A photopheresis system (200) is disclosed, and that may be configured to execute one or more protocols. These protocols include: 1) protocols (400; 430; 460) for purging air out of a centrifuge bowl (210) used by the photopheresis system (200); 2) protocols (500; 510 550) for assessing the installation/operation of one or more pressure domes (330) used by the photopheresis system (200); and 3) protocols (580; 600; 660; 700; 740) for collecting buffy coat from blood processed by the photopheresis system (200).

Methods and systems for processing and conditioning red blood cells are disclosed. The methods and systems may be used to make a readily transfusible red blood cell product with reduced plasma. In general, the plasma content of the supernatant of the red blood cell product is no greater than about 15%. The red blood cell products are prepared using the disclosed methods and systems remain transfusible for up to 42 days.

A continuous flow centrifuge bowl includes a rotatable outer body, and a top and bottom core that are rotatable with the outer body. The bottom core has a wall extending proximally from a bottom wall. The proximally extending wall is radially outward from at least a portion of the top core and, together with the top core, defines a primary separation region in which initial separation of the whole blood occurs. The bowl may also have a secondary separation region located between the top core and the outer body, and a rotary seal that couples an inlet port and two outlet ports to the outer body. The inlet port may be connected to an inlet tube that extends distally into a whole blood introduction region. Additionally, one of the outlet ports may be connected to an extraction tube that extends into a region below the bottom core.

Described are embodiments that include methods and devices for separating composite liquids into components. Embodiments involve the use of a flexible membrane for separating a composite liquid into components. The composite liquid may include, in embodiments, a cellular containing liquid, such as whole blood or components of whole blood. In one specific embodiment, the composite liquid is a buffy coat.

A frustro-conical chamber for separating particles in a fluidized bed for blood component or cell separation. The chamber is characterized by injection-directing means for directing inflowing fluid along a frustro-conical wall of the chamber. A dam adjacent the cell-injection port may be circumferentially disposed within the chamber and may have its maximum height adjacent an injection port, and the height may diminish away from the injection port. The injection directing means may comprise a shelf extending into the interior of the chamber from the injection port, thereby impeding fluid flow in the direction of an outlet port.

A photopheresis system (200) is disclosed, and that may be configured to execute one or more protocols. These protocols include: 1) protocols (400; 430; 460) for purging air out of a centrifuge bowl (210) used by the photopheresis system (200); 2) protocols (500; 510 550) for assessing the installation/operation of one or more pressure domes (330) used by the photopheresis system (200); and 3) protocols (580; 600; 660; 700; 740) for collecting buffy coat from blood processed by the photopheresis system (200).

A failsafe system for a medical fluid procedure, comprising a medical fluid processing apparatus comprising a sealer and a programmable controller driven by software, wherein the programmable controller is programmed to recognize a failure event from input from hardware components of the medical fluid processing apparatus. The system also comprises a disposable fluid circuit configured to associate with the medical fluid processing apparatus and comprising a tubing segment configured to fit within the sealer. The programmable controller is configured to seal the tubing segment by activating the sealer surrounding the tubing segment in response to an occurrence of the failure event.

The invention relates to a system, comprising: a) a sample processing unit, comprising an input port and an output port coupled to a rotating container having at least one sample chamber, the sample processing unit configured provide a first processing step to a sample or to rotate the container so as to apply a centrifugal force to a sample deposited in the chamber and separate at least a first component and a second component of the deposited sample; and b) a sample separation unit coupled to the output port of the sample processing unit, the cell separation unit comprising separation column holder (42), a pump (64) and a plurality of valves (1-11) configured to at least partially control fluid flow through a fluid circuitry and a separation column (40) positioned in the holder, the separation column configured to separate labeled and unlabeled components of sample flowed through the column.

A device for the processing and separation of biological fluids into components comprises a hollow centrifugal processing chamber (10) fitted with an inlet/outlet head (20) and preferably with an axially movable piston (18). The inlet/outlet head has two separate inlets/outlets, for instance an axial inlet (29) and a lateral outlet (40). The processing chamber (1) is fitted with an internal flow guide (30) enabling operation of the device in a continuous processing mode wherein biological fluid to be processed is continuously intaken by say the axial inlet (29) and at the same time processed components are continuously removed via say the lateral outlet (40). The continuous processing flow can be driven by an external peristaltic pump (59) and/or by axial displacement of a piston (18) in the chamber (10).

Systems and methods are provided for deriving a platelet product from a plurality of buffy coats. A plurality of buffy coats are separately collected, for example, using a conventional floor centrifuge. Plasma and/or a platelet additive solution may be added to the buffy coats. The buffy coats are pooled into a container and conveyed into a centrifuge or are sequentially conveyed into the centrifuge without being pooled, where they are continuously processed to separate platelets from the other cellular blood components. The separated platelets are conveyed out of the centrifuge as a platelet product, which may be passed through a leukocyte removal filter to reduce the white blood cell content of the platelet product. By continuously separating the buffy coats, fewer buffy coats are required to produce a single-dose platelet product, while also allowing for the derivation and collection of a plurality of single-dose platelet products.