for the purpose of supplying energy to the transmitting and/or receiving device 19. As a result of the excitation 16, the memory can be read and an exchange 15 of information, here the read identification, can take place . The identifier transmitted in this way is then transmitted to the control device 6, which carries out an evaluation. This evaluation can consist, for example, of checking whether the type of centrifuge container 4 that correlates with the identification is correct for the laboratory centrifuge 1 or the selected centrifugation process. It is also possible to check whether the correct number of centrifuge containers 4 are suspended from the rotor 3 . It is alternatively or additionally possible for the counter reading of a counter of the device 9, which is used to count how many centrifugation processes the centrifuge container 4 has gone through, to be read out. If the check shows that the intended type of centrifuge containers 4 is present and the correct number of centrifuge containers 4 is suspended from the rotor 3 and/or the counter readings of the centrifuge containers 4 used are less than the maximum number of centrifugation processes that the centrifuge containers 4 are allowed to run through, the centrifugation process is enabled by the control unit 6 . Before or during the drive of the rotor 3, an exchange 15 of information takes place between the transmitting and/or receiving devices 5, 19, in that a counting pulse for carrying out a further centrifugation process is transmitted to the transmitting and/or receiving device 19 of the centrifuge container 4, so that a stored current count of a counter of the device 9 for the number of centrifugation processes to which the centrifuge container 4 was exposed can be increased by 1. During or after the centrifugation process, information can then be exchanged 15 in the form of a currently determined or temporarily stored measured value of the sensor 12 to the transmitting and/or receiving device 5, with subsequent processing by the control device 6.

An exchange 15 of information in the form of the current counter reading preferably takes place before or after a centrifugation process. The control device 6 compares the current count with a threshold value. If the control device 6 recognizes on the basis of this comparison that the maximum permissible count has been reached, the control device 6 generates an output on the display 8 such that the user is signaled that the centrifuge container 4 has run through the maximum number of permissible centrifugation processes. In this case, the control device 6 preferably also generates an output on the display 8 which identifies the centrifuge container 4 among the plurality of in the laboratory centrifuge 1 arranged centrifuge container 4 allows what is done in particular by displaying the specific for the centrifuge container 4 identification.

It is possible that the exchange 15 of information and/or an excitation 16 for the different centrifuge containers 4 takes place with the same or different excitation frequencies and/or exchange frequencies.

2 also shows a modified embodiment as a schematic diagram. The RFID device 11 and the sensor 12 are not arranged on a common circuit board 13 here. Rather, the antenna 10 and the RFID device 11 form a structural unit 21 here, while the sensor 12 is designed separately and is also arranged at a distance from the structural unit 21 under certain circumstances. In this case, the communication 18 of the transmitting and/or receiving device 19 of the centrifuge container 4 does not take place with the transmitting and/or receiving device 5 of the laboratory centrifuge 1, but rather with a transmitting and/or receiving device 22 of the rotor 3. This can, for example have an antenna 23, via which the communication 18 takes place, and a control device 24 for controlling any excitation 16 and/or an exchange 15. The transmitting and/or receiving device 22 of the rotor 3 is in communication 25 with the transmitting and /or receiving device 5 of the laboratory centrifuge 1. This communication 25 can be wired, for example via a sliding contact between the rotor 3 and the laboratory centrifuge 1. However, for the exemplary embodiment shown, the communication 25 also takes place wirelessly. For this purpose, the transmitting and/or receiving device 22 has an antenna 26, via which the communication 25 with the antenna 17 of the transmitting and/or receiving device 5 takes place.

3 shows highly schematized the laboratory centrifuge 1 with the rotatably mounted and driven rotor 3 about an axis of rotation 27 and centrifuge containers 4a, 4b, ... suspended thereon about pivot axes 28a, 28b, ... Here are the devices 9a, 9b, ... im Area of the lid of the centrifuge container 4 arranged. The centrifugation chamber 2 is closed with a cover 29 . A ring antenna 30 is held on the cover 29 on the side facing the centrifugation chamber 2 . The ring antenna 30 is arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation 27 and at a small distance from the devices 9a, 9b, ... and the antennas 10a, 10b, ... of the same to enable short transmission paths.

