System for Blood Cell Separation

Abstract

A system for blood cell separation, comprising:

a separation chamber (10) comprising an inlet port for blood (12), an outlet port for plasma (14) and at least an outlet port for cellular blood components (16) for the separation of whole blood;

a blood pump (20) for pumping whole blood into the inlet port for blood (12);

a plasma pump (22) for pumping plasma and/or target cells from the outlet port for plasma (14) out of the separation chamber (10);

a red blood cell tube (30) comprising a first end (32) and a second end (34), wherein the first end (32) of the red blood cell tube (30) is connected to the outlet port for cellular blood components (16) for allowing red blood cells to leave the separation chamber (10); and

a drip chamber (40) comprising a reservoir (42) and an inlet (46), wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) is connected to the inlet (46), wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) extends into the volume of the reservoir (42) for pressure equalization during pumping from the outlet port for plasma (14).

Claims

1. System for blood cell separation, comprising: a separation chamber (10) comprising an inlet port for blood (12), an outlet port for plasma (14) and at least an outlet port for cellular blood components (16) for the separation of whole blood; a blood pump (20) for pumping whole blood into the inlet port for blood (12); a plasma pump (22) for pumping plasma and/or target cells from the outlet port for plasma (14) out of the separation chamber (10); a red blood cell tube (30) comprising a first end (32) and a second end (34), wherein the first end (32) of the red blood cell tube (30) is connected to the outlet port for cellular blood components (16) for allowing red blood cells to leave the separation chamber (10); and a drip chamber (40) comprising a reservoir (42) and an inlet (46), wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) is connected to the inlet (46), wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) extends into the volume of the reservoir (42) for pressure equalization during pumping from the outlet port for plasma (14).

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) extends at least into 20% of the volume of the reservoir (42).

3. System according to claim 1 wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) extends at least into 50% of the volume of the reservoir (42).

4. System according to claim 1 wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) extends at least into 80% of the volume of the reservoir (42).

5. System according to claim 1 wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) extends to a bottom surface of the reservoir (42).

6. System according to claim 1 wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) extends to an outlet opening (50) in the bottom surface of the reservoir (42).

7. System according to claim 1 comprising a lid (44) configured to be placed on the reservoir (42) for covering the reservoir (42), wherein the inlet (46) is arranged in the lid (44), and wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) extends through the lid (44).

8. System according to claim 1 wherein the drip chamber (40) comprises a second inlet (48) configured to be connected to a plasma tube which carries fluid from the outlet port for plasma (14) into the reservoir (42).

9. System according to claim 1 wherein the separation chamber (10) comprises a further outlet port for cellular blood components (18).

10. Drip chamber for a system for blood cell separation, according to claim 1, comprising: a reservoir (42) and an inlet (46), wherein the inlet (46) is connectable to a second end (34) of a red blood cell tube (30), wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) extends into a volume of the reservoir (42) for pressure equalization during pumping by the system.

Description

[0035] The idea underlying the invention shall subsequently be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures. Herein:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a system for blood cell separation which is commonly used in the prior art;

[0037] FIGS. 2A, 2B show schematic views of separation chambers which are commonly used in the prior art;

[0038] FIGS. 3A, 3B show schematic views of systems for blood cell separation according to embodiments of the invention;

[0039] FIGS. 4A, 4B show schematic views of a drip chamber which is commonly used in the prior art; and

[0040] FIGS. 5A, 5B show schematic views of a drip chamber according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an exemplary system 1 for blood cell separation. The system 1 is mobile by means of wheels that are attached to a housing. The shown system 1 comprises a front panel 100 with automatic clamps, pumps and a user interface. The shown system 1 also comprises a centrifuge compartment 102 where the separation chamber 10 is located.

[0042] FIG. 2A shows a schematic view of an exemplary separation chamber 10. The separation chamber 10 shown in FIG. 2A can be the separation chamber 10 previously shown in FIG. 1. The separation chamber 10 can be essentially cylindrical and can be used in conjunction with a centrifugal unit (not shown in FIG. 2A) to spin blood in the separation chamber 10 to separate blood in the separation chamber 10 into its components. The separation chamber 10 comprises an inlet port for blood 12 through which whole blood from a donor/patient can be pumped into the separation chamber 10. FIG. 2A also shows that in orbital direction opposite the inlet port for blood 12 on a flared section of the separation chamber 10, an outlet port for plasma 14 and an outlet port for cellular blood components 16 are located. During the separation process, the whole blood is separated into plasma available at the outlet port for plasma 14 and red blood cells available at the outlet port for cellular blood components 16. Between plasma and the red blood cells, a so-called buffycoat is located comprising the mononuclear cell, MNC, layer with the target cells.

[0043] FIG. 2B shows a schematic view of another exemplary separation chamber 10. In addition to an inlet port for blood 12, an outlet port for plasma 14, and an outlet port for cellular blood components 16, the shown separation chamber 10 comprises a further outlet port for cellular blood components 18.

[0044] FIG. 3A shows the system for blood cell separation 1 according to an embodiment. As shown, the system 1 comprises a separation chamber 10, which could be the separation chamber 10 as shown in FIG. 2A. The separation chamber 10 comprises an inlet port for blood 12, an outlet port for plasma 14 and an outlet port for cellular blood components 16 for the separation of target cells from whole blood. The system also comprises a blood pump 20 for pumping whole blood into the inlet port for blood 12 and a plasma pump 22 for pumping a fluid, i.e. plasma and the mononuclear cell, MNC, layer comprising the target cells from the outlet port for plasma 14 out of the separation chamber 10.

