Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of Biotechnology, and more particularly, the present invention relates to the centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system.
BACKGROUND FOR THE INVENTION:
[0002] The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known, or part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction as of the priority date of the application. The details provided herein the background if belongs to any publication is taken only as a reference for describing the problems, in general terminologies or principles or both of science and technology in the associated prior art.
[0003] A refrigerated centrifuge is laboratory equipment used for the separation of temperature-sensitive heterogeneous mixtures or samples. This device works by subjecting samples to high-speed rotational forces, facilitating the separation based on their different densities. Refrigerated centrifuges, while critical for temperature-sensitive samples, are associated with several disadvantages.
- High cost: The cost of a refrigerated centrifuge is quite higher compared to a non-refrigerated centrifuge due to the integrated cooling system, making them a substantial investment for a lab.
- Maintenance complexity: The cooling system requires regular maintenance, including checks on refrigerant levels and compressor functionality, which can increase operational cost and downtime.
- Large footprint: These units are often bulkier due to refrigeration components, requiring more lab space, which can be a constraint in smaller facilities.
- Power consumption: They consume more electricity to run the centrifuge tube rotor and the cooling system, leading to higher energy costs.
- Noise levels: Further, the cooling system, especially the compressor, can generate significant noise, which may disrupt the lab environment.
- Limited portability: Moreover, their size, weight, and power requirements make them less portable as compared to non-refrigerated models, limiting flexibility in lab setups.
- Risk of condensation: Also, the improper temperature management can lead to condensation inside the centrifuge, potentially contaminating samples or damaging the equipment.
- Slower cooling times: Some models may take time to reach the desired low temperature, delaying experiments, especially for time-sensitive protocols.
[0004] In light of the foregoing, there is a need for the Centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system that overcomes problems prevalent in the prior art.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows.
[0006] The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing the Centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide the Centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system that simplifies the process of extracting nucleic acids from cell lysates, reducing the risk of sample denaturation, thus improving the yield.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide the Centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system that ensures the maintenance of protein filtrate, enhancing the accuracy of downstream analyses such as Western blotting or mass spectrometry.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide the Centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system that facilitates the separation and extraction of plasma or serum from blood samples, improving the efficiency of diagnostic tests.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide the Centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system that enhances the recovery of microbial metabolites, leading to more accurate detection and identification of components.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide the Centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system that improves the reliability of sample preparation in drug screening assays, ensuring accurate results in high-throughput settings.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide the Centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system that enhances the recovery of cellular or subcellular components, leading to more precise assessments of drug toxicity.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide the Centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system that simplifies the centrifugation of water samples, improving the accuracy of environmental monitoring.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide the Centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system that facilitates the recovery of microbial or chemical components from soil extracts, enhancing the reliability of environmental assessments.
[0015] Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0016] Considering the challenges associated with the refrigerated centrifuge, the current invention, comprising a refrigerated centrifuge with a cooling gel-filled detachable bottom, has been designed. The centrifuge tube provides a cost-effective alternative to the conventional refrigerated centrifuges. Therefore, keeping in mind the above issues of a refrigerated centrifuge, a novel centrifuge tube has been proposed with detachable bottom having cavity filled with cooling gel.
[0017] The present invention provides a centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system.
[0018] A centrifuge tube lined with refrigerant gel, filled in an inbuilt cavity, is an innovative laboratory tool designed for use in a non-cooling centrifuge machine. The purpose of using a cooling centrifuge machine (pre-cooled centrifuge) is to maintain low temperatures during centrifugation to protect temperature-sensitive samples and ensure accurate results. The reasons for using a pre-cooled centrifuge machine are to prevent degradation of heat-sensitive biological samples, such as proteins, DNA, RNA, or cells, which can denature or lose activity at higher temperatures. Centrifuge tube lined with refrigerant gel maintains consistent sample conditions (e.g., 4 °C or -20 °C) for applications like enzymology, molecular biology, or clinical diagnostics, ensuring reliable data. This novel invention will help in lowering the heat generated by high-speed centrifugation, which might degrade the heat-labile samples and consequently affect the results. This novel invention would revolutionize experiments requiring precise temperature control, such as separating cellular components or isolating delicate biomolecules. Moreover, this centrifuge tube would keep the sample viable for downstream processes like protein extraction and purification or sequencing by minimizing temperature-induced stress.
[0019] The refrigerated centrifuge tube can typically be made from high-quality chemical-resistant materials such as polypropylene, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of biological and chemical samples. The detachable bottom of the novel refrigerated centrifuge tube has an inbuilt cavity filled with a refrigerant gel. Before use, the centrifuge tube should be refrigerated at low temperatures (e.g., 4 °C or -20 °C) for several minutes. Consequently, the refrigerated centrifuge tube can be utilized for centrifuging the components of heat-labile samples.
