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AssigneeThermoGenesis Corp.
InventorsJohn R. Chapman, Vijay Kumar, Brian K. Cinquini, Philip D. Kingsley
Estimating the term…
A device for separating and isolating components of a biological fluid comprising a container for containing the fluid to be processed, a tube cap assembly for closing the container while providing filling and extraction communication therewith, a float assembly disposed within the container for funneling and controlling biological fluid flow into an inverted domed shaped isolation chamber within the float and controlling the biological fluid flow out of the isolation chamber for effecting an encapsulation or a sealed isolation of at least one component or fraction of the biological fluid flow within the isolation chamber during a centrifugation process. The device further comprising a flexible tube for connecting an extraction passageway disposed within the float assembly and an extraction valve of the tube cap assembly for allowing extraction of at least the one component or fraction encapsulated or isolated within the chamber.
1 - A device for separating and isolating components of a biological fluid with centrifugation, said device comprising:
2 - The device of claim 1 wherein said float comprises an aperture in open communication with said interior isolation chamber and a flexible tube leading to an exterior of said enclosure for allowing extraction of at least the one target component of the biological fluid from within said interior isolation chamber of said float to the exterior of said enclosure.
3 - The device of claim 2 wherein said enclosure is comprised of a container having a closed bottom end, an open top end, and a circumferential sidewall extending between said closed bottom end and said open top end, said circumferential sidewall having an internal circumferential surface defining a containing chamber extending along a central longitudinal axis of said container and wherein said enclosure is further comprised of a cap for selectively closing said open top end of said container for defining said enclosure for containing the biological fluid having multiple components.
4 - The device of claim 3 wherein said float is comprised of a lower portion comprising an inverted hemispherically shaped surface having an upper annular edge transitioning into a upper ceiling surface for defining said interior isolation chamber as an inverted dome shaped isolation chamber.
5 - The device of claim 4 wherein said float is further comprised of an upper portion surmounting said lower portion and comprising a funnel shaped surface defining a funnel shaped cavity converging toward said inverted dome shaped chamber and in open communication with said first valve means for promoting said flow of biological fluid into said interior isolation chamber as said function of said first pressure differential of biological fluid on said first valve means.
6 - The device of claim 5 wherein said first valve means comprises an umbrella valve.
7 - The device of claim 6 wherein said second valve means comprises a duckbill valve.
8 - The device of claim 1 wherein said float, said first valve means, and said second valve means have a combined selected density of about 1.02 grams/cubic centimeter to about 1.08 grams/cubic centimeter.
9 - The device of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic stirring bar disposed within said interior isolation chamber of said float for stirring at least the one target component of the biological fluid within said interior isolation chamber of said float when magnetically activated.
10 - A device for separating and isolating components of a biological fluid with centrifugation, said device comprising:
11 - The device of claim 10 wherein said float includes an upper funnel surface for promoting flow of biological fluid into said interior isolation chamber as said function of said first pressure differential of biological fluid on said first valve means.
12 - The device of claim 11 wherein said interior isolation chamber is shaped as an inverted dome shaped chamber.
13 - The device of claim 12 further comprising means for extracting the at least one target component from said inverted dome shaped chamber by aspirating the at least one target component from a lower arcuate portion of said inverted dome shaped chamber.
14 - The device of claim 13 wherein said first valve means comprises an umbrella valve.
15 - The device of claim 14 wherein said second valve means comprises a duckbill valve.
16 - The device of claim 15 further comprising a standoff means for initially spacing said float from an interior bottom surface of said enclosure.
17 - The device of claim 10 wherein said float, said first valve means, and said second valve means have a combined selected density of about 1.02 grams/cubic centimeter to about 1.08 grams/cubic centimeter.
18 - The device of claim 10 further comprising a magnetic stirring bar disposed within said interior isolation chamber of said float for stirring at least the one target component of the biological fluid within said interior isolation chamber of said float when magnetically activated.
19 - A device for separating and isolating components of a biological fluid with centrifugation, said device comprising:
20 - The device of claim 19 further comprising a coil of flexible tube having one end operatively coupled to an extraction valve coupled to said cap and another end operatively coupled to one end of an open ended extraction passageway disposed in said upper cylindrical portion and said lower cylindrical portion of said float assembly and having another end terminating in a bottom area of said inverted hemispherically shaped interior surface of said lower cylindrical portion of said float assembly for extracting the target component of the biological fluid isolated within said inverted domed shaped chamber by applying a vacuum to said extraction valve coupled to said cap.
