Blood bag support for centrifugation

#This invention relates to human blood processing equipment, and in particular to a device for supporting a blood bag during the process of centrifugation.

#It is the usual procedure to collect human blood by drawing it into a plastic blood bag. The blood bag is simply a container formed by sealing two sheets of plastic together. Of course, the sheets of plastic bulge as the bag is filled with blood. Tubes are attached to the bag through openings called ports. Often several ports are provided as needed for the later handling or processing of the blood.

#One of the principal techniques used in the processing of blood is to centrifuge it to separate out various density fractions. For this, the blood bag is placed in a a centrifuge and spun at an r.p.m. and for a time necessary to cause the separation of the blood cells and plasma.

#FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the blood bag support of the present invention, shown mounting a blood bag which is illustrated in phantom line.

#FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the blood bag support of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section of the blood bag support, taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, illustrating the centrifuge cup in phantom line.

#The purpose of centrifugation in processing human blood is to separate the blood cells from the plasma. The blood cells are more dense than the plasma and settle at the bottom of the blood bag, while the plasma forms a layer at the top of the blood bag. The plasma can then be decanted to separate the fractions.

#FIG. 4 illustrates a centrifuge, generally at 10. Four centrifuge cups 12 (FIGS. 3-5) are mounted in the centrifuge. Each cup has a rounded bottom 14. An opening 16 in the centrifuge allows the cups to pivot outwardly on pivot points 18 as the centrifuge spins. It can be appreciated that significant G-forces are generated as the centrifuges of this type are often operated at up to five thousand r.p.m..

#FIG. 1 illustrates a blood bag 20, which is simply two sheets of plastic bonded together. As the blood bag is filled, the plastic sheets bulge outwardly to accomodate a volume of blood.