Design of the B-V continuous-flow centrifuge system.

A stable, closed, continuous-flow rotor (rotor systelll B-V) for operation at speeds up to 40,000 rplll has been developed, together with a fluid line seal that allows virus-containing solutions to flow into and out of the rotor without aerosol fOrIDation. The rotor is designed specifically for the isolation of virus particles frolll culture fluids where the mass of Illaterial to be isolated is very slllall (generally less than 1 g) relative to the total fluid volullle. Design parallle tel' s were based on theoretical studies previously cOlllpleted in this laboratory. Thc virus-containing strealll is pUlllpcd through a coaxial seal into a narrow annular space in the rotor where sedimentation occurs. The depIcted strealll returns close to the axis of rotation and flows out through the outer of the two coaxial seal lines. The seal has been Illodified to allow a slllall part of thc inlet strealll and entrained air to bleed out of the seal into the reservoir for the virus-containing salllple solution to prevent the high back pressures occurring when air is entrapped in the rotor.-Nat Cancer Inst Monogr 21: 191-198, 1966.