Method for separating a volume of composite liquid into at least two components

1. A method for separating a volume of a composite liquid into a first component, an intermediate component including a second component, and a third component, whereby the volume of composite liquid is contained in a separation bag connected to at least a first component bag and an intermediate component bag, the method comprising the steps of:

spinning the separation bag at least one centrifugation speed so as to centrifuge the volume of composite liquid and cause the sedimentation of the first, second and third components;

when the three components have sedimented, transferring at least one first transfer flow rate at least one portion of the first component into the first component bag;

when the at least one portion of the first component has been transferred into the first component bag, transferring at least one second transfer flow rate the intermediate component into the intermediate component bag, whereby the at least one first and at least one second transfer flow rates are different.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first the transfer flow rate is a substantially constant flow rate.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one second transfer flow rate comprises an initial flow rate and a final flow rate, the final flow rate being lower than the initial flow rate.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the step of transferring the intermediate component into the intermediate component bag comprises the steps of:

transferring the intermediate component into the intermediate component bag at the initial flow rate until the third component is detected at a first location on a pathway of the intermediate component to the intermediate component bag; and

transferring the intermediate component into the intermediate component bag at the final flow rate until the third component is detected at a second location on a pathway of the intermediate component to the intermediate component bag, the first location being upstream of the second location.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of transferring at least one portion of the first component comprises transferring a first portion of the first component from the separation bag into the first component bag, while a second portion of the first component remains in the separation bag.

6. A method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of mixing the second component with the second portion of the first component so as to form the intermediate component, after the transfer of the first portion of the first component into the first component bag.

7. A method according to claim 6 , further comprising spinning the separation bag at a first centrifugation speed during the transfer of the first portion of the first component from the separation bag into the first component bag.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the step of mixing the second component with the second portion of the first component comprises rapidly decreasing the centrifugation speed from the first centrifugation speed to a second centrifugation speed.

9. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the step of mixing of the second component with the second portion of the first component comprises:

rapidly decreasing the centrifugation speed from the first rotation speed to a second centrifugation speed that is substantially lower than the first centrifugation speed so as mix the second portion of the first component with the second component and the third component; and

increasing the centrifugation speed from the second rotation speed to a third centrifugation speed that is lower than the first centrifugation speed so as to separate the first component from a mix of the second component with the second portion of the first component forming the intermediate component.

10. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of transferring air from the separation bag into one of the component bags before transferring the first component from the separation bag into the first component bag.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of squeezing the separation bag comprises submitting the separation bag to a hydraulic pressure.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the composite liquid comprises whole blood, the first component comprises plasma, the second component comprises platelets, the third component comprise red blood cells and the intermediate component comprises a suspension of platelets in plasma.

13. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of transferring the third component from the separation bag into a third component bag connected to the separation bag at least one third transfer flow rate, whereby the at least one third transfer flow rate is different from the at least one second transfer flow rate.

14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one third transfer flow rate comprises an initial flow rate and a final flow rate, the final flow rate being lower than the initial flow rate.

15. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising spinning the separation bag during the transfer of the third component from the separation bag into the third component bag at a centrifugation speed that is less than a centrifugation speed during the transfer of the intermediate component into the intermediate component bag.

16. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the step of transferring the first component from the separation bag into the first component bag comprises:

allowing a flow of the first component through a first tube connecting the separation bag to the first component bag;

blocking a flow of the intermediate component through a second tube connecting the separation bag to the intermediate component bag;

blocking a flow of the third component through a third tube connecting the separation bag to the third component bag; and

squeezing the separation bag until the third component is detected on a pathway of the first component to the first component bag.

17. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the step of transferring the intermediate component from the separation bag into the intermediate component bag comprises:

blocking a flow of the first component through a first tube connecting the separation bag to the first component bag;

allowing a flow of the intermediate component through a second tube connecting the separation bag to the intermediate component bag;

blocking a flow of the third component through a third tube connecting the separation bag to the third component bag; and

squeezing the separation bag until the third component is detected on a pathway of the intermediate component to the intermediate component bag.

18. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the step of transferring the third component from the separation bag into the third component bag comprises:

blocking a flow of the first component through a first tube connecting the separation bag to the first component bag;

blocking a flow of the intermediate component through a second tube connecting the separation bag to the intermediate component bag;

allowing a flow of the third component through a third tube connecting the separation bag to the third component bag; and

squeezing the separation bag until it is substantially empty.

19. A method according to claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:

detecting when the separation bag is substantially empty, and

stopping spinning the separation bag after detecting that the separation bag is substantially empty.

20. A method according the claim 13 , wherein the step of squeezing the separation bag comprises:

submitting the separation bag to a hydraulic pressure; and

measuring the hydraulic pressure,

wherein the step of transferring the third component from the separation bag into the third component bag comprises:

transferring the third component at a first flow rate until the measured hydraulic pressure reaches a determined pressure threshold; and

transferring the third component at a second flow rate after the measured hydraulic pressure has reached the determined pressure threshold, the second flow rate being lower than the first flow rate.

21. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising the step of transferring air from the separation bag into the third component bag before transferring the first component from the separation bag into the first component bag, said step comprising:

blocking a flow of the first component through a first tube connecting the separation bag to the first component bag;

blocking a flow of the intermediate component through a second tube connecting the separation bag to the intermediate component bag;

allowing a flow of the third component through a third tube connecting the separation bag to the third component bag; and

squeezing the separation bag until a liquid is detected on a pathway of the first component to the third component bag.

22. A method for separating a volume of a composite liquid into at least a first component and a second component, whereby the volume of composite liquid is contained in a separation bag connected to at least a first component bag and a second component bag, the method comprising the steps of:

spinning the separation bag so as to centrifuge the volume of composite liquid and cause the sedimentation of the at least first and second components;

when the at least first and second components have sedimented, transferring at least one first transfer flow rate the first component into the first component bag;

when the first component has been transferred into the first component bag, transferring at least one second transfer flow rate the second component into the second component bag, whereby the at least one first and at least one second transfer flow rates are different.

23. A method according to claim 22 , wherein the composite fluid comprises whole blood, the first component comprises plasma, and the second component comprises platelets.

24. A method according to claim 22 , wherein the composite fluid comprises whole blood, the first component comprises plasma, and the second component comprises red blood cells.