Abstract: A device and a method for mixing a fluid in a specimen bag is provided herein. In one embodiment, the device includes a mechanism for creating a first vortex and a second vortex. The first vortex is on a first side of a bag containing the fluid, and the second vortex is on a second side of the bag. The mechanism includes a first inflatable airbag and a second inflatable airbag. The first inflatable airbag is configured to create the first vortex when inflated and the second inflatable airbag is deflated. The second inflatable airbag is configured to create the second vortex when inflated and the first inflatable airbag is deflated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bioprocessing system comprising apparatus (200) including a centrifugal separation housing (210) having a temperature controllable compartment (215) for removably accepting a separation chamber (50), the apparatus further comprising at least one mixing station (250) for supporting one or more fluid storage vessels (10, 20, 30, 40), the station including a temperature controllable area (252) for increasing or decreasing the temperature of the contents of the or each supported vessel. The system further includes a disposable fluidic arrangement (100) including a centrifugal separation chamber (50) removably mountable within the compartment (215) and having one or more ports (52) allowing fluid ingress into, or egress out of the chamber, via the one or more ports in use, said ports being in fluid communication with one or more of said fluid storage vessels via fluid conduits (12, 22, 32, 42) and via one or more valve arrangement.

Abstract: Disclosed is a centrifugal separation chamber (100) rotatable about an axis (AR) and having a variable volume separation space (116) therewithin and a port (102) in fluid communication with the volume for filling and emptying the volume, the chamber including a relatively rigid portion (104) proximal to the port which has walls defining a part of the volume and arranged to provide reducing dimensions of the volume toward the port, the chamber further including a flexible portion (106) distal to the port for providing said variable volume, the flexible portion including a mechanical interface (110) for transmitting movement to the flexible portion to cause said variable volume.

Abstract: The invention discloses a sterile syringe (100) comprising a barrel (1) having internal surfaces (2), a plunger (3) movable within the barrel, a non-sliding seal (7) between the barrel and the plunger defining a sealed volume (8) and at least one filter (9) allowing only filtered gases to enter the sealed volume such that the syringe maintains its sterility even after several uses. The filters could be positioned on different locations on the syringe like on the non-sliding seal, the barrel, the barrel flange or the plunger handle.

Abstract: A device and a method for mixing a fluid in a specimen bag is provided herein. In one embodiment, the device includes a mechanism for creating a first vortex and a second vortex. The first vortex is on a first side of a bag containing the fluid, and the second vortex is on a second side of the bag. The mechanism includes a first inflatable airbag and a second inflatable airbag. The first inflatable airbag is configured to create the first vortex when inflated and the second inflatable airbag is deflated. The second inflatable airbag is configured to create the second vortex when inflated and the first inflatable airbag is deflated.

Abstract: A system for the processing and separation of biological fluids into components comprises an apparatus that cooperates with a disposable set, comprising a cabinet (100) for housing a hollow centrifugal processing chamber (20) of the disposable set. The cabinet comprises a plurality of side-by-side locations (110) for receiving a corresponding plurality of centrifugal processing chambers (20) in side-by-side spaced-apart relation. Each location comprises an individual drive means (52) for driving its centrifugal processing chamber. Remotely-actuable valves (124) associated with the disposable sets are located on the apparatus' cabinet in the proximity of said locations. Valve actuation provides a display of the state of actuation of the valves (124).

Abstract: A process for the sequential processing of opaque and transparent biological fluids such as whole blood, apheresis blood, bone marrow blood, umbilical cord blood, buffy coat or cultured cells by processing steps in a hollow cylindrical centrifugal processing chamber (300) which is part of a disposable set. At least three different procedures selected from washing, incubation, transduction, separation, density gradient separation, dilution and volume adjustment are each carried out once or repeated a number of times according to a given processing profile in the processing chamber. Each procedure involves an input into the processing chamber, an operation in the processing chamber and an output from the processing chamber by displacement of a piston (310). The at least three different procedures are sequentially chained one after the other to constitute an overall sequential operation in the processing chamber and its disposable set.

Abstract: A device for the processing and separation of biological fluids into components comprises a hollow centrifugal processing chamber (10) fitted with an inlet/outlet head (20) and preferably with an axially movable piston (18). The inlet/outlet head has two separate inlets/outlets, for instance an axial inlet (29) and a lateral outlet (40). The processing chamber (1) is fitted with an internal flow guide (30) enabling operation of the device in a continuous processing mode wherein biological fluid to be processed is continuously intaken by say the axial inlet (29) and at the same time processed components are continuously removed via say the lateral outlet (40). The continuous processing flow can be driven by an external peristaltic pump (59) and/or by axial displacement of a piston (18) in the chamber (10).

