Apparatus and method for separating and concentrating a component of a fluid
View Patent ↗A system for separating and concentrating a component of a whole material is disclosed. The whole material can include a material that has more than one component, such as whole blood that can include at least red blood cells, monocytes, and plasma. The system can include a substantially single container including a separation section and a concentration section wherein a component can be moved from the separation section, after a separation, to the concentration section to be concentrated. The concentrated component can then be withdrawn from the separation and concentration container for a selected procedure.
1. A method to separate and concentrate a component of a whole material, comprising:
placing a whole material in a separation section of an integrated separation and concentration container;
applying a first force to the integrated separation and concentration container to cause separation of the whole material such that at least a portion of the whole material moves towards a first terminal end of the integrated separation and concentration container;
withdrawing the component from a buoy separation volume of a buoy system within the separation section;
placing the withdrawn component into a concentration section of the integrated separation and concentration container;
mixing the component in the concentration section with an activating/concentrating material; and
applying a second force to the integrated separation and concentration container to remove at least a portion of the component from the mixture of the activating/concentrating material.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
withdrawing the removed portion of the component from the mixture of the activating/concentrating material from the a concentration section of the integrated separation and concentration container.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixing the component in the concentration section with an activating/concentrating material causes a concentration of a selected portion of the component mixed with the activating/concentrating material such that the removed portion of the component is concentrated above a concentration of the selected component.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein mixing the component in the concentration section with the activating/concentrating material includes mixing the component with a polyacrylamide material.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein mixing the component in the concentration section with the activating/concentrating material includes releasing a selected protein from the component; and
wherein applying the second force to the separation and concentration container to remove at least a portion of the component from the mixture of the activating/concentrating material includes moving the selected protein to a withdrawal portion of the concentration section.
6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
obtaining the volume of whole material from a patient; and
applying the withdrawn removed at least a portion of the component to the patient.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first force is different than the second force.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
moving a plunger of a separation syringe in a first direction to apply the third force to the integrated separation and concentration container and draw the removed portion of the component into the syringe.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
moving the plunger in a second direction to apply a fourth force to the removed portion in the separation syringe to place the removed portion into the concentration section;
wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a check valve diverts the removed portion into the concentration section when the removed portion is forced from the separation syringe.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
agitating the integrated separation and concentration container when the withdrawn component is placed in the concentration section.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
filtering the removed portion of the component to prevent removing the activating/concentrating material from the concentration section.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
applying a fifth force to the integrated separation and concentration container to force the removed portion through a filter.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
collecting the filtered removed portion in a sump for removal from the integrated separation and concentration container.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
moving a plunger of a withdrawal syringe in a first direction to apply the second force to the integrated separation and concentration container to withdraw the removed portion.