Blood Separating Device

A blood component separation device comprising:

• a rotatable chamber having an axis of rotation, an inner wall surface, and a floor that is inclined from said axis of rotation to said inner wall surface;
• a plurality of buoys surrounding the axis of rotation and slidable along said floor so as to move radially between an expanded position in which said buoys are distal to the axis of rotation when said chamber is rotating and a contracted position in which said buoys are proximate to the axis of rotation when said chamber is stationary, said buoys have a density that is proximate to the density of platelet rich plasma;
• a first capture area between an inner surface of said buoys in the contracted position and the axis of rotation, said first capture area captures platelet poor plasma after blood is spun in said separation device;
• a second capture area between an outer surface of said buoys in the contracted position and the inner wall surface of the rotatable chamber, said second capture area captures red blood cells after blood is spun in said separation device;
• and
• a third capture area between said first capture area and said second capture area, said third capture area captures platelet rich plasma after blood is spun in said separation device.

A method for separating whole blood into different components comprising:

• inserting whole blood into a rotatable chamber of a blood separation device having an axis of rotation and an inner wall surface;
• rotating the chamber for a sufficient period of time such that components of the whole blood separate according to density;
• and
• stopping rotation of the chamber such that the plurality of buoys move from an expanded position in which the buoys are distal to the axis of rotation to a contracted position in which the buoys are proximal to the axis of rotation to isolate red flood cells of the blood between the buoys and the inner wall surface, to isolate platelet poor plasma between the buoys and the axis of rotation, and to isolate platelet rich plasma at a common distance from the axis of rotation as the buoys.

A blood component separation device comprising:

• a rotatable chamber having an axis of rotation, an inner wall surface, and a floor that is inclined from said axis of rotation to said inner wall surface;
• a plurality of buoys positioned within said rotatable chamber and surrounding the axis of rotation, each of said buoys having a density that permits said buoys to settle at an interface between red blood cells and a platelet rich plasma buffy coat, each of said buoys slidable along said floor so as to move radially between an expanded position in which said buoys are distal to said axis of rotation when said chamber is rotating and a contracted position in which said buoys are proximate to said axis of rotation when said chamber is stationary and, each of said buoys including:
• an arcuate outer surface;
• an arcuate inner surface;
• a substantially linear side surface;
• and
• a collection trough between said outer surface and said inner surface;
• a collection bowl at the axis of rotation;
• a fluid line extending between said collection trough and said collection bowl;
• a collection basin attached to a base of said rotatable chamber;
• a valve positioned to regulate passage of material between said rotatable chamber and said collection basin;
• a first capture area between said inner surfaces of said buoys in the contracted position and the axis of rotation, said first capture area captures platelet poor plasma after blood is spun in said separation device;
• a second capture area between said outer surfaces of said buoys in the contracted position and said inner wall surfaces, said second capture area captures red blood cells after blood is spun in said separation device;
• and
• a third capture area including said collection troughs, said third capture area captures platelet rich plasma after blood is spun in said separation device.

A method for separating bone marrow aspirate into different components comprising:

• inserting bone marrow aspirate into a rotatable chamber of a bone marrow separation device having an axis of rotation and an inner wall surface;
• rotating the chamber for a sufficient period of time such that components of the bone marrow aspirate separate according to density;
• and
• stopping rotation of the chamber such that the plurality of buoys move from an expanded position in which the buoys are distal to the axis of rotation to a contracted position in which the buoys are proximal to the axis of rotation to isolate red blood cells of the bone marrow aspirate between the buoys and the inner wall surface, to isolate bone marrow plasma between the buoys and the axis of rotation, and to isolate multipotent cells at a common distance from the axis of rotation as the buoys.