System and method for collecting platelets and anticipating plasma return

Abstract

A blood processing system for collecting plasma reduced platelets and anticipating plasma return includes a venous access device, a blood component separation device, a first return line, a recirculation line, and a second return line. The venous access device draws whole blood from a subject and returns blood components to the subject using a first pump. The blood component separation device separates the drawn blood into a first blood component and a second blood component, and sends the first blood component to a first blood component bag. The first return line fluidly connects the venous-access device and the blood component separation device. The recirculation line connects the first blood component container and the separation device. The second return line fluidly connects the first blood component container and the first return line and is configured to return the first blood component within the first blood container to the subject.

Claims

1. A system for collecting plasma reduced platelets and anticipating plasma return comprising: a venous access device for drawing a first volume of whole blood from a subject and returning blood components to the subject using a first pump; a blood component separation device for separating the drawn blood into a first blood component and a second blood component, the blood component separation device having a first separator port and a second separator port, wherein the first blood component comprises plasma and the second blood component comprises platelets; a plasma container having a first plasma port and a second plasma port; a platelet container having a first platelet port and a second platelet port, the blood component separation device configured to send the first blood component through the second separator port to the first plasma port and the second blood component through the second separator port to the first platelet port; a first return line fluidly connecting the venous access device and the first separator port of the blood component separation device for returning blood components remaining in the separation device to the subject; a recirculation line connecting both the second plasma port and the second platelet port to the first separator port of the separation device, wherein the first blood component within the plasma container or the second blood component of the platelet container is reintroduced into the separation chamber through the recirculation line and a recirculation pump; and a second return line fluidly connecting the second plasma port and the first return line and configured to return the first blood component within the plasma container to the subject using the first pump.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the separation device is a centrifuge bowl.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the separation device is configured to separate the whole blood into a third blood component in addition to the first and second blood components.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein blood components remaining in the separation device includes the third blood component.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the third blood component is red blood cells.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured to remove the second blood component from the separation device using a surge elutriation method.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the surge elutriation method includes reintroducing the first blood component into the blood component separation device through the recirculation line at an increasing rate until the second blood component is removed from the blood component separation device.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an anticoagulant line connected to an anticoagulant source, wherein the anticoagulant line is configured to introduce anticoagulant into the drawn blood from the venous access device.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the second blood component is platelets and wherein the system is configured to reintroduce the second blood component into the blood component separation device after a predetermined amount of platelets is collected within the platelet container so as to extract a plasma reduced platelet product from the separation device.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a reintroduction line fluidly connecting the platelet container and the blood component separation device, wherein the system is configured to reintroduce the second blood component within the platelet container into the blood component separation device when a second volume of whole blood is withdrawn from the subject, thereby creating an enlarged layer of the second blood component within the blood component separation device, the enlarged layer of second blood component being removed from the blood component separation device using a surge elutriation method.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the system is configured to return the first blood component within the plasma container to the subject as the second blood component is reintroduced into the blood component separation device.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured to return the first blood component within the plasma container to the subject when blood is not being drawn from the subject.

13. A system for collecting plasma reduced platelets and anticipating plasma return comprising: means for drawing a first volume of whole blood from a subject and returning blood components to the subject; blood component separation means for separating the drawn blood into a first blood component and a second blood component, the blood component separation means configured to send the first blood component to a first blood component container and the second blood component to a second blood component container; first return means fluidly connecting the means for drawing a first volume of whole blood and the blood component separation means, the first return means configured to return blood components remaining in the separation means to the subject; recirculation means connecting the second blood component container and the separation means, wherein the recirculation means reintroduces the second blood component within the second blood component container into the separation means; second return means fluidly connecting the first blood component container and the first return means and configured to return the first blood component within the first blood container to the subject; valve means, between the recirculation line and the second return line, for preventing flow through each of the recirculation line and the second return line from mixing with each other; and a controller configured to control the operation of the system such that a first volume of the first blood component within the first blood component container is returned to the subject prior to returning blood components remaining in the separation means to the subject.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the means for drawing whole blood includes a first pump, the first pump configured to return the first blood component within the first blood component container to the subject.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the first pump is also configured to return the blood components remaining in the separation means to the subject.

