Extracorporeal blood processing methods and apparatus

An blood primable apheresis system, comprising:

• a blood component separation device;
• a channel housing interconnectable with said blood component separation device and comprising a blood processing channel;
• a blood processing vessel disposed in said channel;
• means for priming said blood processing vessel with blood;
• and
• means for displacing air from said blood processing vessel.

A method for priming an apheresis system with blood, said apheresis system comprising a channel housing and a blood processing vessel, said channel housing comprising a blood processing channel, said blood processing vessel being positioned within said channel and comprising a blood inlet port, a red blood cell outlet port, and an interface control port for controlling a radial position of at least one interface between red blood cells and an adjacent blood component type, said method comprising the steps of:

• rotating said channel housing;
• introducing an initial liquid into said blood processing vessel, said initial liquid comprising blood;
• separating said blood into at least red blood cells, platelets, and plasma;
• providing a restriction to a flow of red blood cells from said separating step beyond a red blood cell dam;
• providing a flow of plasma to said interface control port before any of said red blood cells flow beyond said red blood cell dam.

A method for priming an apheresis system with blood comprising at least one of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma, said apheresis system comprising a channel housing, a blood processing vessel, a donor/patient blood transfer assembly fluidly interconnected with each of said blood processing vessel and a donor/patient, said channel housing comprising a channel with said blood processing vessel being positioned within said channel, said method comprising the steps of:

• initiating a flow of blood from said donor/patient into said donor blood transfer assembly;
• introducing a flow of blood into said blood processing vessel;
• rotating said channel housing at a first angular velocity during at least a portion of time between starting said initiating step and starting said introducing step;
• providing at least one of said blood, said red blood cells, said white blood cells, said platelets, and said plasma throughout an entirety of said blood processing vessel;
• rotating said channel housing at a second angular velocity, greater than said first angular velocity, during at least a portion of a time between starting said introducing step and completing said providing step;
• and
• rotating said channel housing at a third angular velocity, greater than said second angular velocity, during at least a portion of a time after completion of said providing step.