[0020] Our new invention, the centrifuge tube with an inbuilt cooling system at the detachable bottom, addresses the challenges of sample processing where temperature regulation is critical.
[0021] This innovative centrifuge tube features a detachable bottom lined with a cavity that is pre-filled with a refrigerated gel.
[0022] During centrifugation, the cooling gel maintains a low temperature, which helps in maintaining the integrity of temperature-sensitive samples. The detachable bottom further facilitates the easy recovery of the settled components or the supernatant by providing direct access.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
[0023] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
[0024] Figure 1: Regular/Conventional centrifuge tube; and
[0025] Figure 2 and 3: Centrifuge tube, in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
[0026] While the present invention is described herein by way of example using embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments of drawing or drawings described and are not intended to represent the scale of the various components. Further, some components that may form a part of the invention may not be illustrated in certain figures, for ease of illustration, and such omissions do not limit the embodiments outlined in any way. It should be understood that the drawings and the detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.
[0027] As used throughout this description, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e. meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense, (i.e. meaning must). Further, the words "a" or "an" mean "at least one” and the word “plurality” means “one or more” unless otherwise mentioned. Furthermore, the terminology and phraseology used herein are solely used for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as limiting in scope. Language such as "including," "comprising," "having," "containing," or "involving," and variations thereof, is intended to be broad and encompass the subject matter listed thereafter, equivalents, and additional subject matter not recited, and is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers, or steps. Likewise, the term "comprising" is considered synonymous with the terms "including" or "containing" for applicable legal purposes. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles, and the like are included in the specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention.
[0028] In this disclosure, whenever a composition or an element or a group of elements is preceded with the transitional phrase “comprising”, it is understood that we also contemplate the same composition, element, or group of elements with transitional phrases “consisting of”, “consisting”, “selected from the group of consisting of, “including”, or “is” preceding the recitation of the composition, element or group of elements and vice versa.
[0029] The present invention is described hereinafter by various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein reference numerals used in the accompanying drawing correspond to the like elements throughout the description. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, the embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the following detailed description, numeric values and ranges are provided for various aspects of the implementations described. These values and ranges are to be treated as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. In addition, several materials are identified as suitable for various facets of the implementations. These materials are to be treated as exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
[0030] The present invention provides a centrifuge tube featuring an inbuilt temperature-controlled cooling system. The novelty of this invention lies in an inbuilt cooling system, incorporated in the centrifuge tube, which allows the user to process the heat-sensitive samples cost-effectively, without using a costly refrigerated centrifuge. This novel centrifuge tube can be refrigerated for the recommended duration, after which it will maintain the temperature for processing heat-labile samples in a non-refrigerated centrifuge.
[0031] This novel centrifuge tube, exhibiting an inbuilt cooling system incorporated in the detachable bottom, has the potential to revolutionize sample handling across various research disciplines. Below are some specific applications where this innovative design can provide significant benefits:
[0032] Molecular Biology: DNA/RNA Extraction: Use of a cooling bottom centrifuge circumvents the necessity of a refrigerated centrifuge, reducing the cost of operation, while serving the same purpose.
[0033] Protein Purification: This novel centrifuge tube will ensure 100% recovery of proteins from the samples, enhancing the yield of downstream processing, thus improving the results of analyses such as western blots and mass spectrometry.
[0034] Clinical Diagnostics: Blood Sample Processing: This novel centrifuge tube will facilitate the separation of blood components at low temperature, improving the efficiency of diagnostic analyses.
[0035] Pathogen Detection: Enhances the recovery of microbial cell metabolites, leading to more accurate detection and identification of metabolic components, without having any adverse effect of temperature.
[0036] Pharmaceutical Research:
[0037] Drug Development: This novel centrifuge tube will improve the reliability of sample preparation in drug screening assays, ensuring accurate results in high-throughput settings by maintaining the temperature of the sample.
[0038] Toxicology Studies: This novel centrifuge tube will enhance the recovery of cellular or subcellular filtrates, leading to more precise assessments of drug toxicity.
[0039] Environmental Science:
[0040] Water Quality Analysis: This centrifuge tube will simplify the centrifugation of water samples, improving the accuracy of environmental monitoring.
[0041] Soil Analysis: This centrifuge tube will facilitate the recovery of microbial or enzymatic components from soil extracts, enhancing the reliability of environmental assessments.
[0042] Our innovative centrifuge tube with an inbuilt cooling system offers a practical and effective alternative to the refrigerated centrifuge. Our innovative centrifuge tube will help in reducing the cost of processing heat-labile samples by circumventing the need to acquire a refrigerated centrifuge. With the use of the proposed centrifuge tube, samples can be centrifuged at low temperatures, thus maintaining the physico-chemical integrity of the components. Further, Moreover, the innovative centrifuge tubes are reusable, which adds to cost-reduction in a laboratory. This innovative design of the centrifuge tube has the potential to transform the sample handling facilitated by the simplification of the centrifugation of heat-sensitive samples, reduction in the overall expenditure, and better recovery of the samples.