16. A system according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate at least one of an extra-corporeal volume and an intra-vascular deficit, and to control the operation of the system such that the amount of first blood component returned using the second return means being based at least in part on the at least one of an extra-corporeal volume and an intra-vascular deficit.

17. A system according to claim 13, wherein the first blood component is plasma and the second blood component is platelets.

18. A system according to claim 13, wherein the separation means separates the whole blood into a third blood component in addition to the first and second blood components.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein blood components remaining in the separation means includes the third blood component.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein the third blood component is red blood cells.

21. A system according to claim 13, wherein the system is configured to remove the second blood component from the blood component separation means using a surge elutriation method.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the surge elutriation method includes reintroducing the first blood component into the blood component separation means through the recirculation means at an increasing rate until the second blood component is removed from the blood component separation means.

23. A system according to claim 13, further comprising means for introducing anticoagulant into the drawn whole blood from the means for drawing a first volume of whole blood.

24. A system according to claim 13, wherein the second blood component is platelets and wherein the system is configured to reintroduce the second blood component into the blood component separation means after a predetermined amount of platelets is collected within the second blood component container so as to extract a plasma reduced platelet product from the separation means.

25. A system according to claim 13, further comprising a reintroduction means fluidly connecting the second blood component container and the blood component separation means, wherein the system is configured to reintroduce the second blood component within the second blood component container into the blood component separation means when a second volume of whole blood is withdrawn from the subject, thereby creating an enlarged layer of the second blood component within the blood component separation means, the enlarged layer of second blood component being removed from the blood component separation means using a surge elutriation method.

26. A system for collecting plasma reduced platelets and anticipating plasma return comprising: a first pump; a recirculation pump; a venous access device for drawing a first volume of whole blood from a subject using the first pump and returning blood components to the subject using the first pump; a blood component separation device for separating the drawn blood into a first blood component and a second blood component, the blood component separation device having a first port and a second port, the blood component separation device configured to send the first blood component through the second port to a first blood component container and the second blood component through the second port to a second blood component container; a first return line fluidly connecting the venous access device and the first port of the blood component separation device for returning blood components remaining in the separation device to the venous access device using the first pump; a recirculation line connecting the first blood component container and the first return line so as to permit the recirculation pump to urge flow from the first blood component container to the first port of the blood component separation device; a second return line connecting the first blood component container and the first return line so as to permit the first pump to urge flow from the first blood component container to the venous access device, wherein the recirculation line and the second return line connect to the first return line at different points, the second return line connecting to the first return line at a point between the venous access device and the recirculation line, and the recirculation line connecting to the first return line at a point between the second return line and the first port of the blood component separation device; and a valve between the recirculation line and the second return line, the valve when closed separating the recirculation pump and the first pump.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein the first pump is configured to return the blood components remaining in the separation device to the subject.

28. A system according to claim 26, wherein the separation device is a centrifuge bowl.

29. A system according to claim 26, wherein the first blood component is plasma and the second blood component is platelets.

30. A system according to claim 26, wherein the separation device is configured to separate the whole blood into a third blood component in addition to the first and second blood components.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein blood components remaining in the separation device includes the third blood component.

32. A system according to claim 30, wherein the third blood component is red blood cells.

33. A system according to claim 26, wherein the system is configured to remove the second blood component from the separation device using a surge elutriation method.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein the surge elutriation method includes reintroducing the first blood component into the blood component separation device through the recirculation line at an increasing rate until the second blood component is removed from the blood component separation device.

35. A system according to claim 26, further comprising an anticoagulant line connected to an anticoagulant source, the anticoagulant line introducing anticoagulant into the drawn blood from the venous access device.

