DESC:CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
The present application does claim priority from its provisional application filed on 11th November 2022 under the application number of 202221064635.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to the field of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing and/or nucleic acid analysis apparatus. More specifically, the present subject matter discloses a sample tube spinner. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to a sample tube spinner comprising a single well i.e., a single tube holder enabled for holding a sample tube containing a diagnostic sample.
BACKGROUND
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely because of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also correspond to implementations of the claimed technology.
In medical diagnostics, nucleic acid analysis apparatuses or assay preparation apparatuses are well-known and employed often for diagnosing illness or for medical examination or analysis of a biological sample. Such apparatuses are widely used for preparing a single sample, or a combination of sample and other chemical(s), or for mixing or separating chemical compounds in a sample.
Further, the nucleic acid analysis apparatuses for PCR testing are spinning apparatuses having a single-well or multiple-well system for holding a sample tube containing a diagnostic sample. A well is a cylindrical tube having a cavity for the placement of the sample tube. The constructional details of these sample spinning apparatuses are the same all over the medical testing procedures, as these use base spinning/rotational movement of the sample tube for sample preparation. The sample tube is rotated by placing it in the well or well plate with multiple wells and the well or well plate is rotated by the rotational motion obtained using a motor.
Conventionally, there are spinning or centrifugation devices or PCR-centrifuges that utilize a rotor in direct connection with a well/well plate comprising a sample holder containing a sample or a sample tube with the sample. These devices further comprise location points or holding pins on the inner side of the well/well plate for holding the sample holder for promoting the swivelling motion of the sample holder with the sample tube inside the sample holder while the sample holder is rotating with the well plate. Such spinning devices are of complex construction and working as they employ location points or holding pins with their axis being perpendicular but spaced apart by some distance from the rotor axis or the axis of rotation. Such construction of spinning devices creates an imbalance in the weight distribution of the components as well as the sample holder and the sample tube. This results in misdiagnosis as the tests cannot be performed efficiently since the sample preparation itself is not effective enough to prepare the desired testing sample.
Further, there have been developments in such spinning devices with some utility models for providing a fully functional integrated and automated spinning device, such that the processes of sample purification, nucleic acid extraction, nucleic acid amplification, and/or nucleic acid detection can be performed effectively on the fully functional integrated and automated spinning device for improved sample preparation.
However, these recent developments are not efficient enough and lack in providing an optimum spinning device for sample preparation having simplistic construction with minimum maintenance. Further, there is no specific mechanism developed for holding the sample tube in a position such that the weight of the sample tube is properly balanced while the spinning device is in operation such that there is a maximum as well as optimum swivelling angle achievement of the sample tube, without any constructional complexities in the spinning device.
Thus, to address and discard the aforementioned and other related flaws, there is a long-felt need for a well-designed and well-built sample tube spinner (or interchangeably, an assay preparation apparatus) that can provide an efficient sample tube placement and swivelling mechanism, and with effective restraining member attachment for an optimum swivelling angle.
SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a system and method for assessing the effectiveness of automation systems implemented in a building, and the concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In an embodiment, a sample tube spinner comprising a single tube holder enabled for holding a sample tube containing a diagnostic sample is disclosed in the present disclosure. The sample tube spinner comprises a spinning fork, a tube holder, a pair of restraining members, and a motor. The spinning fork further comprises a first arm and a second arm which are enabled for clutching the tube holder between them. The tube holder comprises a cavity for housing a sample tube. The cavity is further configured to hold the sample tube at the neck region. Further, the pair of restraining members is enabled for restraining the tilting or swivelling angle of the sample tube during the rotational (spinning) operation of the sample tube spinner. The motor is further coupled with the spinning fork at the bottom of the spinning fork for rotating the spinning fork at a predetermined speed.
In another embodiment, the sample tube spinner further comprises a pair of pivot pins for pivoting the tube holder between the first arm and the second arm of the spinning fork. The spinning fork may comprise a pair of through pivoting holes, one each in the first arm and the second arm, for inserting the pair of pivot pins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying Figures. The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to refer like features and components.
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a sample tube spinner 100 in an isometric view and a sample tube 103 beside the sample tube spinner 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 2(a) illustrates a schematic representation of a 2-D front-view (F.V.) 200a of the sample tube spinner 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 2(b) illustrates a schematic representation of a 2-D top-view (T.V.) 200b of the sample tube spinner 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 2(c) illustrates a schematic representation of a 2-D side-view (S.V.) 200c of the sample tube spinner 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment” in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
Further, the term “spinning” may interchangeably be used as “rotation”, “rotating”, or the like. The term “tube holder” may further interchangeably be used as “well”, “tube well” or the like. The “pivot pins” may be referred to as “holding pins”, “attachment pins”, “fastening element” or the like.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a sample tube spinner comprises a spinning fork, a tube holder, a pair of restraining members, and a motor. The spinning fork may comprise a first arm and a second arm that may be enabled for clutching the tube holder between them. Further, the tube holder may comprise a cavity for housing a sample tube and the cavity may be configured to hold the sample tube at the neck region. The pair of restraining members may be enabled for restraining the tilting or swivelling angle of the sample tube during the spinning (rotational) operation of the sample tube spinner. The motor may be coupled with the spinning fork at the bottom of the spinning fork for rotating the spinning fork at a predetermined speed.
In another embodiment, the tube holder may be a circular ring-type tube holder comprising an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner wall of the tube holder may structurally be an inverted truncated cone or an inverted conical frustum enabled for holding the sample tube at the neck region. The outer wall of the tube holder may be planar.
In another exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the inner wall of the cavity and the diameter of the sample tube conforms to the placement of the sample tube such that there is a balanced weight distribution of the sample tube such that the centre of gravity of the sample tube is at the centre of the cavity and the weight of the sample tube is evenly distributed above and below the tube holder when the sample tube is at rest position and even when the sample tube is at an inclined position during spinning operation of the sample tube spinner.
