System and method for separating blood components

A method of processing blood, the method comprising:

• providing a disposable set having an access means for withdrawing blood, an RBC container for containing one unit of red blood cells, a plasma container for containing one unit of plasma, a centrifuge rotor having a variable total volume, a filter and tubing connecting the access means, the RBC container, the plasma container, the rotor and the filter;
• providing a control unit having a spinner means for loading and spinning the rotor;
• placing the rotor in the spinner means;
• connecting the access means to a donor;
• drawing one unit of whole blood through the access means, while the rotor is in the spinner means;
• directing the whole blood from the access means through the tubing to the rotor;
• disconnecting the donor from the access means after one unit of whole blood has been collected;
• causing the spinner means to rotate the rotor so as to separate the whole blood into a first component and a second component, wherein the first component is primarily plasma, and wherein the second component is primarily red blood cells and includes white blood cells;
• urging the first and second components out of the rotor, wherein at least one of the first and second components is urged out of the rotor while the rotor is still spinning;
• directing the first component from the rotor to the plasma container;
• directing the second component directly from the rotor to and through the filter so that white blood cells are caught in the filter and red blood cells pass through the filter;
• and
• directing the red blood cells from the filter to the RBC container.

A method of processing blood, the method comprising:

• providing a disposable set having an access means for withdrawing blood, an RBC container, a plasma container, a centrifuge rotor having a variable total volume, a filter and tubing connecting the access means, the RBC container, the plasma container, the rotor and the filter;
• providing a control unit having a spinner means for loading and spinning the rotor;
• placing the rotor in the spinner means;
• connecting the access means to a donor;
• drawing whole blood through the access means;
• directing the whole blood from the access means through the tubing to the rotor;
• causing the spinner means to rotate the rotor so as to separate the whole blood into a first component and a second component, wherein the first component is primarily plasma, and wherein the second component is primarily red blood cells and includes white blood cells;
• urging the first and second components out of the rotor, wherein at least one of the first and second components is urged out of the rotor while the rotor is still spinning;
• directing the first component from the rotor to the plasma container;
• directing the second component directly from the rotor to and through the filter so that white blood cells are caught in the filter and red blood cells pass through the filter;
• and
• directing the red blood cells from the filter to the RBC container.

A system for processing blood, the system comprising:

• a disposable set having
• a container;
• a centrifuge rotor having a variable total volume;
• a filter that filters white blood cells from red blood cells passing through the filter, the filter being located in a fluid path between the centrifuge rotor's fixed portion and the container;
• and
• an access means for withdrawing blood, in fluid communication with the centrifuge rotor, for permitting the introduction of blood into the rotor;
• a control unit having
• a spinner means for loading and spinning the rotor so as to separate blood into blood components;
• and
• a flow-control arrangement which urges a blood component from the rotor while the rotor is being spun.

A disposable set for processing blood, the disposable set comprising:

• a container;
• a centrifuge rotor having a variable total volume and having a fixed portion, a rotatable portion and a rotary seal providing a seal between the fixed and rotatable portions;
• a filter that filters white blood cells from red blood cells passing through the filter;
• tubing that connects the container, the rotor's fixed portion and the filter, wherein the filter is located in the tubing between the container and the centrifuge rotor;
• and
• an access means for withdrawing blood, in fluid communication with the tubing, for permitting the introduction of blood into the tubing;
• wherein the rotary seal includes:
• a base;
• first and second rigid seal members, which surround the axis of rotation and which spin in relation to each other, the first rigid seal member and the base defining an annular passage between them, the first rigid seal member having a step portion which extends radially across the annular passage;
• a spring member surrounding the rotary seal's axis of rotation and connected to the base and to the first rigid seal member so that the spring member applies a force pressing the first rigid seal member against the second rigid seal member;
• and
• a flexible seal member surrounding the axis of rotation and preventing fluid flow between the first rigid seal member and the base, the flexible seal member extending across the annular passage such that pressure from the annular passage exerts forces on the flexible seal member and the step portion which cancel each other, so that the force with which the spring member presses the first rigid seal member against the second rigid seal member is not substantially affected by pressure within the annular passage.

A disposable set for processing blood, the disposable set comprising:

• container;
• a centrifuge rotor having a fixed portion, a rotatable portion and a rotary seal providing a seal between the fixed and rotatable portions, wherein the centrifuge rotor has a variable total volume;
• a filter that filters white blood cells from red blood cells passing through the filter;
• tubing that connects the container, the rotor's fixed portion and the filter;
• and
• an access means for withdrawing blood, in fluid communication with the tubing, for permitting the introduction of blood into the tubing;
• wherein the rotary seal includes:
• a base;
• first and second rigid seal members, which surround the axis of rotation and which spin in relation to each other, the first rigid seal member and the base defining an annular passage between them, the first rigid seal member having a step portion which extends radially across the annular passage;
• a spring member surrounding the rotary seal's axis of rotation and connected to the base and to the first rigid seal member so that the spring member applies a force pressing the first rigid seal member against the second rigid seal member;
• and
• a flexible seal member surrounding the axis of rotation and preventing fluid flow between the first rigid seal member and the base, the flexible seal member extending across the annular passage such that pressure from the annular passage exerts forces on the flexible seal member and the step portion which cancel each other, so that the force with which the spring member presses the first rigid seal member against the second rigid seal member is not substantially affected by pressure within the annular passage.

A system for processing blood, the system comprising:

• a disposable set having
• a container;
• a centrifuge rotor having a variable total volume and including an elastic diaphragm that defines the volume of the rotor;
• a filter that filters white blood cells from red blood cells passing through the filter, the filter being located in a fluid path between a fixed portion of the centrifuge rotor and the container;
• and
• an access means for withdrawing blood, in fluid communication with the centrifuge rotor, for permitting the introduction of blood into the rotor;
• and
• a control unit having
• a spinner means for loading and spinning the rotor so as to separate blood into blood components;
• and
• a flow-control arrangement which urges a blood component from the rotor while the rotor is being spun.