36. A system according to claim 26, wherein the second blood component is platelets and wherein the system is configured to reintroduce the second blood component into the blood component separation device after a predetermined amount of platelets is collected within the second blood component container so as to extract a plasma reduced platelet product from the separation device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing features of the invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apheresis machine, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a disposable system for use with the machine of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of a centrifuge bowl for use with the machine of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting a method for collecting plasma reduced platelets from a donor and anticipating plasma return, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

(6) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an apheresis apparatus 10 uses a blood component separation device, such as a standard Latham type centrifuge 11 for separating anticoagulated whole blood into its constituent components, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,713, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Other types of separation chambers and devices may be used, such as, without limitation, an integral blow-molded centrifuge bowl, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,983,156 and 4,943,273, which are hereby incorporated by reference. The centrifuge 11 includes a rotating bowl 12 and stationary input and output ports PT1 and PT2 that are typically closely coupled to the bowl interior by a rotary seal 74 (see FIG. 3). The input port PT1 of the centrifuge 11 is in fluid communication with a venous access device 24 (e.g., a phlebotomy needle) via a blood micro-aggregate filter F1, a tube 28 and a Y-connector 30 when a valve V1 is open. The venous access device 24 may be replaced with a whole blood bag (not shown) in case the whole blood is to be first pooled and then supplied. The tube 28 has compatibility with blood, as is all the tubing in the apparatus 10. The outlet port PT2 of the centrifuge 11 is selectively coupled by a tube 36, a valve V2 and a tube 37 with a first container 18 labeled plasma suspended from a weight scale 33. A second container 20 labeled platelets is selectively coupled via the tube 36, a valve V3 and a tube 39 to the outlet port PT2. Additionally, a third container 22 labeled platelet storage is selectively coupled via the tube 36, a valve V4 and a tube 35 to the outlet port PT2. Both second container 20 and third container 22 may also be suspended by weight scales 67 and 77, respectively. As discussed in greater detail below, some embodiments may also include a tube 93 fluidly connected to the plasma container 18 at one end (via connector 94) and tube 41 at the other end (e.g. via connector 95). The tube 93 may be used to return citrated plasma within the plasma container 18 to the donor during dead times and/or while processing the whole blood within the centrifuge 11.

(7) A bag or container 16 for storing an anticoagulant is in fluid communication with the venous access device/phlebotomy needle 24 via a bacteria filter F2, a tube 32 and the Y-connector 30. The bacteria filter F2 prevents any bacteria in the anticoagulant (ACD) container 16 from entering the system. Containers 16, 18, 20, and 22 are preferably plastic bags made of a blood compatible material. Peristaltic pumps P1, P2 and P3, together with the valves V1, V2, V3, and V4 control the direction and duration of flow through the apparatus 10 in response to signals generated by a line sensor 14, a donor pressure monitor (DPM) M1, a system pressure monitor (SPM) M2 and air detectors D1, D2 and D3. The air detectors D1, D2 and D3 detect the absence or presence of fluid. The pressure monitors M1 and M2 monitor pressure levels within the apparatus 10. The line sensor 14 is an optical sensor and detects the presence of blood components passing through the line sensor 14 from the output port PT2.

(8) In initial operation, the pumps P1 and P3 are energized to prime the tube 28 of the apparatus 10 with the anticoagulant from the container 16. The anticoagulant passes through the filter F2 and Y-connector 30 before reaching the air detector Dl. The air detector D1 senses the presence of the anticoagulant at D1 and terminates the anticoagulant priming operation. During the priming operation, the valve V2 is open and sterile air displaced from bowl 12 by the anticoagulant enters the top port PT3 of the plasma container 18. The venous access device 24 is then inserted into the donor and the draw step is ready to be commenced.

(9) FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting a method for collecting blood components (e.g., platelets) from a subject and anticipating return of citrated plasma to the subject, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. During draw step 401, whole blood is drawn from the subject, typically at a rate of about 80 ml/min. and mixed with the anticoagulant using the pumps P1 and P3 (Step 402) (referring back to FIGS. 1-2). The pump P3 mixes the anticoagulant from the container 16 with the whole blood drawn from the subject or a bag in which it is pooled. The valve V1 is open, allowing the anticoagulated whole blood to pass through the tube 28 and blood filter F1 before being pumped into the separation device 12 through the inlet port PT1.

