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 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 centrifugal separator for separation of a liquid mixture includes a stationary frame, a rotatable assembly and a drive unit for rotating the rotatable assembly relative the frame around an axis of rotation, wherein the rotatable assembly includes a rotor casing enclosing a separation space in which a stack of separation discs is arranged to rotate around a vertical axis of rotation. The rotor casing includes a mechanically hermetically sealed inlet for supply of the liquid mixture to the separation space; a first liquid outlet that is mechanically hermetically sealed and arranged for discharge of a separated liquid phase and a second liquid outlet that is mechanically hermetically sealed and arranged for discharge of a separated heavy phase, the heavy phase having a density that is higher than said liquid phase. The separator further includes at least one positive displacement pump arranged downstream of the second liquid outlet for transporting the separated heavy phase from the separation space and at least one positive displacement pump arranged downstream of the first liquid outlet for transporting the separated liquid phase from the separation space.

A centrifugal separator for separation of a liquid mixture includes a stationary frame, a rotatable assembly and a drive unit for rotating the rotatable assembly relative the frame around an axis of rotation, wherein the rotatable assembly includes a rotor casing enclosing a separation space in which a stack of separation discs is arranged to rotate around a vertical axis of rotation. The rotor casing includes a mechanically hermetically sealed inlet for supply of the liquid mixture to the separation space; a first liquid outlet that is mechanically hermetically sealed and arranged for discharge of a separated liquid phase and a second liquid outlet that is mechanically hermetically sealed and arranged for discharge of a separated heavy phase, the heavy phase having a density that is higher than said liquid phase. The separator further includes at least one positive displacement pump arranged downstream of the second liquid outlet for transporting the separated heavy phase from the separation space and at least one positive displacement pump arranged downstream of the first liquid outlet for transporting the separated liquid phase from the separation space.

A bearing member for supporting a rotatable axle includes a bearing housing; at least one bearing inserted into the bearing housing, wherein the bearing is configured to receive a rotatable shaft extending through the bearing; and a tilting member arranged around the bearing housing. The tilting member includes a pack of annular discs forming a through hole for receiving the bearing housing, wherein each of the annular discs includes a plurality of apertures extending through each of the discs and wherein the tilting member further includes a sleeve element provided in each of the apertures for holding the annular discs together as a stack and for receiving a fastener for attaching the tilting member to the bearing housing or said stationary machine element. The bearing member further includes at least one fastening element extending through a sleeve of the tilting member and attaching the tilting member to the bearing housing.

A mechanical seal device for a centrifugal separator includes a first seal ring including a first seal surface and a second seal ring including a second seal surface. The first and second seal surfaces are configured to face each other to form a seal, and at least one channel for a cooling fluid is arranged in the first seal ring. The at least one channel includes an inlet and an outlet. The outlet of the at least one channel is arranged at the first seal surface of the first seal ring. A centrifugal separator includes the mechanical seal device.

Provided is a centrifugal field-flow fractionation device capable of suppressing deformation of a channel member. Pressure in a channel formed inside the channel member in a centrifugal field-flow fractionation device 1 is increased by a pressure increasing mechanism 8 provided downstream of the centrifugal field-flow fractionation device 1. In this manner, an inner surface of the channel is pressed outward by a liquid sample in the channel, and an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of the channel member can be suppressed from being recessed toward the channel side.

Provided is a centrifugal field-flow fractionation device capable of suppressing deformation of a channel member. Pressure in a channel formed inside the channel member in a centrifugal field-flow fractionation device 1 is increased by a pressure increasing mechanism 8 provided downstream of the centrifugal field-flow fractionation device 1. In this manner, an inner surface of the channel is pressed outward by a liquid sample in the channel, and an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of the channel member can be suppressed from being recessed toward the channel side.

In a centrifugal scroll screen apparatus there is provided a scroll assembly (20) driven by a scroll assembly drive shaft (25) and being connected to the scroll assembly by an axial adjuster comprising a shaft cam portion (92) and a scroll portion (96) each having a respective camming surface (94) whereby relative rotation of the scroll portion (96) and the shaft portion (92) axially adjusts the proximity of the vanes to a coaxial conical screening surface, and a locking ring (97) selectively operable to rotationally secure the scroll portion (96) and the shaft portion (92).