A system operating as a centrifugal, liquid-liquid separator may be controlled, and even optimized, by automatic control of back pressure to establish an optimum position of the dispersion band therein. Optimizing to minimize impurities (from each other) in each of two separated phases is possible, even simultaneously, by reliance on a processor setting the settling lengths of both heavy and light phases at the same value. Settling length, defined in accordance with the invention, reflects a settling velocity multiplied by a residence time. Equating these lengths, for droplets of each in the other liquid, provides superior results over conventional settling theory maximizing settling area. Equalization of residence times did not provide an improvement over conventional settling theory.

A blood component collection cassette has a flow path in the interior thereof through which blood flows, and a cassette main body composed of a resin that possesses flexibility. The cassette main body includes a first constituent part in which a plurality of concavities and convexities are formed. Furthermore, a resin sheet includes a second constituent part, which is provided on one portion of an outer surface of the flow path wall portion that constitutes the flow path, and in which the plurality of concavities and convexities do not exist.

The mononuclear cell separation apparatus of the present invention has an injecting means (210) for injecting a centrifugation medium from the bottom surface of a container (100) storing a blood sample; a centrifugation means (300) for centrifuging a container (100) containing a centrifugation medium and a blood sample layered in this order from the bottom surface side; a detecting means (400) for detecting a clot present at a mononuclear cell layer after centrifugation; a removing means (220) for removing a detected clot; and a harvesting means (230) for harvesting the mononuclear cell. The mononuclear cell separation method of the present invention includes an injecting step, a centrifuging step, a detection step, a removing step, and a harvesting step corresponding to each constituent element of the mononuclear cell separation apparatus of the present invention.

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 system for concentrating particles in an air stream includes an air channel having a first open end and a second open end. The air channel may be enclosed by a channel wall extending from at least the first open to the second open end. Two or more heater elements may be positioned between the first open end and the second open end. The heater elements may be positioned near a periphery of the air channel and cooperatively configured to force particles in the air stream away from the periphery and towards an interior region of the air channel. Particles in the air stream may be thermophoretically forced towards the interior region of the air channel when the heater elements are heated and thermal gradients emanating from the heater elements are generated.

Systems and methods are provided for separating blood into two or more components for collection of red blood cells, plasma, or both red blood cells and plasma. 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, with the blood being separated into its constituents by the centrifugal separator. Separated plasma may be collected following separation by the centrifugal separator or may first be conveyed from the centrifugal separator into the spinning membrane separator drive unit to separate cellular blood components from the plasma prior to collection of the filtered plasma. The cellular blood components filtered from the plasma may be retained in the circuit as a waste product or may be flushed out of the circuit to a recipient.

A centrifuge comprising a rotor having a rotational axis, at least one receptacle for a blood sample container, controller means for controlling the rotational speed of the rotor, at least one optical transmitter for transmitting an optical signal, at least one optical receiver for registering the amplitude of the optical signal, where the optical signal is configured to pass through the blood sample container where the optical receiver detects the amplitude of the optical signal when it is directed through the blood sample container, where the amplitude of the optical signal reflects the translucency of the blood sample, where the controller means is configured to discontinue the rotational movement of the rotor when the amplitude of the optical signal over time has fulfilled a predefined pattern indicating that at least the fibrin compression phase of the blood sample is started.

A separation device for separating impurities from a fluid to be cleaned has a separation body with a collecting region for impurities. A load determination apparatus determines an impurity load state of the collecting region for impurities. The load determination apparatus has a transmitter emitting electromagnetic waves, a receiver receiving the electromagnetic waves emitted by the transmitter, and an evaluation device. Transmitter and receiver are arranged opposite each other on opposite sides of the collecting region for impurities. The separation body at least in sections is at least partially transmissive for electromagnetic waves emitted by the transmitter. Transmitter and receiver are connected to the evaluation device. The evaluation device determines the impurity load state of the collecting region for impurities based on the electromagnetic waves received by the receiver. Such a load determination apparatus as described as well as a method for determining an impurity load state are provided.

Systems and methods are provided for separating blood into two or more components for collection of red blood cells, plasma, or both red blood cells and plasma. 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, with the blood being separated into its constituents by the centrifugal separator. Separated plasma may be collected following separation by the centrifugal separator or may first be conveyed from the centrifugal separator into the spinning membrane separator drive unit to separate cellular blood components from the plasma prior to collection of the filtered plasma. The cellular blood components filtered from the plasma may be retained in the circuit as a waste product or may be flushed out of the circuit to a recipient.

A centrifugal, liquid-liquid separator is controlled, first by automatic control of back pressure to position of the dispersion band and equalize the settling lengths of both heavy and light phases. In line testing of a parameter reflecting the BS&W content of output oil controls withdrawal from a tank, and throughput rate through the separator. Output always meets a predetermined specification established on a daily basis by a market price and quality (contamination limit, maximum BS&W) for oil. Control provides assurance that all of a particular load in a tank will meet specification, and that it cannot change significantly before refining. Once the adjustment of the separator system reaches its lowest flow limit, processing halts, to assure that the oil quality is optimized. The controller may be used on any tank of separated oil to assure that no oil is withdrawn out of spec.