Centrifuge apparatus for processing blood
A centrifuge apparatus for processing blood comprising a bottom spring-loaded support plate; a top support plate; an axial inlet/outlet for blood to be processed and processed components of the blood, the axial inlet/outlet being attached to the top support plate by a rotating seal assembly; a variable volume separation chamber mounted between the bottom support plate and the top support plate, the variable volume separation chamber being fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet; a pump fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet; and a rotary drive unit attached to the bottom support plate. The top support plate is fixed vertically and the bottom spring-loaded support plate is mounted on springs that maintain pressure on the variable volume separation chamber and allow the bottom support plate to move vertically.
1. A centrifuge apparatus for processing blood comprising
a bottom spring-loaded support plate;
a top support plate;
an axial inlet/outlet for blood to be processed and processed components of the blood, the axial inlet/outlet being attached to the top support plate by a rotating seal assembly;
a variable volume separation chamber mounted between the bottom support plate and the top support plate, the variable volume separation chamber being fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet;
a pump fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet; and
a rotary drive unit attached to the bottom support plate,
wherein the top support plate is fixed vertically and the bottom spring-loaded support plate is mounted on springs that maintain pressure on the variable volume separation chamber and allow the bottom support plate to move vertically,
wherein the axial inlet/outlet is connected to a container for blood and to a plurality of containers for receiving separated components of the blood, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a multi-position valve for controlling intake of blood from the container for blood and outlet of processed blood components from the axial inlet/outlet to the plurality of containers for blood,
wherein the multi-position valve has a first position in which only two separate fluid conduits are provided within the valve and a second position in which only one fluid conduit is provided within the valve, and
wherein the variable volume separation chamber is a disk-shaped bag.
2. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top support plate is disposable.
3. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the disk-shaped bag is disposable.
4. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.
5. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotary drive unit and the pump are both controlled automatically by a processing unit.
6. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multi-position valve has four positions.
7. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multi-position valve is controlled automatically by a processing unit.
8. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the container for blood and the plurality of containers for receiving separated components of the blood are disposable.
9. An apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of blood and blood components.
10. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotating seal assembly comprises one or more one piece lip seals.
11. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bottom support plate comprises a graduated scale that shows the amount of fluid present in the variable volume separation chamber.
12. A method of processing blood comprising:
providing a centrifuge apparatus, the centrifuge apparatus comprising
a bottom spring-loaded support plate;
a top support plate;
an axial inlet/outlet for blood to be processed and processed components of the blood, the axial inlet/outlet being attached to the top support plate by a rotating seal assembly;
a variable volume separation chamber mounted between the bottom support plate and the top support plate, the variable volume separation chamber being fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet;
a pump fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet; and
a rotary drive unit attached to the bottom support plate,
wherein the top support plate is fixed vertically and the bottom spring-loaded support plate is mounted on springs that maintain pressure on the variable volume separation chamber and allow the bottom support plate to move vertically,
wherein the axial inlet/outlet is connected to a container for blood and to a plurality of containers for receiving separated components of the blood, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a multi-position valve for controlling intake of blood from the container for blood and outlet of processed blood components from the axial inlet/outlet to the plurality of containers for blood,
wherein the multi-position valve has a first position in which only two separate fluid conduits are provided within the valve and a second position in which only one fluid conduit is provided within the valve, and
wherein the variable volume separation chamber is a disk-shaped bag;
introducing a quantity of blood into the variable volume separation chamber;
centrifuging the blood; and
removing the separated components of the blood through the axial inlet/outlet.
13. A method of claim 12 , wherein the blood is centrifuged for from 5 to 15 minutes.
14. A method of claim 12 , wherein the separated components of the blood are removed while the bottom support plate is still spinning.
15. A method of claim 12 , wherein the quantity of blood introduced is from 20 to 200 ml.
16. A method of claim 12 , wherein the top support plate is disposable.
17. A method of claim 12 , wherein the disk-shaped bag is disposable.
18. A method of claim 12 , wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.
19. A method of claim 12 , wherein the rotary drive unit and the pump are both controlled automatically by a processing unit.
20. A method of claim 12 , wherein the multi-position valve has four positions.
21. A method of claim 12 , wherein the multi-position valve is controlled automatically by a processing unit.
22. A method of claim 12 , wherein the container for blood and the plurality of containers for receiving separated components of the blood are disposable.
23. A method of claim 12 , further comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of blood and blood components.
24. A method of claim 12 , wherein the rotating seal assembly comprises one or more one piece lip seals.
25. A method of claim 12 , wherein the bottom support plate comprises a graduated scale that shows the amount of fluid present in the variable volume separation chamber.
26. A centrifuge apparatus for processing blood comprising
a bottom support plate;
a top support plate;
an axial inlet/outlet for blood to be processed and processed components of the blood, the axial inlet/outlet being attached to the top support plate by a rotating seal assembly;
a variable volume separation chamber mounted between the bottom support plate and the top support plate, the variable volume separation chamber being fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet;
a pump fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet; and
a rotary drive unit attached to the bottom support plate,
wherein the top support plate is fixed vertically and the bottom support plate is mounted on a mechanical actuator that maintains pressure on the variable volume separation chamber and allows the bottom support plate to move vertically,
wherein the axial inlet/outlet is connected to a container for blood and to a plurality of containers for receiving separated components of the blood, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a multi-position valve for controlling intake of blood from the container for blood and outlet of processed blood components from the axial inlet/outlet to the plurality of containers for blood,
wherein the multi-position valve has a first position in which only two separate fluid conduits are provided within the valve and a second position in which only one fluid conduit is provided within the valve, and
wherein the variable volume separation chamber is a disk-shaped bag.
27. An apparatus of claim 26 , wherein mechanical actuator is controlled automatically by a processing unit.