Time based interface detection systems for blood processing apparatus
AssigneeBaxter International Inc.
InventorsRichard L. Brown, John T. Foley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for monitoring the interface region between cellular constituents and plasma in a blood separation chamber employs a sensor mechanism for emitting upon the interface region energy that is absorbed by the cellular constituents. The sensor mechanism also detects the intensity of the energy that is not absorbed by the interface region to generate an unabsorbed intensity output signal. The system moves the interface region relative to the sensor mechanism during a prescribed time period. A first circuit measures variations in the unabsorbed intensity output signal over the prescribed time period and generates a time based output. A second circuit can derive the physical size of the interface region based upon the time based output.
Claims30
A system for monitoring the interface region between cellular constituents and plasma in a blood separation chamber comprising
- sensor means for emitting upon the interface region energy that is absorbed by the cellular constituent portion of the interface and detecting the intensity of the energy that is not absorbed by the interface region to generate an unabsorbed intensity output signal,
- means for moving the interface region relative to the sensor means during a prescribed time period, and
- first means for measuring variations in the unabsorbed intensity output signal over the prescribed time period and generating a time based output.
A centrifuge for separating blood components comprising
- a first rotating element,
- a second rotating element supported on the first rotating element, the second rotating element including means defining a processing chamber,
- drive means for rotating the first element at a first preselected fixed rate while keeping the second rotating element rotating in a preselected rotational relationship with the first rotating element,
- means for introducing blood into the processing chamber while rotating for separation into a first region of cellular components, a second region of plasma, and an interface region between the first and second regions, the interface region having a cellular constituent band adjoining the first region and a plasma band adjoining the second region, and.,
- means for monitoring the interface region within the rotating processing element comprising
- sensor means carried on the first rotating element for emitting upon the interface region energy that is absorbed by first region of cellular components and detecting the intensity of the energy that is not absorbed by the interface region to generate an unabsorbed intensity output signal, and
- first means for measuring variations in the unabsorbed intensity output signal over time and generating a time based output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.