(10) The whole blood is introduced into the bottom of the separation device 12 through a feed tube (not shown), step 403 of FIG. 4. The ratio of the anticoagulant to whole blood is typically about 1:10. The operation of each of the pumps and valves in the apheresis apparatus 10 can be performed in accordance with desired protocols under the control of a controller (not shown), which may be, for example, a microprocessor.

(11) Referring to FIG. 3, the centrifuge 11 has the fixed inlet port PT1 and the fixed outlet port PT2. The rotary seal 74 fluidly couples the stationary inlet port PT1 to the lower interior portion of the bowl 12, and the outlet port PT2 to an upper portion of the bowl interior for collecting separated fractions. A core 72 occupies a volume coaxial with the interior of bowl 12 and provides a separation region between the wall of the core 72 and the outer bowl wall 70.

(12) As the bowl 12 is rotated, centrifugal forces separate the anticoagulated whole blood admitted into the bottom of the bowl into red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), platelets and plasma. The number of rotations of the bowl 12 can be selected, for example, within a range of 4,000 to 6,000 rpm, and is typically 4,800 rpm. The blood is separated into different fractions in accordance with the component densities. The higher density component, i.e., RBC 60, is forced to the outer wall 70 of the bowl 12 while the lower density plasma 66 lies nearer the core 72. A buffy coat 61 is formed between the plasma 66 and the RBC 60. The buffy coat 61 is made up of an inner layer of platelets 64, a transitional layer 68 of platelets and WBC, and an outer layer of WBC 62. The plasma 66 is the component closest to the outlet port from the separation region and is the first fluid component displaced from the bowl 12 via the outlet port PT2 as additional anticoagulated whole blood enters the bowl 12 through the inlet port PT1. As the plasma 66 is displaced from the bowl 12, it is transferred to the plasma container 18 through lines 36 and 37 (Step 404 of FIG. 4).

(13) Returning to FIG. 1, the displaced plasma passes through the line sensor 14, the tube 36, a 3-way T-connector 26, and the valve V2 (in the open position) and enters the first container 18. The plasma entering the first container 18 is drawn from the container 18 by the pump P2 via tube 42, valve V5 (in the open position), Y-connector 92 and tube 40 from the lower port PT4 and is recirculated into the bowl 12 through the inlet port PT1 via Y-connector 91 and line 41. The recirculated plasma dilutes the anticoagulated whole blood entering the bowl 12 and allows the blood components to separate more readily. An optical sensor 21 is applied to a shoulder portion of the bowl 12 for monitoring each layer of the blood components as they gradually and coaxially advance toward the core 72 from the outer wall 70 of the bowl 12. The optical sensor 21 may be mounted in a position at which it can detect the buffy coat reaching a particular radius, and the steps of drawing the whole blood from the donor 401 and introducing the whole blood into the bowl 402 may be terminated in response to the detection.

(14) The amount of whole blood processed by the bowl 12 may be varied in response to at least one characteristic associated with the whole blood, such as the hematocrit value, the number of platelets, the total amount of blood or the like of the whole blood, as described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/392,880, filed Sep. 9, 1999, entitled Apheresis Apparatus and Method for Producing Blood Products, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This variable control can be implemented under the control of a microcomputer, as aforementioned. Alternatively, each of them can be implemented manually.

(15) As mentioned above, some embodiments of the present invention return plasma within the plasma container (e.g., citrated plasma) at various intervals during the apheresis process in order to anticipate plasma return and avoid returning a large volume at the end of the apheresis process (e.g., to improve patient comfort). To that end, the system 10 may pause the draw step (Step 401), and return some or all of the plasma contained within plasma container 18 to the donor. In particular, once the draw step (Step 401) is paused, the apheresis system 10 may reverse the direction of the draw/return pump P1, open valve V6, draw plasma from the plasma container 18 through outlet port PT4, and return the plasma to the patient/donor via lines 93 and 28.

