System and Method for Removing Fat from Salvaged Blood

A method for removing fat from salvaged blood, the method comprising:

• (a) transferring salvaged blood from a reservoir to a blood component separation device, the salvaged blood filling the blood component separation device;
• (b) separating the salvaged blood into a plurality of blood components;
• (c) introducing wash solution into the blood component separation device, the wash solution displacing a volume of unwanted components from the blood component separation device into a waste container;
• (d) transferring, a volume of washed blood components from the blood component separation device to a product container;
• (e) re-centrifuging the washed blood components remaining within the blood component separation device;
• (f) returning the volume of washed blood components from the product container to the blood component separation device, thereby refilling the blood component separation device;
• (g) introducing additional wash solution into the blood component separation device, the additional wash solution displacing a volume of fat from the blood component separation device into a waste container;
• and
• (h) emptying the washed blood components within the blood component separation device to a product container.

A system for washing fat from salvaged blood, the system comprising:

• a reservoir configured to collect salvaged blood from a patient;
• a rotatable centrifuge bowl fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to separate the salvaged blood into a plurality of blood components;
• a product container fluidly connected to the rotatable centrifuge bowl and configured to collect a washed blood component;
• a waste container fluidly connected to an outlet of the rotatable centrifuge bowl and configured to collect a waste product from the centrifuge bowl;
• a pump configured to control the flow of fluid through the system;
• and
• a controller configured to control the operation of the pump and centrifuge bowl to transfer a first volume of unwashed blood components from the centrifuge bowl back toward the reservoir, re-centrifuge the blood components remaining within the centrifuge bowl, refill the centrifuge bowl with salvaged blood from the reservoir, and introduce wash solution into the centrifuge bowl, the wash solution displacing a volume of fat from the centrifuge bowl into the waste container.

A method for removing fat from salvaged blood, the method comprising:

• (a) transferring salvaged blood from a reservoir to a blood component separation device, the salvaged blood filling the blood component separation device;
• (b) separating the salvaged blood into a plurality of blood components;
• (c) transferring a volume of unwashed blood components from the blood component separation device back to a reservoir line fluidly connecting the reservoir and the blood component separation device;
• (d) re-centrifuging the blood components remaining within the blood component separation device;
• (e) returning the volume of unwashed blood components from the reservoir line to the blood component separation device, thereby refilling the blood component separation device;
• (f) introducing wash solution into the blood component separation device, the wash solution displacing a volume of fat from the blood component separation device into a waste container;
• and
• (g) emptying the washed blood components within the blood component separation device to a product container.