A system for blood cell separation, comprising:

a separation chamber (10) comprising an inlet port for blood (12), an outlet port for plasma (14) and at least an outlet port for cellular blood components (16) for the separation of whole blood;

a blood pump (20) for pumping whole blood into the inlet port for blood (12);

a plasma pump (22) for pumping plasma and/or target cells from the outlet port for plasma (14) out of the separation chamber (10);

a red blood cell tube (30) comprising a first end (32) and a second end (34), wherein the first end (32) of the red blood cell tube (30) is connected to the outlet port for cellular blood components (16) for allowing red blood cells to leave the separation chamber (10); and

a drip chamber (40) comprising a reservoir (42) and an inlet (46), wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) is connected to the inlet (46), wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) extends into the volume of the reservoir (42) for pressure equalization during pumping from the outlet port for plasma (14).

Embodiments are described for separating/collecting components from a multi-component fluid such as whole blood. Some embodiments provide for controlling the amount of a component, such as platelets, introduced into a separation chamber to ensure that the density of fluid in the separation chamber does not exceed a particular value. This may provide for collecting purer components. Other embodiments may provide for determining a chamber flow rate based on a concentration of a component in the multi-component fluid, which may then be used to determine a centrifuge speed, to collect purer concentrated components.

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.

Fluid separation chambers are provided with a central hub, with generally annular low-G and high-G walls extending about the hub to define therebetween a separation channel. A plurality of radial walls extend from the hub to the channel to define an inlet passage, two outlet passages, and a terminal wall separating an upstream end of the separation channel from a downstream end of the channel. The radius of the high-G wall is greater at the downstream end of the separation channel than at the upstream end, which may include the radius gradually increasing along a tapered section of the high-G wall. The tapered section may extend from the upstream end of the separation channel to the downstream end of the channel or along a smaller length of the channel. The radius of the low-G wall may similarly increase from the upstream end of the separation channel to the downstream end.

A fluid separation system and method includes a durable hardware component including a pump station with plurality of pumps, a centrifuge mounting station and drive unit, a plurality of valves and clamps, and a controller. The system includes a single use fluid flow circuit having a separation chamber configured to be received by the centrifuge and the fluid flow circuit is engageable with the durable hardware component to control fluid flow within the fluid flow circuit. The fluid flow circuit having an air access component configured to selectively receive air and to provide the air into a conduit to induce plug flow between the separated fluid component and another separated fluid component, wherein the controller is configured to operate the system to perform one or more blood processing procedures to convey a fluid into the separation chamber and to remove a separated fluid component from the separation chamber.

Apparatus and methods for concentrating platelet-rich plasma is described herein. One variation may generally comprise a tube having a length and defining a channel within and one or more ports located at a proximal end of the tube and in fluid communication with the channel. A plunger may slidably translatable within the channel while forming a seal against an inner surface of the channel and a float may have a pre-selected density and defining a concave interface surface, wherein the float is slidably contained within the channel such that the concave interface surface is in apposition to the one or more ports.

A fluid processing device includes a controller, a centrifuge configured to receive and rotate a continuous-flow centrifuge chamber, a pump system, an optical detection assembly, and a pressure sensor. The controller executes a priming procedure in which a priming fluid is conveyed into the centrifuge chamber while the chamber is being rotated by the centrifuge, which moves air out of the chamber via a low-g outlet conduit. Upon detecting priming fluid exiting the centrifuge chamber via the low-g outlet conduit, the chamber is rotated at a higher rate to attempt to move any remaining air out of the chamber via the low-g outlet conduit. The controller then determines, based on signals from the optical detection assembly and pressure sensor, whether there is any air remaining in the centrifuge chamber. If so, the rotational rate is alternately decreased and increased until all the air has been cleared from the centrifuge chamber.

Described are embodiments that include methods and devices for separating components from multi-component fluids. Embodiments may involve use of separation vessels and movement of components into and out of separation vessels through ports. Embodiments may involve the separation of plasma from whole blood. Also described are embodiments that include methods and devices for positioning portions, e.g., loops, of disposables in medical devices. Embodiments may involve use of surfaces for automatically guiding loops to position them into a predetermined position.

Systems and methods for performing online extracorporeal photopheresis of mononuclear cells are disclosed. During a mononuclear cell collection cycle, blood is removed from a source and separated into a plasma constituent, a mononuclear cell-containing layer, and red blood cells, followed by the collection of a pre-product including at least a portion of the mononuclear cell-containing layer and at least a portion of the separated red blood cells. The mononuclear cell collection cycle may be repeated, followed by the production of a single mononuclear cell product using the collected pre-product(s). The mononuclear cell product is irradiated using a fixed dose of light, such that the mononuclear cell product is produced so as to have a predetermined volume and a predetermined hematocrit, regardless of the number of pre-products used to produce the mononuclear cell product. Following irradiation, at least a portion of the irradiated mononuclear cell product is returned to the source.

Blood in a separation chamber is separated into a red blood cell layer, a plasma constituent, and a mononuclear cell-containing layer. A portion of the plasma constituent exits the chamber via a plasma outlet, while a first portion of the red blood cell layer exits via a red blood cell outlet. A second portion of the red blood cell layer exits the chamber via the red blood cell outlet and is collected. At least a portion of the collected red blood cell layer may then be conveyed to the chamber via the red blood cell outlet to convey at least a portion of the mononuclear cell-containing layer out of the chamber via the plasma outlet for collection. A second portion of the plasma constituent may be conveyed out of the chamber via the plasma outlet to more fully collect the mononuclear cell-containing layer without the use of collected plasma.