A centrifugal processing unit for directing the movement of substances within a sample processing cartridge, the centrifugal processing unit having a rotor at least one accommodation for receiving the sample processing cartridge, and a rotor drive for rotating the at least one rotor about a respective rotor axis to create the centrifugal force. The centrifugal processing unit has a blocking element allowing the free pivoting motion of the at least one accommodation in a release position when the rotor is rotated in a first direction and preventing the free pivoting motion in a blocking position, when the rotor is rotated in the opposite direction.

A centrifugal piston according to an embodiment comprises: a piston body defining a path which extends from the front of the piston to the rear of the piston, and through which substances at the front of the piston can move to the rear of the piston; and a valve disposed on the path and configured to selectively open or block the path, wherein, during centrifugation in which centrifugal force acts on the piston, the substances at the front of the piston are centrifuged while the valve is blocking the path, and, when an external force is applied to the piston while the centrifugal force does not act on the piston, the valve moves freely relative to the piston body, and when the valve opens the path, at least a portion of the substances at the front of the piston can move to the rear of the piston.

The present invention relates to a platelet rich plasma (PRP) extracting device and extracting method using the same, and more particularly, to a platelet rich plasma (PRP) extracting device capable of quickly and effectively extracting the highly concentrated PRP from centrifuged blood by a simple manipulation.

A system for buoyant separation includes a separation container. Additionally or alternatively, the system can include an automated instrument, one or more processing components, and/or any other components. A method for buoyant separation can include any or all of: manipulating the separation container; adding materials to the separation container; removing materials form the separation container; otherwise processing the separation container; and/or any other processes.

A transfer container for a fluid includes a tube, the tube including a conical portion at one end, the tube defining an interior space and one or more fluid passages configured to allow flow of fluid into or out of the interior space of the tube. The transfer container also includes a connector configured to seal the end of the conical portion when the connector is joined only to the conical portion and a pressure control mechanism configured to increase or decrease a pressure in the interior space of the tube. The transfer container can be used in a method including connecting fluid lines to the fluid passages, adding a fluid including cryoprotectant and cells, centrifuging the transfer container, and then connecting the transfer container to a second fluid transfer container containing another fluid. This allows the sterile transfer of fluids and separation of cells from cryoprotectant.

Systems and methods are provided for separating blood into two or more components. A blood separation system includes a blood separation device and a fluid flow circuit configured to be mounted to the blood separation device. The blood separation device includes a centrifugal separator and a spinning membrane separator drive unit incorporated into a common case, which allows for fluid separation by two different methods. Depending on the separation procedure to be carried out, the fluid flow circuit paired with the blood separation device may include only one separation chamber configured to be mounted to the centrifugal separator or spinning membrane separator drive unit or two separation chambers, with one being mounted to the centrifugal separator and the other to the spinning membrane separator drive unit. The system may be used to separate and collect any combination of red blood cells, plasma, and platelets.

A blood component separation device for separating a plurality of blood components from blood sampled from a blood donor, and collecting platelets, includes: an operation unit that calculates a predicted platelet recovery rate from a hematocrit value of the blood and a platelet concentration of the blood, and calculates a recommended processing amount of the blood recommended for collecting a target number of units of platelets on the basis of the calculated predicted platelet recovery rate, wherein the operating unit sets the predicted platelet recovery rate calculated from any the hematocrit value and any the platelet concentration to be smaller by a predetermined value a when the blood donor is female than that when the blood donor is male.

A rotor for use in a centrifuge, and a method for balancing the rotor. The rotor includes a plurality of apertures arranged circumferentially around the rotor's axis of rotation, each configured to selectively receive a weight. A critical speed is determined for the rotor, and an imbalance determined for the rotor at a test speed below the critical speed. A trial weight is installed in a reference aperture, and another imbalance determined at the test speed. The trial weight is repeatedly moved to another aperture angularly displaced from the previous aperture, and the imbalance measured at the test speed until a predetermined number of imbalance measurements have been obtained. A target mass and location for balancing the rotor is determined from the imbalance measurements, and balancing weights installed in apertures based on the target mass and location. The balancing process may be repeated for multiple critical frequencies.

The present exemplary embodiments provide a chamber for a centrifugal separator and a centrifugal separator including the same. A chamber for a centrifugal separator according to an exemplary embodiment includes a main body including a separation unit in which each component of a centrifuged sample is separated and positioned and an extraction unit configured to move and accommodate each component positioned in the separation unit, an upper plate including an injection port for injecting a sample for centrifugation and a draw-out port for drawing out the separated component that is accommodated in the extraction unit to the outside, and a lower plate configured to close and seal an opening at a lower portion of the main body.

The present exemplary embodiments provide a chamber for a centrifugal separator and a centrifugal separator including the same. A chamber for a centrifugal separator according to an exemplary embodiment includes a main body including a separation unit in which each component of a centrifuged sample is separated and positioned and an extraction unit configured to move and accommodate each component positioned in the separation unit, an upper plate including an injection port for injecting a sample for centrifugation and a draw-out port for drawing out the separated component that is accommodated in the extraction unit to the outside, and a lower plate configured to close and seal an opening at a lower portion of the main body.