Centrifuge apparatus for processing blood

A method of processing blood comprising:

• providing a centrifuge apparatus, the centrifuge apparatus comprising
• a bottom spring-loaded support plate;
• a top support plate;
• an axial inlet/outlet for blood to be processed and processed components of the blood, the axial inlet/outlet being attached to the top support plate by a rotating seal assembly;
• a variable volume separation chamber mounted between the bottom support plate and the top support plate, the variable volume separation chamber being fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet;
• a pump fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet;
• and
• a rotary drive unit attached to the bottom support plate,
• wherein the top support plate is fixed vertically and the bottom spring-loaded support plate is mounted on springs that maintain pressure on the variable volume separation chamber and allow the bottom support plate to move vertically,
• wherein the axial inlet/outlet is connected to a container for blood and to a plurality of containers for receiving separated components of the blood, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a multi-position valve for controlling intake of blood from the container for blood and outlet of processed blood components from the axial inlet/outlet to the plurality of containers for blood,
• wherein the multi-position valve has a first position in which only two separate fluid conduits are provided within the valve and a second position in which only one fluid conduit is provided within the valve, and
• wherein the variable volume separation chamber is a disk-shaped bag;
• introducing a quantity of blood into the variable volume separation chamber;
• centrifuging the blood;
• and
• removing the separated components of the blood through the axial inlet/outlet.

A centrifuge apparatus for processing blood comprising

• a bottom support plate;
• a top support plate;
• an axial inlet/outlet for blood to be processed and processed components of the blood, the axial inlet/outlet being attached to the top support plate by a rotating seal assembly;
• a variable volume separation chamber mounted between the bottom support plate and the top support plate, the variable volume separation chamber being fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet;
• a pump fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet;
• and
• a rotary drive unit attached to the bottom support plate,
• wherein the top support plate is fixed vertically and the bottom support plate is mounted on a mechanical actuator that maintains pressure on the variable volume separation chamber and allows the bottom support plate to move vertically,
• wherein the axial inlet/outlet is connected to a container for blood and to a plurality of containers for receiving separated components of the blood, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a multi-position valve for controlling intake of blood from the container for blood and outlet of processed blood components from the axial inlet/outlet to the plurality of containers for blood,
• wherein the multi-position valve has a first position in which only two separate fluid conduits are provided within the valve and a second position in which only one fluid conduit is provided within the valve, and
• wherein the variable volume separation chamber is a disk-shaped bag.