Methods and apparatus for blood component separation

An apparatus for separating a volume of a composite fluid into at least a first and a second fluid components, the volume of composite fluid being contained in a flexible separation bag connected to at least a first and a second fluid component bags, the apparatus comprising:

• centrifuging means for spinning the separation container;
• first flow controlling means for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid component through a first tube connecting the separation bag to the first fluid component bag;
• second flow controlling means for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid component through a second tube connecting the separation bag to the second fluid component bag;
• sensing means for detecting a characteristic of a fluid component around a connection of a fluid component bag to the separation bag;
• squeezing means for squeezing the separation bag and causing the transfer of the at least first and second fluid components into the at least first and second fluid component bags;
• memorizing means for storing at least one separation protocol and at least one centrifugation speed;
• and
• control means programmed
• for receiving from the memorizing means information about a separation protocol to be performed and the at least one centrifugation speed;
• for causing the centrifuging means to spin at the at least one centrifugation speed;
• for receiving from the sensing means information on a characteristic of a fluid component;
• for causing, upon separation of the at least first and second fluid components in the separation bag, the first flow controlling means to open the first tube, the second flow controlling means to close the second tube, and the squeezing means to press the separation bag so as to substantially transfer the first fluid component into the first fluid component bag;
• for causing, upon detection by the sensing means of a characteristic of the second component fluid on a pathway of the first fluid component to the first tube, the squeezing means to stop pressing the separation bag and the first flow controlling means to close the first tube;
• and
• for subsequently causing the second flow controlling means to open the second tube and the squeezing means to press the separation bag so as to substantially transfer the second fluid component into the second fluid component bag.

An apparatus for separating a volume of a composite fluid into at least a first and a second fluid component, the volume of composite fluid being contained in a flexible separation bag connected to at least a first and a second fluid component bag, the apparatus comprising:

• a centrifuge having a rotor comprising
• a turntable for supporting the separation container and
• a central compartment for containing at least the first and second fluid component bags;
• a first valve member mounted on the rotor for interacting with a first tube connecting the separation bag to the first fluid component bag and selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid component therethrough;
• a second valve member mounted on the rotor for interacting with a second tube connecting the separation bag to the second fluid component bag and selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid component therethrough;
• a least one sensor for detecting a characteristic of a fluid component around a connection of a fluid component bag to the separation bag;
• a squeezing member for squeezing the separation bag and causing the transfer of the at least first and second fluid components into the at least first and second fluid component bags;
• a memory for storing at least one separation protocol and at least one centrifugation speed;
• and
• a control unit programmed
• for receiving from the memory information about a separation protocol to be performed and the at least one centrifugation speed,
• for causing the rotor to rotate at the at least one centrifugation speed,
• for receiving from the at least one sensor information on a characteristic of a fluid component,
• for causing, upon separation of the at least first and second fluid components in the separation bag, the first valve member to open the first tube, the second valve member to close the second tube and the squeezing member to press the separation bag so as to substantially transfer the first fluid component into the first fluid component bag,
• for causing, upon detection by the at least one sensor of a characteristic of the second fluid component on a pathway of the first fluid component to the first tube, the squeezing member to stop pressing the separation bag and the first valve member to close the first tube;
• and
• for subsequently causing the second valve member to open the second tube and the squeezing member to press the separation bag so as to substantially transfer the second fluid component into the second fluid component bag.

An apparatus for separating a volume of a composite fluid into a first, a second, and a third fluid components, the volume of composite fluid being contained in a flexible separation bag connected to a first, second and third fluid component bags, the third fluid component having a density comprised between a density of the first fluid component and a density of the second fluid component, the apparatus comprising:

• centrifuging means for spinning the separation container;
• first flow controlling means for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid component through a first tube connecting the separation bag to the first fluid component bag;
• second flow controlling means for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid component through a second tube connecting the separation bag to the second fluid component bag;
• third flow controlling means for selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid component through a third tube connecting the separation bag to the third fluid component bag;
• sensing means for detecting a characteristic of a fluid component around a connection of a fluid component bag to the separation bag;
• squeezing means for squeezing the separation bag and causing the transfer of the first, second and third fluid components into the first, second and third fluid component bags;
• memorizing means for storing at least one separation protocol and at least one centrifugation speed;
• and
• control means programmed
• for receiving from the memory means information about a separation protocol to be performed and the at least one centrifugation speed;
• for causing the separation bag to spin at the at least one centrifugation speed;
• for receiving from the sensing means information on a characteristic of a fluid component;
• for causing, upon separation of the three fluid components in the separation bag, the first flow controlling means to open the first tube, the second flow controlling means to close the second tube, the third flow controlling means to close the third tube, and the squeezing means to press the separation bag so as to substantially transfer the first fluid component into the first fluid component bag;
• for causing, upon detection by the sensing means of a characteristic of the second component fluid on a pathway of the first fluid component to the first tube, the squeezing means to stop pressing the separation bag and the first flow controlling means to close the first tube;
• for causing, when the first tube is closed, the third flow controlling means to open the third tube and the squeezing member to press the separation bag so as to substantially transfer the third fluid component into the third fluid component bag;
• for causing, upon detection by the second sensing means of a characteristic of the second component fluid on a pathway of the third fluid component to the third tube, the squeezing member to stop pressing the separation bag and the third flow controlling means to close the third tube;
• and
• for subsequently causing the second flow controlling means to open the second tube and the squeezing member to press the separation bag so as to substantially transfer the second fluid component into the second fluid component bag.

An apparatus for separating a volume of a composite fluid into a first, a second, and a third fluid component, the volume of composite fluid being contained in a flexible separation bag connected to a first and third fluid component bags, the third fluid component having a density comprised between a density of the first fluid component and a density of the second fluid component, the apparatus comprising:

• a centrifuge having
• a rotor comprising
• a turntable for supporting the separation container and
• a central compartment for containing at least the first and third fluid component bags;
• a first fluid component valve member mounted on the rotor for interacting with a first tube connecting the separation bag to the first fluid component bag and selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid component therethrough;
• a third fluid component valve member mounted on the rotor for interacting with a third tube connecting the separation bag to the third fluid component bag and selectively allowing or blocking a flow of fluid component therethrough;
• at least one sensor for detecting a characteristic of a fluid component around a connection of a fluid component bag to the separation bag;
• a squeezing member for squeezing the separation bag and causing the transfer of the first and third fluid components into the first and third fluid component bags;
• a memory for storing at least one separation protocol and at least one centrifugation speed;
• and
• a control unit programmed
• for receiving from the memory information about a separation protocol to be performed and the at least one centrifugation speed;
• for causing the rotor to rotate at the at least one centrifugation speed;
• for receiving from the at least one sensor information on a characteristic of a fluid component;
• for causing, upon separation of the three fluid components in the separation bag, the first fluid component valve member to open the first tube, the third fluid component valve member to close the third tube, and the squeezing member to press the separation bag so as to substantially transfer the first fluid component into the first fluid component bag;
• for causing, upon detection by the at least one sensor of a characteristic of the third component fluid on a pathway of the first fluid component to the first tube, the squeezing member to stop pressing the separation bag and the first fluid component valve member to close the first tube;
• for subsequently causing the third component valve member to open the third tube and the squeezing member to press the separation bag so as to transfer the third fluid component into the third fluid component bag until the at least one sensor detects a characteristic of the second fluid component on a pathway of the third fluid component to the third tube, whereby the second fluid component remains in the separation bag.