- 1. A centrifuge tube including a tubular body with two parts; exhibiting a removable bottom part that is configured to have an inbuilt cavity at the periphery; wherein the cooling gel has been filled, the removable bottom section is configured to facilitate direct extraction of pelletized or settled material after centrifugation, minimizing sample loss and enhancing the efficiency of post-centrifugation processing.
- 2. The centrifuge tube of claim 1, wherein the removable bottom section includes a lock mechanism, selected from the group consisting of threaded screw-lock, bayonet fit, or snap-fit coupling, which is configured to provide a positive, leak-free seal during centrifugation.
- 3. Centrifuge tube of claim 1, wherein the closure between the tubular body and the disposable bottom portion is a sealing ring or O-ring to ensure fluid-tight integrity upon high-speed spinning.
- 4. Centrifuge tube of claim 1, wherein the tube and the disposable bottom portion are fabricated from biocompatible and chemically resistant polymeric material for biological sample applications.
- 5. The centrifuge tube of claim 1, wherein the tube further includes graduated markings to indicate the volume and a clear or transparent body to ease the visibility of the settled pellet or components.
- 6. The centrifuge tube of claim 1, wherein the disposable bottom portion is designed to be used with standard laboratory centrifuge rotors, rendering adapters or holders unnecessary.
- 7. The centrifuge tube of claim 1, wherein the design enables the non-invasive extraction of pellets without micro-pipettes or suction devices.
- 8. The centrifuge tube of claim 1, wherein the lower portion has an integral pellet guide or recess, which holds and protects the pellet when being moved and taken out.
- 9. The centrifuge tube of claim 1, wherein the centrifuge tube is used in molecular biology protocols, for example, DNA, RNA, or protein extraction, where pellet recovery enhances final product yield.
- 10. The centrifuge tube of claim 1, wherein the centrifuge tube is used in clinical diagnostics or pharmaceutical research, where low temperature is critical and minimal contamination during sample processing is required.
[0043] Centrifugation is a cornerstone technique in scientific research, clinical diagnostics, and industrial applications. It enables the separation of components present within a mixture based on their density, which is important for various analytical and preparative procedures. Despite its widespread use, the process of sample extraction from conventional centrifuge tubes by using a refrigerated centrifuge presents significant challenges that can compromise the cost-efficacy, space, and flexibility of portability. Figure 1 shows the picture of a novel centrifuge tube with a lid, where the cell pellet/debris is shown at bottom, while the supernatant over the surface of the pellet/debris.
[0044] Figure 1: Regular/conventional centrifuge tube, cap of the centrifuge tube [1], tubular body of the centrifuge tube [2], supernatant over the surface of the pellet/debris [3] at the bottom of the centrifuge tube, pellet/cell debris [4].
[0045] A centrifuge tube with an inbuilt cooling system is an innovative laboratory tool designed to streamline sample preparation, separation, and purification processes, without using a refrigerated centrifuge. Some concerns associated with cooling centrifuges, such as high cost, make them a substantial investment for a lab. The cooling system requires regular maintenance, including checks on refrigerant levels and compressor functionality, which can increase operational costs and downtime. These units are often bulkier due to refrigeration components, requiring more laboratory space, which can be a constraint in smaller facilities. They consume more electricity to power the centrifuge tube rotor and the cooling system, leading to higher energy costs. Further, the cooling system, especially the compressor, can generate significant noise, which may disrupt the lab environment. Moreover, their size, weight, and power requirements make them less portable in comparison to non-refrigerated models, limiting flexibility in lab setups. Also, the improper temperature management can lead to condensation inside the centrifuge, potentially contaminating samples or damaging the equipment. Some models may take time to reach the desired low temperature, delaying processing of the samples, especially for time-sensitive protocols.
[0046] Therefore, to overcome the above-mentioned concerns, an innovative centrifuge tube has been proposed, exhibiting a cavity at the bottom, filled with a cooling gel. This cooling gel keeps the sample at a low temperature during the process of centrifugation in a non-refrigerated centrifuge. Before use, the innovative centrifuge is refrigerated at the required temperature (ranging from 4°C to -10°C); thereafter, the centrifuge tube can be employed for sample processing, using a non-refrigerated centrifuge. Figure 2 shows the novel centrifuge tube. At the bottom, there is a cavity, which is filled with a cooling gel. During the process of non-refrigerated centrifuging, there is a high possibility of heat generation, which may denature the temperature-sensitive samples. To overcome this challenge, a novel centrifuge tube having an inbuilt cooling system could be a better and a novel solution.
