The invention relates to a support device (14) for supporting a bag (20) containing material to be centrifuged in a centrifuge receptacle (12), said support device (14) comprising a resiliently elastic panel (16) whichwhen bentwill generate a restoring force, said panel (16) being of a material and a size which will allow it to be bent elastically at least to such an extent that its two ends will contact one another.

Method and apparatus for centrifugal blood component separation including temperature sensing in each of a plurality of separation cells. The temperature of unit of bloods over time is recorded. If the temperature of any of the units exceeds a pre-determined maximum, portions of the blood separation device may be cooled. A controller may determine which of the units to process first, generally proceeding from the warmest unit to the coolest. The order of unit processing may be changed during processing. The detected temperature may be used to calibrate a pressure sensor used to predict the volume of a component separated from a composite fluid by predicting the volume of the composite fluid from sensed pressure and predicting the volume of other separated components from sensed movement of the other components to collection bags.

We describe vortical thin layer film flow along a spiral channel designed to improve mass and heat transfer efficiency for a multitude of physicochemical reactions and processes. Spiral channels, commonly augmented by centrifugal rotation, support rapid reaction between one or more fluids in a given channel. Dean vortices generate screw-shaped patterns processing axially in the channel, repeatedly refreshing radial interfaces. Fluids self-align, self-assemble, stable, controllable, exhibit thin film geometry. Multiple discrete lamellae can flow with independent velocity separated by density and may be soluble or insoluble in one another. Membranes separating spirals allow other interactions. Energy can be provided and extracted from each flow. Flows can enter or exit independently along the channel length. The pressure within each channel is controlled even when operated at the liquid's vapor pressure. The device is scalable to include a multiplicity of flows in a multiplicity of centrifugally rotating chambers.

A clip of the present application generally comprises a first clip member, a second clip member, and a retention feature. The first clip member and the second clip member are coupled together and capable of being placed in at least two positions. In the first position, the clip is capable of receiving a bag containing a fluid, and, in the second position, the bag is capable of being held between the first and second clip members. While the clip is holding the bag, two or more pockets are formed in the bag, and the fluid is generally restricted or prohibited from transferring from one pocket to another pocket while the clip is in this position. A retention feature retains the clip, which is holding a bag, to a centrifuge receptacle and allows the clip to be placed in a predetermined position on the centrifuge receptacle.

A separation rotor having an outer wall defining a separation chamber and an inner annular wall dividing the separation chamber into an inner annular space and an outer annular space. The separation rotor can be rotated to move heavier and/or denser components of the multi-component fluid into the outer annular space. The lighter and/or less dense components of the multi-component fluid can be retained within the inner annular space. The inner annular space and the outer annular space separation rotor can be selectively accessed to withdraw the components retained within the inner annular space and the outer annular spaces.

A system for separating and transferring phases of a fluid through centrifugation including a centrifuge having a rotating axis, a platform that is rotatable around the rotating axis; and a device for separating and transferring the phases of the fluid. The device includes a separating container and a receiving container connected to the separating container through a connecting channel. A passive valve system is provided in the connecting channel. The device is mounted in the centrifuge platform such that in use at a first predefined range of centrifugal force a fluid provided within the separating container is separated into phases and at a second predefined range of centrifugal force the valve system opens, thereby transferring a phase of the fluid from the separating container to the receiving container.

A system for the processing and separation of biological fluids into components comprises an apparatus that cooperates with a disposable set, comprising a cabinet (100) for housing a hollow centrifugal processing chamber (20) of the disposable set. The cabinet comprises a plurality of side-by-side locations (110) for receiving a corresponding plurality of centrifugal processing chambers (20) in side-by-side spaced-apart relation. Each location comprises an individual drive means (52) for driving its centrifugal processing chamber. Remotely-actuable valves (124) associated with the disposable sets are located on the apparatus' cabinet in the proximity of said locations. Valve actuation provides a display of the state of actuation of the valves (124). Selection of this state of actuation is arranged to control connection of the centrifugal processing chamber (20) of each fitted disposable set with a flexible container (200) of the same disposable set or another container, and to contol connection of the centrifugal processing chambers (20) with flexible containers of the same or other fitted disposable sets in different combinations, in particular with series and/or parallel connections.

A modular cassette and method for separating a composite fluid into at least two component parts thereof during centrifugation is provided. The modular cassette includes a fluid inlet portion, at least one fluid separation portion, at least one media chamber in fluid communication with the fluid separation portion, a fluid collection portion, at least one fluidic channel configured to form a fluid communication between at least two components of the cassette, at least one wax valve including undulating flow channel portions configured to close at least one of the fluidic channels, and at least one heating element configured to actuate the at least one wax valve.

A centrifuge (70) is provided with a cup (80) configured to house a blood bag system (10a) and centrifugally separates blood in the blood bag system (10a) by rotating the cup (80). The cup (80) has a segment holding section (86) capable of holding a plurality of segment tubes (44a), aligned in a parallel state by being folded at a sealing portion (44b) of an outlet-side tube (44), along a direction in which a centrifugal force acts during centrifugal processing or a direction inclined with respect to the direction in which the centrifugal force acts.

Method and apparatus for centrifugal blood component separation including temperature sensing in each of a plurality of separation cells. The temperature of unit of bloods over time is recorded. If the temperature of any of the units exceeds a pre-determined maximum, portions of the blood separation device may be cooled. A controller may determine which of the units to process first, generally proceeding from the warmest unit to the coolest. The order of unit processing may be changed during processing. The detected temperature may be used to calibrate a pressure sensor used to predict the volume of a component separated from a composite fluid by predicting the volume of the composite fluid from sensed pressure and predicting the volume of other separated components from sensed movement of the other components to collection bags.