4 1 shows an electrical circuit diagram of a device 9 by way of example and in a highly schematic manner. The antenna 10 is connected to the sensor 12 via a branch 31 in a first line branch 32 via a first filter 33 . Furthermore, the antenna 10 is connected to the RFID device 11 via the branch 31 in a second line branch 34 via a second filter 35 . The first line branch 32 has a demodulator 36 (effective in the direction from the antenna 10 to the sensor 12) and a modulator 37 (effective in the direction from the sensor 12 to the antenna 10), the demodulator 36 and the modulator 37 preferably being between the filter 33 and the sensor 12 are arranged. It is possible for the demodulator 36 and/or the modulator 37 to have a diode 38 with a downstream low-pass filter or a capacitor.

The first filter 33 is preferably a high-pass filter, while the second filter 35 is a low-pass filter. The high-pass and the low-pass do not overlap in terms of their consistency. It is also possible for the filters 33, 35 to be in the form of bandpass filters without overlapping. It is also possible for the branch 31 and the filters 33, 35 to be formed by a frequency filter or a so-called diplexer, to the input of which the antenna 10 is connected and to the outputs of which the sensor 12 and the RFID device 11 are connected.

For a possible embodiment, the sensor 12 forms a system capable of oscillating, the oscillating circuit of the sensor 12 being designed with a quartz 39 . Due to the temperature dependence of the behavior of the quartz 39, the resonant frequency of the oscillating circuit depends on the temperature to which the sensor 12 is exposed, with the result that the sensor 12 is a temperature sensor.

The RFID device 11 has a memory 40 . A parameter 41 specific to the centrifuge container 4 is stored in the memory 40 . The parameter 41 enables the associated centrifuge container 4 to be uniquely identified. The parameter 41 can be, for example, a serial number or a serial or product number. It is also possible that the parameter 41 is a calibration parameter that can describe the behavior of the sensor 12, here the specific dependence of the resonant frequency on the temperature acting on the quartz 39. Such a parameter can be, for example, a calibration factor, a calibration curve, a calibration function or a calibration characteristic map.

A device 9 according to 4 enables the following mode of operation:
If an excitation 16 of the device 9 occurs with an excitation frequency which can pass the second filter 35 but does not pass the first filter 33, a power supply to the RFID device 11 can be ensured via this excitation, and an exchange 15 of information, here the parameter 41. The oscillating circuit of the sensor 12 formed with the quartz 39 has a temperature-dependent resonant frequency. The resonant circuit is excited to oscillate at the resonant frequency by means of excitation 16, with the resonant circuit being designed in such a way that in the expected temperature range the resonant frequency is in a frequency range that enables excitation to resonate with an excitation frequency of excitation 16, which is the first Filter 33 can pass, but the second filter 35 does not happen. The temperature can be determined using the transmitting and/or receiving device 5 or 22 by varying the excitation frequency and searching for the resonance using a calibration parameter that describes the dependence of the resonance frequency on the temperature. An excitation 16 can preferably have a carrier frequency in the range from 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz, while the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit of the sensor 12 can be in a range from 32 KHz to 67 KHz or 170 KHz to 250 KHz. On the other hand, the RFID device 11 is excited at a frequency of 868 MHz or 915 MHz, with changes of ±5% or ±10% of these frequencies also being possible. If several centrifuge containers 4 with associated sensors are used in a laboratory centrifuge 1 or in several laboratory centrifuges 1, the oscillating circuits of the sensors 12 can have resonance frequencies in different, non-overlapping resonance frequency ranges.

The centrifuge container 4 is preferably coupled to the rotor 3 in the area of the pivot axis 28 via a coupling area 42, which specifies an alignment of the centrifuge container 4 relative to the axis of rotation 27 in such a way that the centrifuge container 4 only has one predetermined side facing the axis of rotation 27 , can be coupled with the rotor 3.

