Abstract: A disposable apparatus for cell expansion, having at least one bioreactor. The bioreactor has a cellular growth area and a supply area, the cellular growth area being separated from said supply area by a membrane. A fluid recirculation path in fluid communication with the cellular growth area allows for hermetically removing a sample containing cellular matter. This may comprise an elongated tube, or a plurality of parallel tube segments. The parallel tube segments have inflow ends and outflow ends, and the inflow ends are joined at a first common juncture and the outflow ends are joined at a second common juncture. The common junctures may comprise valves.

Abstract: A method used in connection with processing of blood components, wherein blood products are then filtered via a filter rotating along with a centrifuge rotor and the sensed pressure may be used in connection with controlling the pumping of the blood products and/or in connection with determining the location of an interface associated with the blood products.

Abstract: A premounted fluid conveyance assembly for use with a cell expansion machine comprises a tubing-organizer and a fluid conveyance system. The fluid conveyance system is at least partially attached to the tubing-organizer, and the fluid conveyance system comprises an oxygenator or gas transfer module, a length of tubing and a bioreactor all fluidly interconnected. The premounted fluid conveyance assembly is adapted to be detachably-attached to the cell expansion machine. Accordingly, after a premounted fluid conveyance assembly is used, it is removed from the cell expansion machine by disengaging it from the cell expansion machine. Thereafter, another premounted fluid conveyance assembly can be attached in place of the previously used premounted fluid conveyance assembly.

Abstract: Methods, devices and device components are presented for blood processing. Particularly, methods, devices and device components are presented for separating blood into blood components and collecting one or more separated blood components, which reduce the incidence of blood vessel infiltration and enhance donor comfort. In one aspect, the invention provides blood processing methods having a return flow rate which decreases systematically during a return time. In another aspect, the invention provides blood processing methods having a removal flow rate, return flow rate or both which are derived from a subject's total blood volume. In another aspect, the present invention provides blood processing methods wherein the fraction by volume of removed blood corresponding to collected components is selected to optimize blood processing efficiency and enhance the purities of collected blood components.

Abstract: A method for separating a volume of whole blood contained in a separation bag into at least three components comprising centrifuging the separation bag so as to separate therein a first inner layer comprising plasma, a second intermediate layer comprising platelets, a third intermediate layer comprising lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes and a fourth outer layer comprising red blood cells, transferring, into a plasma component bag connected to the separation bag, a plasma component and transferring into a mononuclear cell component bag a mononuclear cell components.

Abstract: A density centrifuge blood processing system comprising a separation chamber rotating about a central rotation axis, the separation chamber being coupled to an elutriation chamber, a first detector for the separation chamber to detect light from an observation region, a computational apparatus distinguishing at least two regions in the observation region and distinguishing incipient spill over of cellular components out of the elutriation chamber as a function of light intensity received from the at least two regions in the separation chamber, and a controller regulating speed of at least one pump or of the separation chamber in response to signals from the computational apparatus to avoid spill over.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of reducing residual white blood cells in an apheresed platelet product. The method includes the steps of adding to the platelet product a solution comprising sodium chloride and magnesium and inducing degradation of the residual white blood cells.

Abstract: A non-reopenable, single-use clamp for receiving and pinching collapsible resilient tubing thus forming a mechanical tubing seal and having an open position for insertion of tubing, a neutral position for holding the tubing and a closed position for non-reopenably closing the tubing with a locking mechanism with locking hooks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for red blood collection and filtration is provided wherein a red blood cell collection assembly provides for leukoreduction filtration concurrent with or soon after the red blood cell separation and collection procedure. Such procedures involve filtering the separated red blood cells in a diluted state after and/or prior to flushing the filter with storage solution. Storage solution may thus be passed through the leukoreduction filter before, with and/or after the RBCs have been filtered therethrough. The red blood cell collection, filtration and storage assembly is preferably preconnected to a blood component separation disposable assembly, including, for example, a centrifuge vessel and a blood removal/return assembly for removing blood from a donor, passing the blood to the centrifuge vessel for separation of the blood into components for collection and providing for filtration of the separated red blood cell component.