21 - The device of claim 19 further comprising an inlet valve means coupled to said cap and in open communication with said containing chamber for allowing the biological fluid having multiple components to be dispensed into said containing chamber.
22 - The device of claim 19 further comprising an air filter means coupled to said cap and in open communication with said containing chamber for allowing air to escape from said containing chamber when dispensing the biological fluid having multiple components into said containing chamber and for allowing air to enter said containing chamber when extracting the target component of the biological fluid isolated within said inverted domed shaped chamber.
23 - The device of claim 19 further comprising a standoff means for initially spacing said float from an interior bottom surface of said container for precluding a vacuum seal from forming therebetween.
24 - The device of claim 19 wherein said first valve means comprises an umbrella valve.
25 - The device of claim 19 wherein said second valve means comprises a duckbill valve.
26 - The device of claim 19 wherein said float assembly has a selected density of about 1.02 grams/cubic centimeter to about 1.08 grams/cubic centimeter.
27 - The device of claim 19 further comprising a magnetic stirring bar disposed within said inverted domed shaped chamber of said float for stirring the target component of the biological fluid within said inverted domed shaped chamber of said float when magnetically activated.
28 - A device for separating and isolating components of a biological fluid with centrifugation, said device comprising:
29 - The device of claim 28 further including a third aperture means for allowing a flow of the biological fluid out of said interior isolation chamber of said float as a function of a third pressure differential of biological fluid on the biological fluid on a first port of said third aperture means inside said interior isolation chamber and on a second port of said third aperture means outside of said interior isolation chamber for extracting at least one target component of the biological fluid from within said interior isolation chamber of said float.
30 - The device of claim 28 wherein under device centrifugation said first aperture means and said second aperture means initially allow components of the biological fluid to flow through said interior isolation chamber by flowing in through said first aperture means and out through said second aperture means and subsequently abate components of the biological fluid to flow through said interior isolation chamber by flowing in through said first aperture means and out through said second aperture means as said function of said first pressure differential of biological fluid on the biological fluid above and below said first aperture means and as said function of said second pressure differential of biological fluid on the biological fluid above and below said second aperture means.
31 - The device of claim 28 wherein said first aperture means includes an open surface area at least twice as large as an open surface area of the said second aperture means.
32 - The device of claim 28 wherein said float is freely slideably within said enclosure prior to, during, and after centrifugation.
33 - The device of claim 28 wherein said biological fluid is derived from a mammal and includes bone marrow, whole blood, a blood component, semen, adipose, ascites, cerebrospinal fluid or mixtures thereof.
34 - The device of claim 28 wherein said float has a selected density of about 1.02 grams/cubic centimeter to about 1.08 grams/cubic centimeter.
35 - A method for separating a biological fluid having multiple comingled fractions using a conventional centrifuge device, the steps comprising:
36 - The method of claim 35 further comprising a step of activating a magnetic stirring bar disposed within the interior isolation chamber of the float for stirring the third fraction after the centrifuging step.
37 - The method of claim 35 further comprising a step of harvesting the stirred third fraction of the biological fluid from the device by using an aperture in open communication with the interior isolation chamber of the float.
38 - The method of claim 35 further comprising a step of coupling at least one weight to the float for selectively tuning the density of the float to about 1.02 grams/cubic centimeter to about 1.08 grams/cubic centimeter prior to the centrifuging step.
39 - A device for separating and isolating components of a biological fluid with centrifugation, said device comprising:
40 - The device of claim 39 further comprising a magnetic stirring bar disposed within said interior isolation chamber of said float for stirring at least the one target component upon actuation of said magnetic stirring bar with a magnetic field.
41 - The device of claim 39 wherein said float includes an aperture means in open communication with said interior isolation chamber of said float for harvesting at least the one target component from said float.
42 - The device of claim 39 wherein said float includes at least one weight for selectively tuning a density of said float to about 1.02 grams/cubic centimeter to about 1.08 grams/cubic centimeter prior to centrifugation.
43 - The device of claim 39 wherein said valve means includes a first valve means for controlling the entry of the biological fluid into said interior isolation chamber of said float and for precluding a back flow of the biological fluid from said interior isolation chamber of said float through said first valve means.
44 - The device of claim 43 wherein said valve means further includes a second valve means for controlling the exit of the biological fluid out of said interior isolation chamber of said float and for precluding the exited biological fluid from flowing back into said interior isolation chamber of said float through said second valve means.