(16) The volume of plasma returned to the patient/donor during this step may depend upon a number of factors including, but not limited to the extra-corporeal volume (ECV) and/or intra-vascular deficit (IVD). For example, the controller may calculate the ECV or IVD based upon data from previous cycles (e.g., previous cycles in a given apheresis procedure or cycles from a prior procedure), and determine if the ECV/IVD exceeds a predetermined percentage of estimated total blood volume (TBV) (e.g., as estimated from donor characteristics such as gender, size, and weight). If the system 10 (e.g., the controller/microprocessor) determines that the ECV/IVD exceeds the predetermined percentage of TBV, then the system 10 may pause the draw (e.g., Step 401) and return plasma as discussed above. Additionally or alternatively, the system 10 may initiate the plasma return (Step 405) if the volume of plasma separated from the current cycle is equal to the volume of whole blood still to be drawn to complete the bowl filling. In order to preserve and/or improve blood separation during the plasma return step (Step 405), the centrifuge 11 may continue to spin and plasma may be circulated through the bowl 12 (e.g., using pump P2 and line 42).

(17) By pausing the draw step (Step 401) and initiating the anticipated plasma return step (Step 405), the system 10 is able to greatly reduce the ECV and IVD. Additionally, the anticipated plasma return process also ensures that the return of citrated plasma to the patient/donor occurs over multiple steps with a significant time interval (e.g., several minutes) between. As discussed above, this helps improve patient comfort and reduces the risks associated with returning citrated plasma to the patient/donor.

(18) Once the plasma return step is complete, the system may continue to draw whole blood from the patient/donor (e.g., in order to complete bowl filling) (Step 406) and extract platelets from the separation chamber 11/bowl 12. The platelets are extracted from the bowl 12 into a container, step 407 of FIG. 4. When extracting the platelets from the bowl 12, various methodologies may be employed, including, without limitation, dwell, surge, and/or push methodologies. For illustrative purposes, platelet extraction based on a dwell and surge technique will now be described in detail.

(19) After the whole blood has been introduced into the centrifuge 11, step 406 of FIG. 4, the valve V1 is closed and the pump P1 is stopped so that blood is no longer drawn from the donor, and dwell is commenced. During the dwell, the pump P2 recirculates plasma 66 through the bowl 12 at a moderate rate (for example, about 100 ml/min. in FIG. 4) for about 20 to 30 seconds. At this flow rate, the buffy coat 61 is diluted by the plasma and widens but the platelets do not leave the bowl 12. The dilution of the buffy coat allows the heavier white blood cells to sediment to the outer side of the buffy coat, resulting in a better separation between the lighter platelets layer 64 and the heavier white blood cells layer 62. As a result, the transitional layer 68 is reduced. The dwell period also allows the flow patterns in the bowl 12 to stabilize and allows more time for microbubbles to leave the bowl 12 and be purged.

(20) After dwell, the surge step is commenced. In the surge, the speed of the pump P2 is increased in 5-10 ml/min. increments to recirculate plasma until reaching a platelet surge velocity of about 200-250 ml/min. The platelet surge velocity is the velocity at which platelets can leave the bowl 12 but not red blood cells or white blood cells. The plasma exiting the bowl becomes cloudy with platelets and this cloudiness is detected by the line sensor 14. The line sensor 14 consists of an LED which emits light through blood components leaving the bowl 12 and a photo detector which receives the light after it passes through the components. The amount of light received by the photo detector is correlated to the density of the fluid passing through the line.

(21) When platelets first start leaving the bowl 12, the line sensor output starts to decrease. The valve V3 is opened and the valve V2 is closed and the platelets are collected in container 20. Once the majority of the platelets are removed from the bowl 12, the fluid exiting the bowl becomes less cloudy. This lessening of cloudiness is detected by the line sensor 14, whereupon valve V3 is closed.

(22) It is important to note that during any dead times (e.g., time during which whole blood is not being drawn from the patient/donor, any time during which the centrifuge 11 is stopped, etc), the system 10 may return plasma contained within the plasma bag 18 to the patient/donor. For example, while the system 10 removes/extracts the platelets from the centrifuge bowl 12 and/or during the dwell step described above, the system 10 may also return plasma contained within the container 18 to the patient/donor in a manner similar to that described above (e.g., by reversing the pump P1 and drawing the plasma through line 93.

