A blood washing system (20) having a rotor (22) defining an internal chamber for receiving a multi-component fluid and a skimmer assembly (24) including a moveable buoy (28) having an orifice (32) fluidly connected to an access port for the rotor for selectively withdrawing separated fractions of the multi-component fluid. The multi-component fluid can be fed into the internal chamber before the rotor (22) can be rotated at a first speed to fractionate the multi-component fluid. A brake can be applied to the rotor to slow rotation of the rotor to a slower second speed or stop rotation of the rotor causing the solid and denser fluid fractions to settle on the bottom wall (44) of the rotor (22). The buoy (28) can have a specific gravity corresponding to a selected fraction such that the buoy floats on a surface of the selected fraction, wherein the fractions floating on the selected fraction can be withdrawn through the orifice (32).

A centrifugal separator has a stationary casing and a centrifuge rotor, which is provided in the stationary casing and arranged to rotate around an axis of rotation at a rotary speed and which includes a plurality of nozzles for discharge of a product from the centrifuge rotor. The centrifugal separator includes a sensor device which includes a transfer element, which has a first part and a second part and which is configured to be mounted in such a way that the first part is located inside the stationary casing and outside the centrifuge rotor and that the second part is located outside the stationary casing. At least the first part of the transfer element has an elongated shape, a receiving head, which includes the first part of the transfer element. The sensor device further includes a sensor element, which is mounted to the second part of transfer element and which is configured to sense vibrations and/or shock pulses propagating from the receiving head to the sensor element, and an evaluation unit, which communicates with the sensor element for transmitting signals from the sensor element to the evaluation unit. The transfer element is mounted in the stationary casing, directed such that the end face of the receiving head faces the passing jets from the nozzles during rotation of the rotor. A centrifugal separator with such a sensor device is also disclosed.

A centrifugal separator has a stationary casing and a centrifuge rotor, which is provided in the stationary casing and arranged to rotate around an axis of rotation at a rotary speed and which includes a plurality of nozzles for discharge of a product from the centrifuge rotor. The centrifugal separator includes a sensor device which includes a transfer element, which has a first part and a second part and which is configured to be mounted in such a way that the first part is located inside the stationary casing and outside the centrifuge rotor and that the second part is located outside the stationary casing. At least the first part of the transfer element has an elongated shape, a receiving head, which includes the first part of the transfer element. The sensor device further includes a sensor element, which is mounted to the second part of transfer element and which is configured to sense vibrations and/or shock pulses propagating from the receiving head to the sensor element, and an evaluation unit, which communicates with the sensor element for transmitting signals from the sensor element to the evaluation unit. The transfer element is mounted in the stationary casing, directed such that the end face of the receiving head faces the passing jets from the nozzles during rotation of the rotor. A centrifugal separator with such a sensor device is also disclosed.

A valve bridge portion, in which four valves A to D are connected in a bridge shape, is interposed between sample lines to a rotor of a continuous centrifuge. A microcomputer is able to open and close the valves A to D independently and is capable of switching between top feed and bottom feed to the sample line. When sample supply is started, switching between the top feed and the bottom feed is performed multiple times, and in the middle of switching and sending a sample liquid, the microcomputer executes an operation of temporarily increasing a liquid pressure multiple times by temporarily closing an outlet valve (C or D) and then immediately opening the valve. As a result of repeating the operation of switching between the said sample feed directions and temporarily increasing the liquid pressure, air that accumulates inside the rotor can be effectively discharged.

Centrifuges are useful to, among other things, remove red blood cells from whole blood and retain platelets and other factors in a reduced volume of plasma. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) and or platelet poor plasma (PPP) can be obtained rapidly and is ready for immediate injection into the host. Embodiments may include valves, operated manually or automatically, to open ports that discharge the excess red blood cells and the excess plasma into separate receivers while retaining the platelets and other factors in the centrifuge chamber. High speeds used allow simple and small embodiments to be used at the patient's side during surgical procedures. The embodiments can also be used for the separation of liquids or slurries in other fields such as, for example, the separation of pigments or lubricants.

Centrifuges are useful to, among other things, remove red blood cells from whole blood and retain platelets and other factors in a reduced volume of plasma. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) and or platelet poor plasma (PPP) can be obtained rapidly and is ready for immediate injection into the host. Embodiments may include valves, operated manually or automatically, to open ports that discharge the excess red blood cells and the excess plasma into separate receivers while retaining the platelets and other factors in the centrifuge chamber. High speeds used allow simple and small embodiments to be used at the patient's side during surgical procedures. The embodiments can also be used for the separation of liquids or slurries in other fields such as, for example, the separation of pigments or lubricants.

A method and system for processing particles contained in a liquid biological sample is presented. The method uses a rotatable vessel for processing particles contained in a liquid biological sample. The rotatable vessel has a longitudinal axis about which the vessel is rotatable, an upper portion having a top opening for receiving the liquid containing the particles, a lower portion for holding the liquid while the rotatable vessel is resting, the lower portion having a bottom, and an intermediate portion located between the upper portion and the lower portion, the intermediate portion having a lateral collection chamber for holding the liquid while the rotatable vessel is rotating. The method employs dedicated acceleration and deceleration profiles for sedimentation and re-suspension of the particles of interest.

A method and system for processing particles contained in a liquid biological sample is presented. The method uses a rotatable vessel for processing particles contained in a liquid biological sample. The rotatable vessel has a longitudinal axis about which the vessel is rotatable, an upper portion having a top opening for receiving the liquid containing the particles, a lower portion for holding the liquid while the rotatable vessel is resting, the lower portion having a bottom, and an intermediate portion located between the upper portion and the lower portion, the intermediate portion having a lateral collection chamber for holding the liquid while the rotatable vessel is rotating. The method employs dedicated acceleration and deceleration profiles for sedimentation and re-suspension of the particles of interest.

A closed loop extraction system for extracting desired components from raw plant matter and method of use is disclosed. The closed loop extraction system features a solvent source, a chill tank, a wash tank, a rinse tank, a centrifuge, and a feed tank all in fluid communication via a series of interconnected pump systems. The method of extracting the desired products from raw plant matter uses this system to perform the extraction with a reduced amount of solvent in an energy-efficient manner.

A system for liquid component fractionation includes a first container, a second container, a tunnel connecting member and a stopcock valve. The stopcock valve is a three-way valve disposed at the tunnel connecting member and is rotatable to align one of three ports of the stopcock valve to a collection outlet member of the tunnel connecting member, so as to facilitate collection of a fractionated layer from a liquid after the system is centrifuged.