Junction for shears sensitive biological fluid paths

A centrifugal pump for biological shear sensitive fluids, comprising, in combination:

• (a) a housing having an inlet and a cylindrical portion defining a first fluid path of constant radius;
• (b) an outlet connected to the housing and defining a second fluid path that tangentially connects to the first fluid path and has a changing cross-sectional profile as the second fluid path proceeds away from the housing;
• (c) a substantially straight cutwater at a junction of the first and second fluid paths, in which the cutwater is slanted slightly from vertical, and
• (d) within the housing, a rotating impeller designed to propel the fluid from the first fluid path toward the cutwater such that fluid flows either into the second fluid path or remains in the first fluid path.

A centrifugal pump for biological shear sensitive fluids, comprising, in combination:

• a. a housing having an inlet and a cylindrical portion defining a first fluid path of constant radius;
• b. an outlet connected to the housing and defining a second fluid path that tangentially connects to the first fluid path and has a changing cross-sectional profile as the second fluid path proceeds away from the housing;
• c. a substantially vertical cutwater as a junction of the first and second fluid paths, in which the cutwater has at least one minor curve extension;
• and
• d. within the housing, a rotating impeller designed to propel the fluid from the first fluid path toward the cutwater such that fluid flows either into the second fluid path or remains in the first fluid path.

A centrifugal pump for biological shear sensitive fluids, comprising, in combination:

• a. a housing having an inlet and a cylindrical portion defining a first fluid path of constant radius;
• b. an outlet connected to the housing and defining a second fluid path that tangentially connects to the first fluid path and has a changing cross-sectional profile as the second fluid path proceeds away from the housing;
• c. a substantially straight cutwater at a junction of the first and second fluid paths, in which the cutwater has at least one minor curve extension;
• and
• d. within the housing, a rotating impeller designed to propel the fluid from the first fluid path toward the cutwater such that fluid flows either into the second fluid path or remains in the first fluid path.

A centrifugal pump for biological shear sensitive fluids, comprising, in combination:

• a. a housing having an inlet and a cylindrical portion defining a first fluid path of constant radius;
• b. an outlet connected to the housing and defining a second fluid path that tangentially connects to the first fluid path and has a changing cross-sectional profile as the second fluid path proceeds away from the housing;
• c. a substantially vertical cutwater at a junction of the first and second fluid paths, in which the cutwater has a concaved surface;
• and
• d. within the housing, a rotating impeller designed to propel the fluid from the first fluid path toward the cutwater such that fluid flows either into the second fluid path or remains in the first fluid path.

A centrifugal pump for biological shear sensitive fluids, comprising, in combination:

• a. a housing having an inlet and a cylindrical portion defining a first fluid path of constant radius;
• b. an outlet connected to the housing and defining a second fluid path that tangentially connects to the first fluid path and has a changing cross-sectional profile as the second fluid path proceeds away from the housing;
• c. a substantially straight cutwater at a junction of the first and second fluid paths, in which the cutwater has a concave surface;
• and
• d. within the housing, a rotating impeller designed to propel the fluid from the first fluid path toward the cutwater such that fluid flows either into the second fluid path or remains in the first fluid path.

A centrifugal pump for biological shear sensitive fluids, comprising, in combination:

• (a) a housing having an inlet and a cylindrical portion defining a first fluid path of constant radius;
• (b) an outlet connected to the housing and defining a second fluid path that tangentially connects to the first fluid path and has a changing cross-sectional profile as the second fluid path proceeds away from the housing;
• (c) a substantially vertical cutwater at a junction of the first and second fluid paths, in which the cutwater has more than one linear segment;
• and
• (d) within the housing, a rotating impeller designed to propel the fluid from the first fluid path toward the cutwater such that fluid flows either into the second fluid path or remains in the first fluid path.

A centrifugal pump for biological shear sensitive fluids, comprising, in combination:

• (a) a housing having an inlet and a cylindrical portion defining a first fluid path of constant radius;
• (b) an outlet connected to the housing and defining a second fluid path that tangentially connects to the first fluid path and has a changing cross-sectional profile as the second fluid path proceeds away from the housing;
• (c) a substantially straight cutwater at a junction of the first and second fluid paths, in which the cutwater has more than one linear segment;
• and
• (d) within the housing, a rotating impeller designed to propel the fluid from the first fluid path toward the cutwater such that fluid flows either into the second fluid path or remains in the first fluid path.