[0047] Figure 2: Novel centrifuge tube, cap of the centrifuge tube [1], threads of the centrifuge tube [2], upper body of centrifuge tube [3] band for attachment of 3, and 5 [4], lower detachable part of the centrifuge tube [5], the cavity at bottom of centrifuge tube filled with cooling gel [6], centrifuged sample at the bottom [7].
[0048] Our new invention, the centrifuge tube with an inbuilt cooling system and detachable bottom, addresses the challenges of retrieving the centrifuged sample through a simple but effective design modification. The detachable bottom offers the advantage of collecting the sample efficiently. This innovative tube features a bottom section that can be easily separated after centrifugation, allowing direct access to the centrifuged contents. Figure 3 shows the novel centrifuge tube with cooling gel filled in the cavity. The lower detachable part of the centrifuge tube exhibits a cavity at the periphery.
[0049] Figure 3. The novel centrifuge tube, the upper and lower bodies of the tube, are illustrated in detail. Hinges of upper tube [8], hinges of lower tube [9], band [4, shown in Figure 2], cover both hinges to tightly connect upper and lower parts of centrifuge tube.
[0050] Our centrifuge tube with an inbuilt cooling system and detachable bottom circumvents the issues of a refrigerated centrifuge entirely. The cooling gel, filled in the cavity of the lower part of the centrifuge tube, eliminates the need for a refrigerated centrifuge. Researchers can detach the bottom [5] of the centrifuge tube to retrieve the sample. Further, the use of the novel centrifuge tube helps in maintaining the sample integrity while employing a non-refrigerated centrifuge tube. This cooling system in the centrifuge tube not only reduces the cost of centrifuge operation and minimizes sample denaturation by maintaining a low temperature, leading to more reliable and reproducible results.
[0051] This method ensures that the centrifuged sample remains intact and stable, allowing for complete and accurate recovery. This is particularly beneficial in applications such as metabolite centrifugation, where the integrity of the sample is crucial for subsequent analysis.
[0052] Our centrifuge tube with an inbuilt cooling system and detachable bottom streamlines the centrifugation process. By eliminating the need for a refrigerated centrifuge process and using a non-refrigerated centrifuge, the cost required for centrifugation is significantly reduced. This efficiency is particularly valuable in the laboratories where cost and space are major issues, leading to a substantial increase in the productivity of small-lab setups.
[0053] Our centrifuge tube with an inbuilt cooling system and detachable bottom design offers a high degree of versatility. This innovative centrifuge tube can be customized to fit various centrifuge models and accommodate different sample volumes. This adaptability makes the tube suitable for various applications, from basic research to advanced clinical diagnostics. Additionally, the design can be modified to include features such as graduated markings for precise measurements or specialized coatings to reduce sample adhesion.
[0054] Researchers can detach the bottom of the tube to retrieve the sample or the desired layer, ensuring that the sample's integrity is maintained. This direct access reduces the risk of contamination and minimizes the sample loss, leading to more reliable and reproducible results. Conventional centrifuge tubes do not offer this flexibility. In conventional centrifuge tubes, there is no cooling system; moreover, there is no detachable lower part. This method, while straightforward, is fraught with potential issues. When centrifuging using a non-refrigerated centrifuge, there is always a risk of heat generation, which might denature the centrifuged sample, rendering the sample useless for further analyses. This may result in repeating the experiment or making the acquisition of an expensive refrigerated centrifuge imminent. This will lead to financial exchequer on the small-scale laboratories, discouraging them from working on temperature-sensitive samples.
[0055] The disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein.
[0056] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully revealed the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the scope of the embodiments as described herein. , Claims:We Claim:
1) A centrifuge tube, the tube comprising:
- a tubular main body having an open top and a closed bottom portion; and
- a detachable bottom part removably attached to the closed bottom portion of the main body;
- wherein the detachable bottom part comprises a peripheral cavity pre-filled with a cooling gel configured to maintain reduced temperature during centrifugation in a non-refrigerated centrifuge.
2) The centrifuge tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detachable bottom part is removably coupled to the main body by a mechanical locking mechanism selected from a group consisting of: threaded screw-lock, bayonet-fit, or snap-fit configuration.
3) The centrifuge tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the junction between the main body and the detachable bottom part is sealed using a sealing ring or an O-ring to provide leak-proof integrity during high-speed centrifugation.
4) The centrifuge tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the centrifuge tube is fabricated from biocompatible and chemically resistant material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polycarbonate, or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
5) The centrifuge tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detachable bottom portion comprises an inward recess or pellet guide configured to hold and protect pelletized components or sedimented material post-centrifugation for efficient recovery.
6) The centrifuge tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular main body includes volume indicator markings and is at least partially transparent to permit visual identification of supernatant and pellet layers.
7) The centrifuge tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the design is compatible with standard laboratory centrifuge rotors, and the detachable bottom part enables direct access to the centrifuged content, thereby avoiding the use of pipettes or suction-based tools.