Abstract: A fluid processing assembly is used in association with a cassette that conveys fluid and a holder to hold the cassette. A door is carried by the holder for movement between an opened position to expose the holder and a closed position enclosing the cassette in the holder. The door carries an expandable gasket. The expandable gasket normally rests, when the door is in the closed position, in a relaxed state out of sealing contact with the held cassette. An actuator applies pressure to the expandable gasket to achieve, when the door is in the closed position, an expanded state in sealing contact against the held cassette. The assembly also includes a latch assembly on the door and holder, which makes engagement when the door is in the closed position. The engagement is unlocked when the gasket rests in the relaxed state. The engagement becomes locked when the gasket achieves the expanded state.

Abstract: A confined air tube is intended to be placed into in-line communication with the transfer tubing of a blood processing system. The confined air tube provides an incremental volume of air, which keeps the transfer tubing from collapsing and sticking together during heat sterilization. After sterilization, the confined air tube accommodates conveyance of a blood component into an associated downstream transfer container. The confined air tube can also receive air vented from the transfer container, so that the blood component can undergo further processing or be stored in an air-depleted environment within the transfer container.

Abstract: Systems and related methods pump fluid through a pump. The pump comprises a pump chamber, which is responsive to applied pressures to convey fluid. The systems and methods place an electrode in the pump chamber which, in use, is coupled to a current source. The electrode generates an electrical field in the pump chamber that varies according volume of fluid in the pump chamber. The systems and methods register variations in the electrical field as fluid is conveyed through the pump chamber.

Abstract: A device has processing hardware to carry out a blood processing procedure. A processing control manager resides on the device to monitor status conditions over time during the blood processing procedure. A data interface also resides on the device. The data interface includes a flash memory data storage medium formatted to allocate discrete block file spaces to receive data. Chronologic data or time-specific data are created based upon sensed conditions by a data generator task, which also resides on the device. A file manager task appends chronologic data to an allocated file space to create a chronologic block file, which, when read, provides a time-ordered account of processing activities or hardware conditions. The file manager also operates to block-write time-specific data to another allocated file space, which, when read, creates a snap-shot of processing conditions at a given point in time. The data file structure created on the flash memory medium withstands corruption of data due to power failure.

Abstract: A centrifuge for continuously separating the various constituents of blood or other biological fluids includes a rotating bowl having high-G and low-G walls. An inwardly directed ramped surface on the high-G wall interacts with an interface region between the separated fluid constituents to provide an optically detectable indication of the position of the interface between the high-G and low-G walls. An optical sensor sensing each passage of the ramped surface past a point develops a changing signal indicative of the interface position. Signal processing circuitry responsive to the signal measures such signal parameters as peak amplitude, signal area and signal shape. By so monitoring these signal parameters, a better indication of actual interface position between the high-G and low-G walls can be obtained. This, in turn, results in better control over centrifuge operation and improved separation of the desired fluid components.

Abstract: Blood separation systems and methods draw whole blood from a blood donor selected from a population of blood donors. The whole blood of the selected blood donor has a known hematocrit value that varies within the population of blood donors according to morphology of the selected blood donor. The systems and methods operate a pump in the inlet line to convey a volume of whole blood from the donor at a commanded flow rate for processing into plasma constituent and concentrated red blood cells. The systems and methods set the commanded flow rate to vary the volume of whole blood conveyed over time as a function of the known hematocrit value of the selected donor. The systems and methods obtain, after processing the whole blood volume, a targeted volume of concentrated red blood cells, which is substantially constant for the population of blood donors despite variances in known hematocrit values among the donors.

Abstract: A chamber for use in a rotating field to separate blood components. An inlet port near one end of the chamber introduces blood into the chamber for flow circumferentially about the rotational axis toward the opposite end of the chamber for separation into at least one blood component. At least one outlet port is juxtaposed next to the inlet port near the one end of the chamber for conveying one separated blood component from the channel. The chamber directs the one separated blood component to a collection region near the opposite end of the chamber. An enclosed interior collection passage within the channel leads from the collection region and directs the one collected component to the outlet port for transport from the chamber.

Abstract: A flexible, three-dimensional container is made by a prescribed vacuum-molding and heat sealing process. The container possesses a precise, defined geometry before and during use. The container is formed from first and second walls. The first wall has a planar area and a vacuum-molded cavity area drawn out of the plane of the planar area into a predefined three-dimensional geometry. A second wall overlies the first wall to close the cavity area and thereby forms an interior compartment. A thermal seal joins the two walls together. The seal is formed by heating the second wall and the first wall in the planar area, while assuring that the cavity area of the first wall is not subject to heating and possible deformation of its precise vacuum-molded geometry.

Abstract: Blood processing systems and methods separate whole blood into red blood cells and a plasma constituent within a rotating centrifugal separation device. The systems and methods convey whole blood into the separation device through an inlet path including a pump operable at a prescribed rate. The systems and methods remove plasma constituent from the separation device through an outlet path including a pump operable at a prescribed rate. The systems and methods derive a value Hb representing an apparent hematocrit of whole blood entering the separation device, where: H b = H rbc ⁡ ( Q b - Q p ) Q b and where Hrbc is a value relating to hematocrit of red blood cells in the separation device.