(23) If the plasma return occurs during the surge process (e.g., the recirculation of plasma through the bowl 12), both the draw/return pump P1 and the recirculation pump P2 may draw plasma from the plasma container 18 and both valves V5 and V7 may be open. The draw/return pump P1 may draw the plasma through tube 93 and the recirculation pump P2 may draw plasma through tube 42. To prevent the separate plasma flows from mixing and interfering with one another, valve V8 (FIG. 2), located between connectors 91 and 95 may be closed.

(24) After the platelets have been collected, return step 409 (see FIG. 4) is initiated. During return step 409, the rotation of the bowl 12 is stopped and the remaining blood components in the bowl 12 are returned to the donor by reversal of rotation of the pump P1 via the venous access device 24 with the valve V1 open. The valve V2 is also opened to allow air to enter the centrifuge bowl during the return. The plasma from the container 18 dilutes the remaining blood components in the bowl 12. Namely, the pump P2 mixes the plasma with the returning components in the bowl 12 with the valve V2 open, diluting the returning red blood cells component with plasma to speed up the return time. When the remaining blood components in the bowl have been returned to the donor, the return step 409 is terminated.

(25) Referring to FIG. 4, the steps of drawing whole blood from the donor (Step 401), introducing anticoagulant into the whole blood (Step 402), introducing the whole blood into a separation chamber (Step 403), transferring plasma to the plasma container 18 (Step 404), returning plasma to the patient/donor (Step 405), continuing whole blood draw (Step 406), extracting platelets from the separation chamber (Step 407), returning plasma (Step 408), and returning the remaining components back to the donor (Step 409), are repeated until a desired volume of platelets is sequestered in the container 20, step 410. Typically, steps 401-409 are repeated two to four times, with about 450-500 ml of whole blood processed per cycle. The sequestered platelet concentration is typically about 1.510.sup.6/L.

(26) The system may then re-process the platelets within container 20 by re-introducing the platelets (platelet rich plasma) in container 20 into the bowl 12, step 412 of FIG. 4. Reintroducing the platelets forms a layer of platelets that is several times larger than that obtained by processing only one cycle of whole anticoagulated blood. For example, in some embodiments, the platelet layer volume is approximately equal to the average volume of one cycle multiplied by the number of platelet sequestering cycles plus one. The platelets are drawn from port PT5 of container 20 by pump P2 via tube 43, valve V6 (in the open position), Y-connector 92, and tube 40, and input into bowl 12 through the inlet port PT1 via Y-connector 91 and line 41. To minimize contact between the platelets and bowl 12, the bowl 12 may be partly filled with anticoagulated whole blood drawn from the donor 401 prior to re-introduction of the platelets, step 411 of FIG. 4. The whole blood forms a cell bed at the periphery of the bowl 12 that serves as a buffer between the periphery of the bowl and the platelets, reducing platelet clumping. Additionally or alternatively, whole anticoagulated blood may be added to the separation chamber during platelet reintroduction so as to bring platelet layer towards the elutriation radius, or after platelet reintroduction for perfecting platelet separation and standardizing conditions of initiating platelet extraction.

(27) It is worth noting that, if the platelets being reintroduced into the bowl 12 and reprocessed are in the form of platelet rich plasma (PRP)(platelets suspended within plasma), the centrifugal forces within the bowl 12 will cause the PRP to abandon the suspended platelets, thereby freeing the plasma. This freed plasma will be displaced from the bowl 12 and sent to the plasma container 18 as additional fluid (e.g., additional PRP, plasma, anticoagulated whole blood, etc.) enters the bowl 12.

(28) As the platelets are reprocessed to form the plasma reduced platelet product (discussed in greater detail below), the system 10 may, once again, return plasma within the container 18 to the patient/donor (Step 413). For example, as the platelets from container 20 are being reintroduced into the bowl 12, the system 10 may open valve V7 and use the draw/return pump P1 to draw plasma from port PT4 of container 18 through line 93, and return the plasma to the patient/donor through line 28 and the venous access device 24. The system 10 may then draw whole blood from the patient/donor and fill the bowl 12 with anticoagulated whole blood, step 414.