Preferably takes place according to 1 a communication 18 of the RFID device 11 of the centrifuge container 4 directly with the laboratory centrifuge 1 or the housing of the same. Here, an antenna 17 of the laboratory centrifuge can be designed as a cable antenna, for which purpose a so-called Locfield antenna ("LOCFIELD" is a registered trademark) is preferred. A length in the range of 0.5 m to 1.5 m or 0.8 m to 1.2 m can be used. The cable antenna can then be integrated into the cover 29, for which purpose the cover 29 has a part-ring-shaped or ring-shaped groove or recess, in which the cable antenna extends over part of the circumference or over the entire circumference around the axis of rotation 27 . Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for a plate antenna to be used, which is integrated in particular in a recess in the cover and is preferably covered in a protective and/or sealing manner in the direction of the centrifugation chamber 2 . Communication with at least one of the aforementioned antennas integrated in the cover 29 preferably takes place using UHF frequencies.

It is also possible for the antenna 17 to communicate with a sample container, such as a blood bag, for example with the interposition of a transmitting and/or receiving device of the centrifuge container 4 and/or the rotor 3, preferably by means of communication with an RFID device of the sample container . In this way, information about the sample container can be transmitted to the control unit 20 of the laboratory centrifuge 1, for example the type of sample, a type designation of the sample, a specific sample number of the sample, the date the sample container was filled, etc. This information can are then displayed for the user on a display of the laboratory centrifuge 1 or are stored by the laboratory centrifuge 1 or externally from this.

REFERENCE LIST

1

laboratory centrifuge

2

centrifugation chamber

3

rotor

4

centrifuge container

5

Sending and/or receiving device

6

control device

7

output device

8th

screen

9

electrical/electronic equipment

10

antenna

11

RFID facility

12

sensor

13

circuit board

14

wall

15

Exchange

16

excitation

17

antenna

18

communication

19

Sending and/or receiving device

20

control unit

21

assembly

22

Sending and/or receiving device

23

antenna

24

control device

25

communication

26

antenna

27

axis of rotation

28

pivot axis

29

Lid

30

ring antenna

31

branch

32

first line of wires

33

first filter

34

second line of wiring

35

second filter

36

demodulator

37

modulator

38

diode

39

quartz

40

Storage

41

parameter

42

coupling area

Claims (16)

1. Method for operating a centrifuge container (4) for a laboratory centrifuge (1) wherein the centrifuge container (4) comprises a RFID-device (11) and a storage unit is provided for storing at least one operational parameter, characterized in that a number of operating cycles which have been imposed on the centrifuge container (4) is stored on the storage unit.
2. Method for operating a centrifuge container (4) of claim 1, characterized in that

   a) a coupling portion (42) for coupling the centrifuge container (4) to a rotor (3) is provided which defines an orientation of the centrifuge container (4) relative to a rotational axis (27) of the rotor (3) and

   b) a device (9) comprising the RFID-device (11) is at least partially arranged on the side of the centrifuge container (4) which in the state of the centrifuge container (4) coupled to the rotor (3) faces towards the rotational axis (27).
3. Method for operating a centrifuge container (4) of claim 2, characterized in that

   a) an antenna (10) of the device (9) is arranged on the side of the centrifuge container (4) which in the state of the centrifuge container (4) coupled to the rotor (3) faces away from the rotational axis (27) and

   b) further components of the device (9) are arranged on the side of the centrifuge container (4) which in the state of the centrifuge container (4) coupled to the rotor (3) faces towards the rotational axis (27).
4. Method for operating a centrifuge container (4) of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

   a) a coupling portion (42) for coupling the centrifuge container (4) to a rotor (3) is provided which defines an orientation of the centrifuge container (4) relative to a rotational axis (27) of the rotor (3) and

   b) an antenna (10) of the device (9) or RFID-device (11) is arranged on the side of the centrifuge container (4) which in the state of the centrifuge container (4) coupled to the rotor (3) faces towards the lid or the bottom of the laboratory centrifuge (4).
5. Method for operating a centrifuge container (4) of one of preceding claims, characterized in that the device (9) or RFID-device (11) comprises an antenna (10) by which the RFID-device (11) is wirelessly supplied with power from a power source which is arranged outside from the centrifuge container (4).
6. Method for operating a centrifuge container (4) of one of preceding claims, characterized in that at least one sensor (12) for sensing an operational parameter is provided.
7. Method for operating a centrifuge container (4) of claim 6, characterized in that

