Plasma concentrate apparatus and method

A process for producing plasma concentrate from plasma from which erythrocytes have been substantially removed, comprising the steps of

• a) moving the plasma into a concentrating chamber containing hydrogel beads and an agitator to form a hydrogel bead-plasma mixture;
• b) causing the agitator to stir the hydrogel bead-plasma mixture, facilitating absorption of water by the beads from the plasma, until a hydrogel bead-plasma concentrate is formed;
• and
• c) separating the plasma concentrate from the hydrogel beads by passing the plasma concentrate through a filter.

A process for producing plasma concentrate with a plasma concentrator using a syringe device, the syringe device including a syringe barrel with a proximal concentrating zone and a distal concentrate zone with an inlet/outlet port;

• a filter separating a plunger zone from the concentrate zone;
• a plunger positioned for axial movement in the proximal portion of the concentrating zone;
• hydrogel beads and at least one agitator positioned in the concentrating zone between the plunger and the filter, the process comprising
• a) moving plasma from which erythrocytes have been substantially removed through the inlet/outlet port and the filter, by axial movement of the plunger in the proximal direction away from the filter;
• b) moving the syringe in alternative distal and proximal directions along the central axis to stir the hydrogel bead-plasma mixture, facilitating absorption of water by the beads from the plasma, until a hydrogel bead-plasma concentrate is formed;
• and
• c) separating plasma concentrate from hydrogel beads by moving the plasma concentrate through the filter and into the concentrate chamber.

A process for producing plasma concentrate from whole blood comprising the steps of

• a) removing erythrocytes from whole blood to form a plasma which is substantially free from erythrocytes;
• b) moving the plasma into a concentrating chamber containing hydrogel beads and an agitator to form a hydrogel bead-plasma mixture;
• c) causing the agitator to stir the hydrogel bead-plasma mixture, facilitating absorption of water by the beads from the plasma, until a hydrogel bead-plasma concentrate is formed;
• and
• d) separating the plasma concentrate from the hydrogel beads by passing the plasma concentrate through the filter.

A process for producing plasma concentrate from whole blood using a syringe device, the syringe device including a syringe barrel with a proximal concentrating zone and a distal concentrate zone with an inlet/outlet port;

• a filter separating a plunger zone from the concentrate zone;
• a plunger positioned for axial movement in the proximal portion of the concentrating zone;
• hydrogel beads and at least one agitator positioned in the concentrating zone between the plunger and the filter, the process comprising
• a) removing erythrocytes from whole blood to form a plasma which is substantially free from erythrocytes;
• b) drawing plasma from which erythrocytes have been substantially removed through the inlet/outlet port and the filter, by axial movement of the plunger in the proximal direction away from the filter;
• c) moving the syringe in alternative distal and proximal directions along the central axis to stir the hydrogel bead-plasma mixture, facilitating absorption of water by the beads from the plasma, until a hydrogel bead-plasma concentrate is formed;
• d) separating plasma concentrate from hydrogel beads by moving the plasma concentrate through the filter and into the concentrate chamber.