Blood component separation method and apparatus

1. A bag set for use in a conventional centrifuge characterized by a plurality of cups radially disposed about a non-bag-supporting center, comprising, in combination:

a centrifuge bag having a distinct inlet for receiving blood and a distinct outlet leading to the first and second bags, all said bags disposed in one cup, whereby said inlet and said outlet are located at opposite ends of said centrifuge bag;

supply lines leading from said centrifuge bag to said first and second bags;

a three-way metering valve operatively interposed between said outlet and said supply lines, said valve controlled by a motor during a centrifugation cycle to admit blood fractions to said first and second bags, whereby red blood cells are admitted to said first bag while under centrifugation and white blood cells are admitted to said second bag also while under centrifugation, producing a red blood cell bag and a white blood cell bag;

a holder for said bag set which ensconces said centrifuge bag and said red and white blood cell bags, said valve in said bag set and communicating with said holder and operatively coupled to said motor located on said holder, said holder adapted to fit into one cup of the conventional centrifuge; and

a sensor in said holder, said sensor monitoring a transition from red to white blood cells, whereupon said valve diverts flow of blood cells from said red blood cell bag to said white blood cell bag via said motor.

2. A method of separating blood cells using a conventional centrifuge, the steps including:

collecting a mixture of blood cells in a centrifuge bag by introducing the blood cells therewithin via a distinct inlet line feeding said centrifuge bag,

wherein said centrifuge bag has a distinct outlet leading to a first and a second bag, all said bags defining a bag set, whereby said inlet and said outlet are located at opposite ends of said centrifuge bag;

wherein supply lines lead from said centrifuge bag to said first and second bags;

wherein said bag set further includes a three-way metering valve operatively interposed between said outlet and said supply lines, said valve controlled by a motor during a centrifugation cycle to admit blood fractions to said first and second bags;

ensconcing said bag set in a bag set holder, said valve in said bag set and communicating with said holder and operatively coupled to said motor located on said holder, said bag set holder adapted to fit into one of plural cups of the conventional centrifuge, said bag set holder further including a sensor, said sensor monitoring a transition from red to white blood cells;

centrifuging said mixture of blood cells to cause stratification, the stratification producing a red blood cell layer and a white blood cell layer;

opening said valve on said outlet extending from said centrifuge bag to allow access to said supply line leading to said first bag;

centrifuging said red blood cell layer into said first bag;

closing said valve;

opening said valve to allow access to said supply line leading to said second bag; and

centrifuging said white blood cell layer into said second bag.

3. A method of separating blood components in a conventional centrifuge using the bag set of claim 1 , the steps including:

collecting a mixture of blood cells into said centrifuge bag;

ensconcing said centrifuge bag and said first and second bags in said holder;

loading said holder and said bag set in a cup of the centrifuge, centrifuging said mixture of blood cells to cause stratification, said stratification producing a plurality of cell layers;

activating said sensor in said holder to sense boundaries of said cell layers; and

centrifuging each of said cell layers into a separate one of said first and second bags.

4. The bag set of claim 1 , wherein said valve opens sequentially to allow each of said blood fractions through said supply lines into said first and second bags, and closes sequentially after each of said blood fractions is admitted to each of said first and second bags.

5. The bag set of claim 1 , wherein said valve, in sequence, opens to admit the red blood cells into said first bag, closes after the red blood cells have been admitted into said first bag, opens to admit the white blood cells into said second bag, and closes after the white blood cells have been admitted into said second bag.