Abstract: A device for the processing and separation of biological fluids into components comprises a hollow centrifugal processing chamber (10) fitted with an inlet/outlet head (20) and preferably with an axially movable piston (18). The inlet/outlet head has two separate inlets/outlets, for instance an axial inlet (29) and a lateral outlet (40). The processing chamber (1) is fitted with an internal flow guide (30) enabling operation of the device in a continuous processing mode wherein biological fluid to be processed is continuously intaken by say the axial inlet (29) and at the same time processed components are continuously removed via say the lateral outlet (40). The continuous processing flow can be driven by an external peristaltic pump (59) and/or by axial displacement of a piston (18) in the chamber (10).

Abstract: A device for the processing and separation of biological fluids into components comprises a hollow centrifugal processing chamber (10) fitted with an inlet/outlet head (20) and preferably with an axially movable piston (18). The inlet/outlet head has two separate inlets/outlets, for instance an axial inlet (29) and a lateral outlet (40). The processing chamber (1) is fitted with an internal flow guide (30) enabling operation of the device in a continuous processing mode wherein biological fluid to be processed is continuously intaken by say the axial inlet (29) and at the same time processed components are continuously removed via say the lateral outlet (40). The continuous processing flow can be driven by an external peristaltic pump (59) and/or by axial displacement of a piston (18) in the chamber (10).

Abstract: A system for the processing and separation of biological fluids into components comprises an apparatus that cooperates with a disposable set, comprising a cabinet (100) for housing a hollow centrifugal processing chamber (20) of the disposable set. The cabinet comprises a plurality of side-by-side locations (110) for receiving a corresponding plurality of centrifugal processing chambers (20) in side-by-side spaced-apart relation. Each location comprises an individual drive means (52) for driving its centrifugal processing chamber. Remotely-actuable valves (124) associated with the disposable sets are located on the apparatus' cabinet in the proximity of said locations. Valve actuation provides a display of the state of actuation of the valves (124).

Abstract: A device for the processing and separation of biological fluids into components comprises a hollow centrifugal processing chamber (10) fitted with an inlet/outlet head (20) and preferably with an axially movable piston (18). The inlet/outlet head has two separate inlets/outlets, for instance an axial inlet (29) and a lateral outlet (40). The processing chamber (1) is fitted with an internal flow guide (30) enabling operation of the device in a continuous processing mode wherein biological fluid to be processed is continuously intaken by say the axial inlet (29) and at the same time processed components are continuously removed via say the lateral outlet (40). The continuous processing flow can be driven by an external peristaltic pump (59) and/or by axial displacement of a piston (18) in the chamber (10).

Abstract: A process for the sequential processing of opaque and transparent biological fluids such as whole blood, apheresis blood, bone marrow blood, umbilical cord blood, buffy coat or cultured cells by processing steps in a hollow cylindrical centrifugal processing chamber (300) which is part of a disposable set. At least three different procedures selected from washing, incubation, transduction, separation, density gradient separation, dilution and volume adjustment are each carried out once or repeated a number of times according to a given processing profile in the processing chamber. Each procedure involves an input into the processing chamber, an operation in the processing chamber and an output from the processing chamber by displacement of a piston (310). The at least three different procedures are sequentially chained one after the other to constitute an overall sequential operation in the processing chamber and its disposable set.

Abstract: A device for mixing biological specimens contained in flexible storage bags (104) at controlled temperature, comprising a support (105) for supporting a storage bag containing a biological specimen to be mixed; means for imparting a displacement to a specimen in a storage bag on the support to mix the specimen; and temperature control means for maintaining the specimens at a controlled temperature during mixing. The means for imparting displacement to a specimen comprises at least one inflatable/deflatable bag (102, 103) (air bag) that when inflated contacts the surface of a part of a storage bag to progressively squeeze the storage bag and displace the contained specimen into another part of the storage bag.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bag (20) for the cryopreservation of thermolabile liquids. The manufacturing method is characterized by being versatile, simple and inexpensive and allows to manufacture single and multi-compartment bags without modifying the main sealing molds (31, 32). The relative size and the number of the compartments (28) can be modified without change in the molds. Only a closure sealing tool (50) must be adjusted as a function of the number of chosen compartments (28). The process is compatible with standard high frequency sealing processes. This method provides bags (20) with uniformly thick walls and with a predetermined bag volume.

Abstract: A system for separating biological fluids into components, comprises a set of containers for the biological fluid to be separated and the separated components, optionally an additional container for additive solution, and a hollow centrifugal processing chamber having an axial inlet/outlet for the biological fluid. The processing chamber contains a piston movable to intake a selected quantity of biological fluid and express processed biological fluid components via the outlet. Optical means monitor the position of piston to control the amount of intaken fluid and the expression of components. A distribution valve arrangement selectively communicates the processing chamber and the containers or places them out of communication. The system is arranged to operate in a seperation mode and in a non-separation transfer mode, especially for adding preservative solution to separated blood stem cells.