# US 12,214,366 B2 · Prismatic reflector for centrifugal separation chamber > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,366 B2 - Document ID: US12214366B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/899,700 - Filed: 2022-08-31 - Published: 2022-12-29 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-16 - Assignees: Fenwal, Inc. - Applicants: Fenwal, Inc. - Inventors: Kyungyoon Min; Benjamin E. Kusters; Richard I. Brown; Mark J. Brierton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214366B2 ## CPC - B04B 5/0442: {with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation} - A61M 1/02: Blood transfusion apparatus (blood infusion by syringes A61M5/14) - A61M 1/029: {Separating blood components present in distinct layers in a container, not otherwise provided for (containers for storing blood or blood components A61J1/05; sampling or analysing blood by separating blood components G01N33/491)} - A61M 1/265: {inducing Taylor vortices} - A61M 1/3603: {in the same direction} - A61M 1/362227: {the interface providing means for actuating on functional elements of the cassette, e.g. plungers} - A61M 1/36224: {with sensing means or components thereof} - A61M 1/36225: {with blood pumping means or components thereof} - A61M 1/362265: {Details of valves} - A61M 1/3693: {using separation based on different densities of components, e.g. centrifuging} - A61M 1/3696: {with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation} - B01D 36/045: {Combination of filters with centrifugal separation devices} - B01D 63/16: Rotary, reciprocated or vibrated modules - B04B 11/02: Continuous feeding or discharging; Control arrangements therefor - A61M 1/362261: {at least one cassette surface or portion thereof being flexible, e.g. the cassette having a rigid base portion with preformed channels and being covered with a foil} - A61M 1/362266: {Means for adding solutions or substances to the blood} - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - B04B 2013/006: {Interface detection or monitoring of separated components} - 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) - 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)} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A prismatic reflector is provided for incorporation into a centrifugal separation chamber. The prismatic reflector is formed of a light-transmissive material and includes inner and outer walls and first and second end walls. The inner wall is configured to receive light traveling along an initial path and transmit the light to the first end wall, with the first end wall receiving the light transmitted through the inner wall and directing the light toward the second end wall in a direction that is angled with respect to the initial path. The second end wall receives the light from the first end wall and transmits the light out of the prismatic reflector. The initial path of the light may be in a direction toward a rotational axis of the centrifugal separation chamber, with the prismatic reflector redirecting the light into a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A prismatic reflector for incorporation into a centrifugal separation chamber, comprising: inner and outer walls; and first and second end walls, with the first end wall being angled approximately 45° with respect to the second end wall, wherein the prismatic reflector is formed of a light-transmissive material, the inner wall is configured to be associated to a curved surface of the centrifugal separation chamber, with the inner wall having a curvature corresponding to a curvature of said curved surface of the centrifugal separation chamber, the inner wall is configured to receive light traveling along an initial path and transmit the light to the first end wall, the first end wall is configured to receive the light transmitted through the inner wall and direct the light toward the second end wall in a direction that is angled with respect to the initial path, and the second end wall is configured to receive the light from the first end wall and transmit the light out of the prismatic reflector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The prismatic reflector of claim 1, wherein first end wall and the inner and outer walls are configured to transmit the light from the first end wall to the second end wall by total internal reflection. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The prismatic reflector of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second end wall is roughened to diffuse the light transmitted out of the prismatic reflector. ### Claim 4 A blood separation system, comprising: a fluid flow circuit including a centrifugal separation chamber having a rotational axis and comprising a channel defined between a low-g side wall portion and a high-g side wall portion; and a blood separation device including a centrifugal separator configured to receive at least a portion of the centrifugal separation chamber and rotate said at least a portion of the centrifugal separation chamber about the rotational axis, and an interface monitoring system including a light source configured to transmit a light along an initial path toward the rotational axis, into the centrifugal separation chamber, and through the channel of the centrifugal separation chamber, and a light detector configured to receive at least a portion of the light as the light exits the centrifugal separation chamber, wherein the centrifugal separation chamber includes a prismatic reflector associated with the low-g side wall portion, formed of a light-transmissive material, and comprising inner and outer walls and first and second end walls, with the inner wall being configured to receive light traveling along the initial path and transmit the light to the first end wall, the first end wall being configured to receive the light transmitted through the inner wall and direct the light toward the second end wall in a direction that is angled with respect to the initial path, and the second end wall being configured to receive the light from the first end wall and transmit the light out of the prismatic reflector and toward the light detector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The blood separation system of claim 4, wherein the first end wall is angled approximately 45° with respect to the second end wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The blood separation system of claim 4, wherein first end wall and the inner and outer walls are configured to transmit the light from the first end wall to the second end wall by total internal reflection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The blood separation system of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the second end wall is roughened to diffuse the light transmitted out of the prismatic reflector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The blood separation system of claim 4, wherein the light detector is oriented to receive light traveling in a direction generally perpendicular to the initial path of the light. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The blood separation system of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the side wall portions are formed of a generally rigid, light-transmissive material, and the light source is configured to transmit the light through the side wall portions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The blood separation system of claim 4, wherein the light detector is oriented to receive light that has passed through the channel only once. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The blood separation system of claim 4, wherein the blood separation device includes a centrifuge compartment in which at least a portion of the centrifugal separator is positioned, and the light source and the light detector are mounted to stationary surfaces of the centrifuge compartment. ### Claim 12 A method of detecting the location of an interface between separated fluid components within a channel of a centrifugal separation chamber having a rotational axis, the method comprising: separating fluid in a channel of a centrifugal separation chamber into at least two fluid components; directing a light along an initial path through the channel so as to intersect at least one of the fluid components; directing the light exiting the channel out of the centrifugal separation chamber; detecting at least a portion of the light exiting the centrifugal separation chamber; and generating a signal indicative of the location of an interface between the separated fluid components within the channel, wherein a prismatic reflector is associated with the channel, with the prismatic reflector being formed of a light transmissive material and comprising inner and outer walls and first and second end walls, with the first end wall being angled approximately 45° with respect to the second end wall, the inner wall being associated to a curved surface of the centrifugal separation chamber and having a curvature corresponding to a curvature of said curved surface of the centrifugal separation chamber and being configured to receive light traveling along the initial path and transmit the light to the first end wall, the first end wall being configured to receive the light transmitted through the inner wall and direct the light toward the second end wall in a direction that is angled with respect to the initial path, and the second end wall being configured to receive the light from the first end wall and transmit the light out of the prismatic reflector and out of the centrifugal separation chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein first end wall and the inner and outer walls are configured to transmit the light from the first end wall to the second end wall by total internal reflection. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the second end wall is roughened to diffuse the light transmitted out of the prismatic reflector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said detecting at least a portion of the light exiting the centrifugal separation chamber includes receiving light traveling in a direction generally perpendicular to the initial path of the light. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said detecting at least a portion of the light exiting the centrifugal separation chamber includes detecting light that has passed through the channel only once. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said directing the light along the initial path through the channel so as to intersect at least one of the fluid components includes emitting the light from a stationary location, and said detecting at least a portion of the light exiting the centrifugal separation chamber includes detecting said at least a portion of the light at a stationary location. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising determining the location of the interface between the separated fluid components within the channel by comparing an actual pulse width of the signal to a target pulse width.