Further, in another embodiment, the sample tube spinner comprises a pair of pivot pins for pivoting the tube holder between the first arm and the second arm of the spinning fork. The spinning fork may comprise a pair of through holes or pivoting holes, one each in the first arm and the second arm, for inserting the pair of pivoting pins conforming to the pivoting of the sample tube holder. This enables effective swivelling of the sample tube during spinning.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the axis of rotation of the pair of pivot pins may be made perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spinning fork in the same plane. Thus, the axis of rotation of the pair of pivot pins and the axis of rotation of the spinning fork lie in the same plane and intersect each other perpendicularly.
Further, in one embodiment, the pair of restraining members may be configured to restrict the swivelling angle of the sample tube up to a maximum swivelling angle of 45°. Furthermore, the pair of restraining members may be configured to be height adjustable to change the maximum swivelling angle for achieving an optimum swivelling angle to get efficient sample preparation. This may further result in a reduction in sample preparation time.
The motor used for spinning the spinning fork of the sample tube spinner may be selected as a DC motor, wherein the motor may further be a stepper motor with varying spinning speeds or a magnetic DC motor having a specific spinning speed.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the sample tube spinner may be a low-speed spinner used for medical diagnostics spinning (rotating) at a predetermined speed ranging from 5 rpm up to 6000 rpm. Further, the sample tube spinner may be a high-speed spinner having a predetermined speed ranging above 6000 rpm.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, there may be a controller attached to or inbuilt with the sample tube spinner for regulating the spinning speed. The controller may run and regulate the spinning operation in a completely automated manner by utilizing a control logic that may be stored in a control memory. The controller may further vary the spinning operation parameters upon receiving a user input or a predetermined test parameter.
Now, the sample tube spinner may further be described according to the present disclosure with respect to the disclosed drawings:
Firstly, referring to Figure 1, sample tube spinner 100 is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, comprising a spinning fork 101, a tube holder 102, a pair of restraining members 104a and 104b and a motor 105.
Further, referring to Figures 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c), figures 2(a) 2(b), and 2(c) illustrate a schematic representation of a 2-D front-view (F.V.) 200a, a 2-D top-view (T.V.) 200b, a 2-D side-view (S.V.) 200c of the sample tube spinner 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
As shown in figures 1, 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c), the spinning fork 101 further comprises a first arm 101a and a second arm 101b enabled for clutching the tube holder 102 between them. The tube holder 102 comprises a cavity 102a for housing a sample tube 103 and the cavity 102a is configured to hold the sample tube 103 at the neck region. The pair of restraining members 104a and 104b are enabled for restraining the tilting or swivelling angle of the sample tube 103 during the spinning (rotational) operation of the sample tube spinner 100. The motor 105 is coupled with the spinning fork 101 at the bottom of the spinning fork 101 for rotating the spinning fork 101 at a predetermined spinning speed.
Further, the tube holder 102 is configured to be a circular ring-type tube holder comprising an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner wall of the tube holder 102 is structurally an inverted truncated cone or an inverted conical frustum enabled for holding the sample tube 103 at the neck region. The outer wall of the tube holder is a planar wall. Furthermore, the diameter of the inner wall of the tube holder 102 or the cavity 102a and the diameter of the sample tube 103 conforms to the placement of the sample tube 103 such that there is a balanced weight distribution of the sample tube 103 such that the centre of gravity of the sample tube 103 is at the centre of the cavity 102a and the weight of the sample tube 103 is evenly distributed above and below the tube holder 102 when the sample tube 103 is at rest position and even when the sample tube 103 is at an inclined or any swivelling position during spinning operation of the sample tube spinner.
The sample tube spinner 100 further comprises a pair of pivot pins 106a and 106b for pivoting the tube holder 102 between the first arm 101a and the second arm 101b of the spinning fork 101. The spinning fork 101 may comprise a pair of through holes or pivoting holes, one each in the first arm 101a and the second arm 101b, for inserting the pair of pivoting pins 106a and 106b conforming to the pivoting of the tube holder 102. This enables effective swivelling of the sample tube 103 during spinning. Further, the axis of rotation of the pair of pivot pins 106a and 106b is made perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spinning fork 101 in the same plane, such that the axis of rotation of the pair of pivot pins 106a and 106b and the axis of rotation of the spinning fork 101 lie in the same plane and intersect each other perpendicularly.
Moreover, the pair of restraining members 104a and 104b is configured to restrict the swivelling angle of the sample tube 103 up to a maximum swivelling angle of 45°. Further, each restraining member from the pair of restraining members 104a and 104b is height adjustable to change the maximum swivelling angle for achieving an optimum swivelling angle to get efficient sample preparation. This may further result in a reduction in sample preparation time. Each of the restraining members from the pair of restraining members 104a and 104b are configured to be height adjustable at the same or different heights.
The motor 105 used for spinning the spinning fork 101 of the sample tube spinner 100 may be selected as a DC stepper motor with varying spinning speeds or a magnetic DC motor having a specific spinning speed.
The sample tube spinner 101 is a low-speed spinner used for medical diagnostics spinning (rotating) at a predetermined speed ranging from 5 rpm up to 6000 rpm or a high-speed spinner having a predetermined speed ranging above 6000 rpm.
Further, there is a controller C (not shown) attached to or inbuilt with the sample tube spinner 100 for regulating the spinning speed. The controller C is configured to run and regulate the spinning operation of the sample tube spinner 100 in a completely automated manner by utilizing a control logic stored in a control memory M of a control unit CU. The controller C is further configured to vary the spinning operation parameters upon receiving a user input or a predetermined test parameter depending on the diagnostic test for which the sample needs to be prepared.
Below are the advantages of the sample tube spinner 100 disclosed in the present disclosure:
— Balanced weight distribution of the sample tube.
— Optimum swivelling angle achieved by adjusting the height of the restraining members.
— Simplistic constructional details.
— Low maintenance.
— No requirement of fastening the sample tube directly with the single well/tube holder.
Various modifications to the aforementioned embodiment or embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that certain modifications could come within the scope of this disclosure.
The embodiments, examples, and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs or the description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual feature(s), may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless such features are incompatible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS
100 : Sample Tube Spinner
101 : Spinning Fork
101a : First Arm of the Spinning Fork
101b : Second Arm of the Spinning Fork
102 : Tube Holder
102a : Cavity in Tube Holder for holding Sample Tube
103 : Sample Tube
104a, 104b : Restraining Members
105 : Motor
105a : Motor Shaft
105b : Base
106a, 106b : Pivot Pins

