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US 6,053,856 AGranted
Tubing set apparatus and method for separation of fluid components
AssigneeCobe Laboratories, Inc.
InventorDennis Hlavinka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for separating components of a fluid or particles. A separation vessel having a barrier dam is provided to initially separate an intermediate density components of a fluid, and a fluid chamber is provided to further separate these the intermediate density component by forming an elutriative field or saturated fluidized particle bed. The separation vessel is placed in a retainer on a centrifuge rotor and ridges in the retainer form various dams in the separation vessel. Also discloses are tubing sets and various separation vessels for use with the apparatus.
Claims48
A tubing set for use with a centrifuge having a rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation, the rotor including a retainer, the tubing set comprising:
- a separation vessel for placement in the retainer, the vessel including
- an inlet end portion including an inlet port for supplying to the vessel a fluid to be separated into components,
- an outlet end portion including at least a first collection port, a second collection port, and a third collection port for removing separated components of the fluid from the vessel, and
- a flow path extending between the inlet end portion and the outlet end portion;
- an inlet line fluidly coupled to the inlet port;
- a first collection line fluidly coupled to the first collection port;
- a second collection line fluidly coupled to the second collection port;
- a third collection line fluidly coupled to the third collection port;
- a fluid chamber for separating components of the fluid after initial separation in the vessel, the fluid chamber being capable of being mounted on the rotor and including a fluid chamber inlet fluidly coupled to the first collection line, a fluid chamber outlet, and a fluid chamber wall extending between and defining the fluid chamber inlet and the fluid chamber outlet, the fluid chamber wall having an inner surface defining an interior having a maximum cross-sectional area at a position between the fluid chamber inlet and the fluid chamber outlet, the interior converging from the position of the maximum cross-sectional area toward the fluid chamber inlet and converging from the position of the maximum cross-sectional area toward the fluid chamber outlet;
- and
- an outflow line fluidly coupled to the fluid chamber outlet.
8 more elements
A centrifugal separation apparatus comprising:
- a separation vessel including a first wall and a second wall formed of at least one of a flexible material and a semi-rigid material, inner surfaces of the first and second walls being spaced from one another to define a flow path therebetween for a fluid capable of being separated into components, the vessel including
- an inlet portion having an inlet port for introducing the fluid into the vessel, and
- an outlet portion spaced from the inlet portion and having a collection port for removing at least one separated component of the fluid from the vessel, the outlet portion including at least one sealed portion wherein the first and second walls are sealed together, the sealed portion being located between top and bottom edges of the vessel to form at least first and second flow passages in the outlet portion, the sealed portion defining at least a portion of a barrier for the at least one separated fluid component when the separation vessel is placed in a retainer on a centrifuge rotor;
- a first support on the first wall adjacent to the first passage;
- and
- a second support on the second wall adjacent to the second passage, the first support and the second support forming a pair of dams in the vessel, the sealed portion being between the pair of dams so that the pair of dams and sealed portion form the barrier.
3 more elements
A centrifugal separation apparatus comprising:
- a separation vessel including a first wall and a second wall formed of at least one of a flexible material and a semi-rigid material, inner surfaces of the first and second walls being spaced from one another to define a flow path therebetween for a fluid capable of being separated into components, the vessel including
- an inlet portion having an inlet port for introducing the fluid into the vessel, and
- an outlet portion spaced from the inlet portion and having a collection port for removing at least one separated component of the fluid from the vessel, the outlet portion including
- a first sealed portion wherein the first and second walls are sealed together, and
- a second sealed portion wherein the first and second walls are sealed together, the first and second sealed portions being spaced from one another and from the top and bottom edges of the vessel to form a first flow passage between the first sealed portion and a top edge of the vessel, a second flow passage between the first and second sealed portions, and a third flow passage between the second sealed portion and a bottom edge of the vessel, the first and second sealed portions defining at least a portion of a barrier for the at least one separated fluid component when the separation vessel is placed in a retainer on a centrifuge rotor.
2 more elements
A centrifugal separation apparatus comprising:
- a separation vessel including a first wall and a second wall formed of at least one of a flexible material and a semi-rigid material, inner surfaces of the first and second walls being spaced from one another to define a flow path therebetween for a fluid capable of being separated into components, the vessel including
- an inlet portion having an inlet port for introducing the fluid into the vessel, and
- an outlet portion spaced from the inlet portion and having a collection port for removing at least one separated component of the fluid from the vessel, the outlet portion including at least one sealed portion wherein the first and second walls are sealed together, the sealed portion being located between top and bottom edges of the vessel to form at least first and second flow passages in the outlet portion, the sealed portion defining at least a portion of a barrier for the at least one separated fluid component when the separation vessel is placed in a retainer on a centrifuge rotor;
- and
- a fluid chamber for separating components of the fluid initially separated in the vessel, the fluid chamber including a fluid chamber inlet fluidly coupled to the collection port, a fluid chamber outlet, and a fluid chamber wall extending between and defining the fluid chamber inlet and the fluid chamber outlet, the fluid chamber wall having an inner surface defining an interior having a maximum cross-sectional area at a position between the fluid chamber inlet and the fluid chamber outlet, the interior converging from the position of the maximum cross-sectional area toward the fluid chamber inlet and converging from the position of the maximum cross-sectional area toward the fluid chamber outlet.
