Centrifugal fluid separation device

A modular cassette for separating a composite fluid into at least two component parts thereof during centrifugation, the modular cassette comprising:

• a fluid inlet portion;
• a fluid separation portion including a middle section, an inlet port, and an exit port that is spaced apart from the inlet port;
• a planar skimmer dam disposed in the middle section and including a surface that is angled in a direction toward the exit port
• a media chamber in fluid communication with the fluid separation portion;
• a fluid collection portion;
• a fluidic channel configured to provide fluid communication between at least two components of the modular cassette;
• and
• a wax valve configured to close the fluidic channel.

A modular cassette for separating a composite fluid into at least two component parts thereof during centrifugation, the modular cassette comprising:

• a fluid inlet portion;
• an hourglass-shaped fluid separation portion including a middle section and an exit port;
• a planar skimmer dam disposed in the middle section and including a surface that is angled in a direction toward the exit port;
• a media chamber in fluid communication with the hourglass-shaped fluid separation portion;
• a fluid collection portion;
• a fluidic channel configured to provide fluid communication between at least two components of the modular cassette, the fluidic channel being defined at least in part by a gap between the planar skimmer dam and a sidewall of the hourglass-shaped fluid separation portion;
• a wax valve configured to close the fluidic channel.

A method for separating a composite fluid, the method comprising:

• inputting the composite fluid into a first portion of a modular cassette;
• inputting, at a distance from an axis of rotation that is smaller than a distance from the axis of rotation of the first portion, a separation media having a greater density than the composite fluid into a second portion of the modular cassette;
• inputting the modular cassette into a centrifuge;
• rotating the modular cassette in the centrifuge;
• actuating, with an electrical resistor, a wax valve to release the separation media from the second portion into the first portion, causing a displacement of the composite fluid in the first portion;
• separating, in the first portion, the composite fluid into two or more parts;
• and
• collecting, from the modular cassette, one or more of the two or more parts of the composite fluid,
• wherein the wax valve includes:
• a flow pathway including semicircular undulations configured to facilitate closing of a fluidic channel, the semicircular undulations being arranged such that a width of the flow pathway varies along at least one section of the flow pathway;
• and
• a volume of wax sufficient to fill and occlude one or more of the semicircular undulations of the flow pathway to close the fluidic channel.

A modular cassette for separating a composite fluid into at least two component parts thereof during centrifugation, the modular cassette comprising:

• a fluid inlet portion;
• a fluid separation portion;
• a media chamber in fluid communication with the fluid separation portion;
• a fluid collection portion;
• a fluidic channel configured to form a fluid communication between at least two components of the modular cassette;
• and
• an Injectable Channel (IC) Normally Open Valve (NOV) comprising:
• a portion of the fluidic channel including semicircular undulations configured to facilitate closing of the fluidic channel, the semicircular undulations being arranged such that a width of the portion of the fluidic channel varies along the portion of the fluidic channel;
• and
• a volume of wax sufficient to fill and occlude one or more of the semicircular undulations of the portion of the fluidic channel to close the fluidic channel,
• wherein, in an actuated state, coherence of the wax to itself closes the IC NOV.