# US 10,768,107 B2 · Interface detector for blood processing system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,768,107 B2
- Document ID: US10768107B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/215,711
- Filed: 2018-12-11
- Published: 2019-04-25
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2012-09-04
- Assignees: Fenwal, Inc.
- Applicants: Fenwal, Inc.
- Inventors: Peter David Koudelka; Ryan Eliot Eckman; Eric Karl Lindmark; Lubomir Koudelka; James Joseph Ulmes; Steven R. Katz; William H. Cork
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768107B2

## CPC

- A61M 1/3693: {using separation based on different densities of components, e.g. centrifuging}
- B04B 13/00: Control arrangements specially designed for centrifuges; Program control of centrifuges (control arrangements for feed, charge or discharge B04B11/00)
- G01N 21/55: Specular reflectivity
- G01N 21/59: Transmissivity (G01N21/25 takes precedence)
- G01N 21/5907: {Densitometers}
- G01N 33/491: {by separating the blood components (G01N15/05 takes precedence)}
- A61M 2202/0415: Plasma
- A61M 2202/0427: Platelets; Thrombocytes
- A61M 2202/0429: Red blood cells; Erythrocytes
- A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means
- B04B 2013/006: {Interface detection or monitoring of separated components}
- G01N 2201/0612: Laser diodes
- G01N 2201/062: LED's
- G01N 2201/0636: Reflectors
- G01N 2201/08: Optical fibres; light guides
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- B04B: CENTRIFUGES (high-speed drum mills B02C19/11; domestic spin driers D06F; analysing, measuring or monitoring physical or chemical properties of samples during centrifuging, see the relevant subclasses for these procedures, e.g. G01N)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

Blood separation systems and methods are provided for controlling the interface between separated blood components. The system includes a centrifuge assembly having a light-transmissive portion, a light reflector, and a fluid processing region therebetween. An optical sensor system emits a scanning light beam along a path toward the light-transmissive portion, which transmits at least a portion of the scanning light beam to the fluid processing region and the light reflector. The light reflector reflects at least a portion of the scanning light beam toward the optical sensor system along a path substantially coaxial to the path of the scanning light beam from the optical sensor system toward the light-transmissive portion of the centrifuge assembly. The scanning light beam may be a white light beam or narrow spectrum beam. The reflected beam may be directed through the optical sensor system via optical fibers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical sensor system incorporated into a blood processing system, the optical sensor system comprising:
a housing associated with a centrifuge assembly of the blood processing system;
a light source incorporated into the housing and configured to emit a source light beam that is at least partially reflected from the centrifuge assembly back to the housing;
a light detector positioned outside of the housing; and
an optical fiber connected to the housing and configured to conduct at least a portion of the reflected source light beam toward the light detector, wherein the light detector is incorporated into the blood processing system at a position spaced away from a drive system of the centrifuge assembly to render the light detector relatively immune to electrical noise and vibration.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical sensor system of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is adjustably connected to the housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optical sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of optical fibers connected to the housing by an adjustable module configured to simultaneously adjust the position of the optical fibers with respect to the housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The optical sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a beam splitter configured to receive light from the light source and direct at least a portion of the light toward the optical fiber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The optical sensor system of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of optical fibers, wherein the beam splitter is configured to receive light from the light source and direct portions of the light toward the optical fibers in different directions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The optical sensor system of claim 5, wherein the beam splitter is configured to direct said portions of the light in opposite directions toward the optical fibers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The optical sensor system of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is oriented at an angle with respect to the direction of a light beam emitted by the light source.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The optical sensor system of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of a light beam emitted by the light source.

### Claim 9

A blood processing system, comprising:
a centrifuge assembly including
a drive system,
a light-transmissive portion,
a light reflector, and
a fluid processing region at least partially positioned between the light-transmissive portion and the light reflector; and
an optical sensor system including
a housing associated with the centrifuge assembly,
a light source incorporated into the housing and configured to emit a source light beam that is at least partially reflected from the centrifuge assembly back to the housing,
a light detector positioned outside of the housing and incorporated into the blood processing system at a position spaced away from the drive system to render the light detector relatively immune to electrical noise and vibration, and
an optical fiber connected to the housing, wherein
the light-transmissive portion is configured to transmit at least a portion of the source light beam to the fluid processing region and the light reflector,
the light reflector is configured to reflect at least a portion of the source light beam toward the optical sensor assembly, and
the optical fiber is configured to conduct at least a portion of the reflected source light beam toward the light detector.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The blood processing system of claim 9, wherein the optical fiber is adjustably connected to the housing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The blood processing system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of optical fibers connected to the housing by an adjustable module configured to simultaneously adjust the position of the optical fibers with respect to the housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The blood processing system of claim 9, further comprising a beam splitter configured to receive the source light beam and direct at least a portion of the source light beam toward the optical fiber.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The blood processing system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of optical fibers, wherein the beam splitter is configured to direct a portion of the source light beam in a direction toward one of the optical fibers and to receive and direct at least a portion of the reflected source light beam toward another optical fiber in a different direction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The blood processing system of claim 13, wherein said direction and said different direction are opposite directions.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The blood processing system of claim 9, wherein the optical fiber is oriented at an angle with respect to the direction of the source light beam.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The blood processing system of claim 9, wherein the optical fiber is oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of the source light beam.

### Claim 17

A method of monitoring fluid within a blood processing system having a centrifuge assembly, the method comprising:
separating blood in a centrifuge assembly into at least two blood components;
generating a source light beam from a light source incorporated into a housing associated with the centrifuge assembly;
directing at least a portion of the source light beam into the centrifuge assembly so as to intersect the blood or at least one of the blood components;
reflecting at least a portion of the source light beam back to the housing after intersecting the blood or at least one of the blood components; and
directing at least a portion of the reflected source light beam toward a light detector positioned outside of the housing through an optical fiber connected to the housing, wherein the light detector is incorporated into the blood processing system at a position spaced away from a drive system of the centrifuge assembly to render the light detector relatively immune to electrical noise and vibration.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising
detecting at least one characteristic of the reflected source light beam using the light detector; and
determining a characteristic of the blood or at least one of the blood components based, at least in part, on said at least one characteristic of the reflected source light beam.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein said directing the reflected source light beam includes directing the reflected source light beam along a path substantially perpendicular to the direction of the reflected source light beam.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising directing at least a portion of the source light beam toward a second light detector through a second optical fiber.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the optical fiber is oriented at an angle with respect to the direction of the source light beam.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the optical fiber is oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of the source light beam.