2 more elements
A centrifugal separation apparatus comprising:
- a rotor configured to be connected to a motor for rotation about an axis of rotation;
- a retainer on the rotor for receiving a separation vessel therein, the retainer including an inner wall spaced from the axis of rotation and an outer wall spaced further from the axis of rotation than the inner wall, the inner wall and the outer wall defining a groove therebetween;
- a first ridge extending from one of the inner wall and the outer wall;
- and
- a second ridge extending from the other of the inner wall and the outer wall, the first and second ridges being positioned across from one another and the first ridge being above the second ridge in the direction of the axis of rotation, so that when the separation vessel is placed in the retainer, the first ridge forms a first dam in the vessel and the second ridge forms a second dam in the vessel, the first and second dams cooperating to form a barrier for substantially blocking passage of predetermined particles in the vessel while allowing passage of other particles and liquid.
2 more elements
A centrifugal separation apparatus comprising:
- a centrifuge rotor configured to be rotated by a motor about an axis of rotation;
- a retainer on the centrifuge rotor;
- and
- a separation vessel in the retainer, the vessel including
- an inlet portion including an inlet port for supplying to the vessel a fluid to be separated into components,
- an outlet portion including
- a barrier for substantially blocking passage of at least one of the separated components of the fluid,
- at least one collection port between the barrier and the inlet portion of the vessel for removing at least the blocked component of the fluid from the vessel, and
- a first passage for a relatively low density component of the fluid and a second passage for a relatively high density component of the fluid, the barrier being between the first and second passages and the first passage being closer to the axis of rotation than the second passage,
- a flow path extending between the inlet end portion and the outlet end portion, and
- a trap dam between the collection port and the inlet portion, the trap dam extending away from the axis of rotation to trap a portion of a low density substance along an inner portion of the vessel.
8 more elements
A centrifugal separation apparatus comprising:
- a centrifuge rotor configured to be rotated by a motor about an axis of rotation;
- a retainer on the centrifuge rotor;
- a separation vessel in the retainer, the vessel including
- an inlet portion including an inlet port for supplying to the vessel a fluid to be separated into components,
- an outlet portion including
- a barrier for substantially blocking passage of at least one of the separated components of the fluid,
- at least one collection port between the barrier and the inlet portion of the vessel for removing at least the blocked component of the fluid from the vessel, and
- a first passage for a relatively low density component of the fluid and a second passage for a relatively high density component of the fluid, the barrier being between the first and second passages and the first passage being closer to the axis of rotation than the second passage, and
- a flow path extending between the inlet end portion and the outlet end portion;
- a fluid chamber holder on the centrifuge rotor;
- and
- a fluid chamber in the holder for separating components of the fluid initially separated in the vessel, the fluid chamber including a fluid chamber inlet fluidly coupled to collection port, a fluid chamber outlet, and a fluid chamber wall extending between and defining the fluid chamber inlet and the fluid chamber outlet, the fluid chamber wall having an inner surface defining an interior having a maximum cross-sectional area at a position between the fluid chamber inlet and the fluid chamber outlet, the interior converging from the position of the maximum cross-sectional area toward the fluid chamber inlet and converging from the position of the maximum cross-sectional area toward the fluid chamber outlet.
9 more elements
A method of separating at least first and second particles, the first particles being less dense than the second particles, comprising
- introducing into a vessel liquid carrying at least the first and second particles, the vessel including an outlet portion having a barrier and a collection port in fluid communication with a fluid chamber;
- rotating the vessel and the fluid chamber about an axis of rotation so that the first and second particles form respective stratified layers in the vessel;
- blocking passage of at least the first particles in the vessel with the barrier while allowing at least some of the liquid and second particles to flow past the barrier;
- removing via the collection port the blocked first particles and at least some of the second particles and the liquid;
- passing the first particles, the second particles, and the liquid from the collection port to the fluid chamber;
- forming a saturated fluidized particle bed of the first particles in the fluid chamber;
- and
- filtering second particles with the saturated fluidized bed while allowing the liquid and at least some of first particles to flow out of the fluid chamber.
5 more elements
A method of separating components of a fluid, comprising
- introducing into a vessel a priming fluid, the vessel defining a flow passage having a trap dam and a barrier;
- rotating the vessel about an axis of rotation to trap a portion of the priming fluid upstream the trap dam;
- passing into the vessel a fluid to be separated;
- allowing the components of the fluid to separate in the vessel according to density differences;
- accumulating at least a relatively intermediate density component of the fluid upstream the barrier while allowing relatively higher and lower density components of the fluid to flow past the barrier;
- guiding, with the trapped priming fluid, flow of the intermediate density component toward the barrier;
- and
- removing the accumulated intermediate density component from the vessel.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.