US 6,790,371 B2 · System and method for automated separation of blood components

Abstract

A system for automated operation of a blood separation system controlling the input of blood samples, the separation of blood components, and the discharge of the components. The system includes a blood reservoir and centrifuge for receiving blood samples and separating the blood components. A sensor determines when adequate separation has been achieved and a controller receives signals from the sensor to operate a centrifuge drive assembly to achieve desired separation. An input pump pumps blood samples to the blood reservoir, and an outlet pump removes separated samples from the blood reservoir. The inlet and outlet pumps are operated by the controller, and the inlet pump may be operated to discharge separated components not collected by the blood separation system, whereby additional sample volume is added for ongoing operation. One or more selected components are collected from a system outlet port by controlled application of suction to the centrifuge inlet port and the outlet port in response to sensing of alignment of the selected component with the outlet port.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method for separating a liquid into fractions and for collecting one or more select fractions, comprising:

introducing said liquid into a reservoir of a centrifuge via an inlet port;
separating said liquid into fractions arranged radially from the center axis of said reservoir, the separating comprising rotating said reservoir of the centrifuge at a rotation rate;
determining if said select fraction is aligned with an outlet port of said reservoir using a sensor assembly and a controller;
if said select fraction is not aligned with said outlet port, aligning said select fraction with said outlet port of said reservoir, said aligning comprising withdrawing fractions having higher densities than said select fraction by applying suction to said inlet port while said reservoir is rotating and terminating said withdrawal of said higher density fractions when said select fraction is aligned with said outlet port;
and
while the reservoir is rotating and when the select fraction is determined to be within a predetermined collection range, collecting said select fraction adjacent said outlet port by applying suction to said outlet port.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for automated separation of blood components

Life of this patent

System and method for automated separation of blood components

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9