Dated this 10th Day of November 2023
,CLAIMS:1. A sample tube spinner (100), characterized in that the sample tube spinner (100) comprises:
a spinning fork (101) comprising a first arm (101a) and a second arm (101b);
a tube holder (102) pivoted between the first arm (101a) and the second arm (101b) of the spinning fork (101);
wherein the tube holder (102) comprises a cavity (102a) for housing a sample tube (103), wherein the cavity (102a) is configured to hold the sample tube (103) at the neck region,
a pair of restraining members (104a, 104b) enabled for restraining tilting angle of the sample tube (103) during the spinning operation of the sample tube spinner (100); and
a motor (105) coupled with the spinning fork (101) for rotating the spinning fork (101) at a predetermined speed.

2. The sample tube spinner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tube holder (102) is pivoted by means of a pair of pivot pins (106a, 106b);
wherein the axis of rotation of the pivot pins (106a, 106b) is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spinning fork (101).

3. The sample tube spinner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner wall of the cavity (102a) is structurally an inverted truncated cone or an inverted conical frustum enabled for holding the sample tube (103).

4. The sample tube spinner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of restraining members (104a, 104b) is configured to restrict the swivelling angle of the sample tube (103) up to a maximum swivelling angle of 45°, the pair of restraining members (104a, 104b) are height adjustable to change the maximum swivelling angle.

5. The sample tube spinner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor (105) is a DC motor.

6. The sample tube spinner (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the diameter of the inner wall of the cavity (102a) and diameter of the sample tube (103) confirms the placement of the sample tube (103) such that there is a balanced weight distribution of the sample tube (103), wherein the centre of gravity of the sample tube (103) is at the centre of the cavity (102a), and wherein weight of the sample tube (103) is evenly distributed above and below the tube holder (102) when the sample tube (103) is at an inclined position.

7. The sample tube spinner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sample tube spinner (100) is a low-speed spinner used for medical diagnostics rotating at the predetermined speed ranging from 5 rpm up to 6000 rpm.