   a) a centrifugation duration and/or

   b) an angular velocity of the rotation of the centrifuge container (4) and/or

   c) an acceleration of the centrifuge container (4) and/or

   d) a pivoting angle of the centrifuge container (4) and/or

   e) a temperature

   is sensed by the sensor (12) and/or stored by the storage unit.
8. Method for operating a centrifuge container (4) of one of preceding claims, characterized in that the device (9) or RFID-device (11) is at least partially arranged in a recess of a component of the centrifuge container (4) and covered by a covering element which is transmissible for radiation.
9. Method for operating a centrifuge container (4) of one of preceding claims, characterized in that the device (9) or RFID-device (11) comprises a sending and/or receiving device by which the RFID-device (11) is able to

   a) receive information from at least one probe container contained in the centrifuge container (4) and/or

   b) send information to at least one probe container contained in the centrifuge container (4).
10. Method for operating a laboratory centrifuge (1) with at least one centrifuge container (4) held by a rotor (3), the centrifuge container (4) being operated with the use of a method of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laboratory centrifuge (1) comprises a sending and/or receiving device (5) for a communication (18) with

    a) a device (9) or RFID-device (11) of at least one centrifuge container (4) held by a rotor (3) for executing a method of one of the preceding claims and/or

    b) a rotor (3) which communicates with a device (9) or RFID-device (11) of at least one centrifuge container (4) held by a rotor (3) for executing a method of one of the preceding claims.
11. Method for operating a laboratory centrifuge (1) of claim 10, characterized in that a control device (6) is provided which comprises control logic which analyses information of the sending and/or receiving device (5) for determining

    a) the number of centrifuge containers (4a, 4b, ...) with which the rotor (3) is equipped and/or

    b) the type or types of centrifuge containers (4a, 4b, ...) with which the rotor (3) is equipped and/or

    c) if the rotor (3) is equipped with the required number of centrifuge containers (4a, 4b, ...) and/or

    d) if the rotor (3) is equipped with the correct type or the correct types of centrifuge containers (4a, 4b, ...) and/or

    e) with which centrifugation profile the centrifugation process has to be executed for the at least one type of centrifuge container (4a, 4b, ...) with which the rotor (3) is equipped.
12. Method for operating a laboratory centrifuge (1) of claim 11, characterized in that a or the control device (6) comprises control logic which when the analysis of information of the sending and/or receiving device (5) indicates that

    a) the rotor (3) is not equipped with the required number of centrifuge containers (4a, 4b, ...) and/or

    b) the rotor (3) is not equipped with the correct type or the correct types of centrifuge containers (4a, 4b, ...)

    generates an error signal and/or restricts or disables or stops the operation of the laboratory centrifuge (1).
13. Method for operating a laboratory centrifuge (1) of one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that a or the control device (6) comprises control logic which generates a signal which depends on the number of operating cycles which have been imposed on the centrifuge container (4).
14. Method for operating a laboratory centrifuge (1) of one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the sending and/or receiving device (5) comprises a circular antenna (30) for the communication (18) with at least one centrifuge container (4) held by a rotor (3), the circular antenna (30) being arranged in the region of a lid (29) of the laboratory centrifuge (1) or in the region of a bottom of a centrifugation chamber (2) of the laboratory centrifuge (1).
15. Method for operating a laboratory centrifuge (1) of one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that a or the control device (6) comprises control logic which restricts a communication (18) and/or a processing or analysis to operational phases

    a) with a still stand and/or

    b) numbers of revolutions being smaller than a threshold of the number of revolutions.
16. Method for operating a centrifuge container (4) of one of claims 1 to 9 with a plurality of centrifugation processes in at least two laboratory centrifuges (1), in particular with the execution of a method of one of claims 10 to 15 in the at least two laboratory centrifuges (1), the method comprising the following method steps:

    a) placing the centrifuge container (4) in a first laboratory centrifuge (1a),

    b) generation of an impulse for a cycle counter,

    c) increasing the cycle count stored by a storage unit of the centrifuge container (4) due to the generated impulse,

    d) storing the increased cycle count on the storage unit of the centrifuge container (4),

    e) placing the centrifuge container (4) in a second laboratory centrifuge (1b),

    f) generation of an impulse for a cycle counter,

    g) increasing the cycle count stored by the storage unit of the centrifuge container (4) due to the generated impulse,

    h) storing the increased cycle count on the storage unit of the centrifuge container (4).

Images