US 6,981,427 B2
Device for disintegrating biological samples
Gianmarco Roggero, Via Sicilia 28, Orbassano I-10043 (Italy)
Appl. No. 10/450,002
PCT Filed Dec. 05, 2001, PCT No. PCT/EP01/14262
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Jun. 09, 2003,
PCT Pub. No. WO02/048679, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 09, 2003.
Claims priority of application No. TO2000A1156 (IT), filed on Dec. 13, 2000.
Prior Publication US 2004/0035964 A1, Feb. 26, 2004
Int. Cl. G01N 33/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 73—866 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for deconstituting biological samples, wherein to apparatus includes:
at least one support element (54) with a plurality of housings (62);
at least one deconstituting device (2), which fits in the housings (62), wherein the deconstituting device comprises;
a cupshaped container (4),
a shaft (26) mounted for rotation inside the container (4), the shaft having a blade-type deconstituting member (28) on the end inside the container and engagement means (36) on its end outside the container for coupling to motor means, wherein the shaft (26) is supported axially by the bottom (12) of the container on ball coupling means (30, 34) acting as the only anti-friction bearing of the device, the shaft and blade-type deconstituting member being freely rotatable inside the container, when driven by motor means, at a sufficiently high speed;
a deconstitution station (50) which includes at least one motor (52) with a drive shaft (55) for coupling with the engagements means (36) of the shaft (26) of the deconstituting device, the motor being movable between a position disengaged from and a position engaged with the said shaft (26); and
conveyor means (66, 68, 78) for conveying the support element (54) to the deconstitution station.