(29) Using, for example, surge or push methodologies, the plasma reduced platelet concentrate is then extracted from the layer of platelets that now reside in bowl 12, step 415 of FIG. 4. The plasma reduced platelet product is sequestered in container 22 via line sensor 14, tube 36, 3-way T-connector 26 and valve V4 (in the open position). Platelet product concentration is typically in the range of 2.610.sup.6/L to 5.210.sup.6/L, which is 2-3 times that of platelets sequestered when processing only one cycle of whole anticoagulated blood. Once the plasma reduced platelet concentrate is extracted from the bowl 12 and collected within container 22, the system 10 may then return any blood components remaining within the bowl 12 and any plasma still remaining within the plasma container 18, step 416 of FIG. 4.

(30) It should be noted that the surge elutriation technique may use a variety of fluids other than plasma to extract the platelets and/or the reduced plasma platelet product from the separation chamber (e.g., saline solution may be used). Additionally, the platelets that are reintroduced into the separation chamber may be re-anticoagulated to prevent the platelets from coagulating and/or clumping. For example, the platelet collection bag 20 or the reduced plasma platelet product bag 22 may be pre-loaded with a quantity of anticoagulant so that the platelets and/or reduced plasma platelet product mix with the anticoagulant as they are drawn from the separation chamber. Additionally or alternatively, sufficient anticoagulant may be added as the whole blood is withdrawn from the subject such that enough anticoagulant is still present in the platelets prior to re-processing. In either scenario, the amount of anticoagulant added the whole blood and/or extracted platelets must be weighed against the safety of the subject. In particular, the amount of anticoagulant should be limited so as to prevent a large quantity of anticoagulant being returned to the subject.

(31) It should also be noted that once the platelets and the reduced plasma platelet product are collected, a platelet preservative solution may be added to help preserve and store the platelets for later use. The preservative solution can be added to the platelets and platelet product after collection (e.g., from a separate bag or storage container 96), or the platelet collection bag 20 and the reduced plasma platelet product bag 22 may be pre-loaded with the additive solution.

(32) By anticipating the total amount of plasma that will be returned to the donor and returning the plasma in multiple steps, various embodiments of the present invention are able to provide numerous advantages over the prior art. For example, by not returning all of the plasma at the end of the procedure, various embodiments of the present invention are able to greatly reduce patient discomfort and the risks associated with returning large volumes of citrated plasma. Additionally, by returning plasma during dead times, some embodiments of the present invention are able to reduce the overall procedure time, and the ECV/IVD at any given time during the procedure. Furthermore, because plasma may be returned during processing and the EVC/IVD is significantly reduced, various embodiments of the present invention do not need to return saline (or other compensation fluid) to the patient to reduce the ECV.

(33) Although the embodiments described above discuss returning the plasma to the patient/donor, not all of the plasma needs to be returned. For example, some embodiments of the present invention may save a portion of the collected plasma. In such embodiments, the plasma may be filtered using F3 and stored within filtered plasma container 97.

(34) If additional reduced plasma platelet product is required, each of the steps described above may now be repeated until a desired quantity of plasma reduced platelet product is collected. In various embodiments, plasma may be added to the plasma reduced platelet product so as to adjust the plasma reduced product to a predetermined volume or concentration.

(35) Although the above embodiments are described as withdrawing whole blood from a patient/donor and returning unwanted components back to the donor, other embodiments of the present invention may be used for donor-free processing. For example, as discussed above, the venous access device 24 may be replaced with a whole blood bag (not shown) in cases in which the whole blood is to be first pooled and then supplied to the separation device 11. In such embodiments, the plasma from the plasma container 18 and the blood components remaining in the separation device 11 may be returned to one or more storage bags/containers (e.g., all into one container or into separate containers) or returned to the whole blood bag. Such embodiments would still have advantages over the prior art systems because of the greatly reduced processing time (e.g., because plasma is sent to the containers during dead times, etc.)

(36) The described embodiments of the invention are intended to be merely exemplary and numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.