Abstract: A density centrifuge blood processing system with automatic two-dimensional optical control of fluid separation by observing fluid characteristics in observation regions. The location of the regions is determined by monitoring an optical reference. Points representing edges of an optical reference are measured and lines are computed through the points. An error measurement is calculated for each line. If the error is too large, the image is abandoned. One of the lines is selected as a referent line. A new line is calculated orthogonal to the referent line. The error function is again computed for the dependant line. If the error exceeds a selected maximum, the frame is discarded. A transformation function translates data points from an (r, s) domain derived from measurements of the edges into an (x, y) domain used to identify pixels in the observation areas.

Abstract: A disposable blood separation set of a centrifugal blood processing system comprising a blood processing chamber adapted to be mounted on a rotor of a centrifuge; a frustro-conical cell separation chamber in fluid communication with the processing chamber, the cell separation chamber having a protruding inlet therein. The protruding inlet may have a frustro-conical inner surface that slants radially outwardly from an inlet to a mouth of the protruding inlet. A circumferential well may surround the protruding inlet. The cell separation chamber may have a baffle within a separation area. The baffle may have a plurality of vanes with openings therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into at least a first component and a second component comprises a centrifuge, with a rotor having a rotation axis comprising at least two separation cells, each for containing a separation bag containing a volume of composite liquid; and first balancing elements for balancing the rotor when the respective weights of the at least two separation bags in the at least two separation cells are different.

Abstract: A centrifuge blood processing system for separating fluid components comprising a first light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes in optical communication with the centrifuge blood processing system for providing an incident light beam for illuminating an observation region on the centrifuge blood processing system, a light collection element in optical communication with the centrifuge blood processing system for collecting at least a portion of the light transmitted, scattered or both from the observation region, a programmable controller for providing an operational procedure for the monitoring system; and an independent dedicated control circuit in electrical communication with the programmable controller and electrically coupled to the light source, the control circuit receiving command parameters from the controller and controlling periods of illumination from the light source in response to the command parameters. Periods of illumination are controlled to prevent the failure of LEDs.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cell expansion system and to a method of determining when to harvest cells from the cell expansion system.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating plasma from blood in a membrane separator and further separator the separated plasma into desired plasma proteins in a plasma separator fluidly connected to the membrane separator to receive the separated plasma.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating plasma from blood in a separation vessel and further separator the separated plasma into desired plasma proteins in a plasma separator fluidly connected to the separation vessel to receive the separated plasma.

Abstract: Method and Apparatus for predicting the yield of a selected cellular component from a composite blood product by sensing the movement of the separated cellular component or another component during expression from a separation container to a collection container to produce a signal indicative of the movement, and predicting the yield of the separated cellular component from the signal.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods of monitoring and controlling the processing of blood and blood samples, particularly the separation of blood and blood samples into its components. In one aspect, the invention relates to optical methods for measuring two-dimensional distributions of transmitted light intensities, scattered light intensities or both from a separation chamber of a density centrifuge. The method may include performing first and second measurements of an operating condition; analyzing the first and second measurements using a predictive data analysis algorithm; comparing the predicted operating condition to a desired operating condition; and adjusting at least one setting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for red blood collection and filtration is provided wherein a red blood cell collection assembly provides for leukoreduction filtration concurrent with or soon after the red blood cell collection procedure. The procedure preferably involves filtering the separated red blood cells in a high hematocrit (high-crit) state prior to addition of storage solution thereto. Preferably, a storage solution is passed through the leukoreduction filter after the RBCs have been filtered therethrough. The red blood cell collection filtration and storage assembly is preferably preconnected to a blood component separation disposable assembly, including, for example, a centrifuge vessel and a blood removal/return assembly for removing blood from a donor, passing the blood to the centrifuge vessel for separation of the blood into components for collection and providing for filtration of the separated red blood cell component, as described.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods of monitoring and controlling the processing of blood and blood samples, particularly the separation of blood and blood samples into its components with a two-dimensional optical measurement and control device. The method may comprise the steps of providing a blood processing system comprising a density centrifuge blood processing system and an elutriation blood processing system; filling the elutriation blood processing system with a desired component; measuring a cellular flux of cells entering the elutriation blood processing system with a two-dimensional optical control system; and flushing the elutriation blood processing system.