System for controlling deglycerolization of red blood cells

A system for controlling the deglycerolization of red blood cells, comprising:

• a cell sorter having multiple fluid channels each having a unique cross-sectional area for directing a fluid mixture consisting essentially of a saline solution and a plasma solution having glycerized red blood cell products through one or more of said fluid channels based on the sizes of said red blood cell products;
• an optical energy source for illuminating said fluid mixture in said cell sorter;
• an optical detector for generating a data signal in response to receiving light signals that propagate through said fluid mixture;
• a processor for generating a control signal in response to receiving said data signal;
• and
• a servo-controlled device for controlling the deglycerolization of said red blood cell products by controlling a ratio of said saline and plasma solutions in said fluid mixture under the supervision of said control signal so that said red blood cell products substantially flow only through one or more of said fluid channels having particular cross-sectional areas.