[0045] In FIG. 3A a red blood cell tube 30 is connected to the port for cellular blood components 16 for allowing red blood cells to leave the separation chamber 10. As shown in FIG. 3A, the red blood cell tube 30 comprises a first end 32 and a second end 34, wherein the first end 32 of the red blood cell tube 30 is connected to the port for cellular blood components 16, whereas the second end 34 is in contact with a drip chamber 40 of the system 1. As schematically shown, the second end 34 of the red blood cell tube 30 extends into the volume of the reservoir 42 for pressure equalization during pumping the MNC layer, which will be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

[0046] As described above, with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, whole blood is separated into its components during the separation phase. Essentially, the red blood cell and plasma fractions are separated in the separation chamber 10. During this so-called separation step an outer layer, which comprises the red blood cells, and an inner layer, which comprises the blood plasma, are formed. The buffycoat comprising the mononuclear cell, MNC, layer with the target cells is accumulated as a further layer between the red blood cell and plasma fractions in the separation chamber 10.

[0047] Once the separation phase is finished, the spillover phase starts where the plasma is pumped by a plasma pump 22 into the reservoir 42 of the drip chamber 40 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3A. Once target cells are detected in the plasma, for example by means of an optical sensor (not shown) that is located in the tubing section in proximity to the plasma pump 22, a collection clamp (not shown) could divert the stream of fluid going from the outlet port for plasma 14 to the drip chamber 40 as shown in FIG. 3A to a stream of fluid going from the outlet port for plasma 14 to a collection container (not shown) where the target cells are collected.

[0048] The flow rates of blood going into the separation chamber 10 and the plasma going out of the separation chamber 10 cause a negative pressure within the separation chamber 10 during the spillover phase.

[0049] The arrangement of the second end 34 of the red blood cell tube 30 extending into the volume of the reservoir 42 of the drip chamber 40 allows to increase the reservoir volume for the red cell fraction, which in turn leads to avoiding the use of whole blood for pressure equalization. As a result, the target cell layer can be spilled over as a more compact layer to allow the collection of a smaller volume with a more compact cell fraction compared to the spillover with a prior art system, where the second end of the red blood cell tube is not extending into the volume of the reservoir of the drip chamber.

[0050] FIG. 3B shows another embodiment of at least part of the system for blood cell separation 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, the separation chamber 10 of FIG. 2B is used.

[0051] FIGS. 4A and 4B show schematic views of a drip chamber 40 which is commonly used in the prior art.

[0052] FIG. 4A shows the drip chamber 40 being empty, i.e. there is no fluid in the reservoir 42, while FIG. 4B shows the drip chamber 40 filled with fluid. As it can be seen from FIGS. 4A and 4B, the second end 34 of the red blood cell tube 30 is arranged above the reservoir 42, and thus does not extend into the volume of the reservoir 42 for pressure equalization during pumping from the outlet port for plasma, such as during pumping the MNC layer.

[0053] The reservoir 42 is covered by a lid 44 having an inlet 46 to which the second end 34 of the red blood cell tube 30 is attached. The lid 44 comprises a second inlet 48 to accommodate an end of the plasma tube so that also fluid from the plasma tube can be inserted into the reservoir 42. Also, FIGS. 4A and 4B show an outlet opening 50 in a bottom surface of the reservoir 42.

[0054] FIGS. 5A and 5B show schematic views of a drip chamber 40 according to an embodiment. Just as already shown before in regard to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the drip chamber 40 shown in FIG. 5A is empty, while FIG. 5B shows the drip chamber 40 filled with fluid.

[0055] The drip chamber 40 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B distinguishes from the drip chamber shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B in that the second end 34 of the red blood cell tube 30 extends into the volume of the reservoir 42 for pressure equalization during pumping. In the shown embodiment, the second end 34 of the red blood cell tube 30 extends approximately into 80% of the volume of the reservoir. In further embodiments, the second end of the red blood cell tube can also extend into the volume of the reservoir 42 to a lesser degree, such as for example only into 20% or 50% of the volume of the reservoir 42. In an alternative embodiment, the second end of the red blood cell tube can also extend to the bottom surface of the reservoir and/or to the outlet opening in the bottom surface of the reservoir.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0056] 1 System for Blood Cell Separation [0057] 10 Separation Chamber [0058] 12 Inlet Port for Blood [0059] 14 Outlet Port for Plasma [0060] 16 Outlet Port for Cellular Blood Components [0061] 18 Further Outlet Port for Cellular Blood Components [0062] 20 Blood Pump [0063] 22 Plasma Pump [0064] 30 Red Blood Cell Tube [0065] 32 First End of Red Blood Cell Tube [0066] 34 Second End of Red Blood Cell Tube [0067] 40 Drip Chamber [0068] 42 Reservoir [0069] 44 Lid [0070] 46 Inlet [0071] 48 Second Inlet [0072] 20 Outlet Opening [0073] 100 Front Panel [0074] 102 Centrifuge Compartment