Abstract: Systems and methods separate platelets from a selected donor. The systems and methods convey anticoagulated blood containing plasma and platelets from the selected donor into the separation device for separating into a plasma yield and a platelet yield. The systems and methods estimate, at least in part while separation occurs, a count of platelets (PltCirc) available for collection from the selected donor by measuring the selected donor's platelet precount (Pltpre), estimating a dilution factor caused by addition of anticoagulant (Dilution), and estimating a depletion factor (Depletion) caused by removal of available platelets during blood processing. In estimating Depletion, the systems and methods take into account a splenic mobilization function (Spleen), which is derived from a population of donors and not specific to the selected donor, where Spleen comprises a function of PltPRE.

Abstract: System and methods treat plasma carrying contaminants and cellular matter that are capable of entraining contaminants. The systems and methods separate cellular matter from the plasma by filtration, thereby removing contaminants entrained within the cellular matter. The system and methods add to the plasma a photoactive material. The systems and methods emit radiation at a selected wavelength into the plasma to activate the photoactive material and thereby eradicate the contaminant that is free of entrainment by cellular matter.

Abstract: A pump module includes a peristaltic pump having a pump rotor, a drive mechanism to rotate the rotor, and a tubing clamp adjacent to and separate from the peristaltic pump. A cover is movable between a closed position on the pump module, enclosing both the pump rotor and the tubing clamp, and an opened position spaced from the pump module, exposing both the pump rotor and the tubing clamp. The cover carries a tubing organizer, which holds tubing. The tubing organizer serves, as the cover moves toward the closed position, to orient the tubing in a desired way with the pump rotor and tubing clamp. The tubing organizer also serves, as the cover moves toward the opened position, to orient the tubing away from the pump module.

Abstract: Blood processing systems and methods separate blood into constituents including a plasma constituent that includes a platelet volume. The systems and methods detect the optical density of the plasma constituent and generate a first output indicative of the optical density. A processing element integrates the first output relative to the volume of plasma constituent and generates an integrated output. The integrated output correlates to the platelet volume. A second processing element generates a third output based, at least in part, upon the integrated output, which comprises parameters for storing the platelet volume.

Abstract: Blood processing systems and methods rotate a processing chamber on a rotating element. The processing chamber includes a first compartment and a second compartment. Blood is conveyed into the first compartment for centrifugal separation into components. A liquid free of blood occupies the second compartment to counter-balance the first compartment during rotation on the rotating element. In one embodiment, the second compartment is served by a single fluid flow access. Prior to use, the single access is coupled to tubing, through which a vacuum is drawn to remove air from the second compartment. While the vacuum exists, communication is opened between the tubing and a source of liquid. The vacuum draws the liquid into the second compartment through the single access, thereby priming the second compartment for use.

Abstract: A breakable seal is located within a housing. The housing includes a ribbed region of restricted diameter protruding from the wall into the bore. A breakable juncture in the seal joins the tip of a cannula member to the base of the cannula member. The leading portion of the tip is free of any projection that frictionally engages either the wall or the ribbed region. Thus, neither the wall nor the ribbed region contacts or constrains movement of the leading portion in the bore when the tip is broken from the base. The trailing portion of the tip carries at least one projection constructed to frictionally engage the ribbed region. The ribbed region constrains movement of the trailing portion through the bore when the tip is broken from the base. By rocking the cannula tip, the juncture can be broken and the cannula tip advanced to a secure position in the housing.

Abstract: A system and method of separation of therapeutic components from blood. The system includes a dual member centrifuge and a disposable single use fluid transfer set. The set includes an elongated flexible separation chamber having an input port, a separated component output port and a residual fluid output port. The input port and the separated component output ports are located at opposite ends of the elongated separation chamber. The centrifuge includes a receiving chamber with a selectively formed annular slot therein. The separation chamber is positioned in the annularly shaped slot and rotated at a predetermined rotational velocity. Fluids such as whole blood flows through the separation chamber and are separated into various therapeutic components such as platelet rich plasma and residual concentrated red blood cells. Platelet rich plasma can be drawn off as the separated therapeutic component. An alternate two part transfer set provides for highly efficient platelet pheresis.

Abstract: Systems and methods obtain a platelet suspension with reduced number of leukocytes by centrifugally separating whole blood into red blood cells, a suspension of platelets, and an intermediate layer comprising leukocytes. The systems and methods convey the suspension of platelets from the centrifugal separation chamber to a filter, while maintaining the intermediate layer containing leukocytes inside the centrifugal separation chamber. The systems and methods filter remaining leukocytes from the platelet suspension in the filter.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods process cord blood in a sterile fashion to avoid exposure to bacterial contamination. A transfer tube couples a cord blood processing container to an other container, which, in use, holds a cryopreservative solution. The transfer tube has an interior diameter that is restricted substantially along its entire length, to meter the introduction of cryopreservation solution into cord blood at a desired rate, thereby avoiding damage or trauma to the cord blood cells.

Abstract: Blood processing systems and methods separate whole blood into red blood cells and a plasma constituent within a rotating centrifugal separation device. The systems and methods convey whole blood into the separation device through an inlet path including a pump operable at a prescribed rate. The systems and methods remove plasma constituent from the separation device through an outlet path including a pump operable at a prescribed rate. The systems and methods derive a value H.sub.b representing an apparent hematocrit of whole blood entering the separation device, where: ##EQU1## and where H.sub.rbc is a value relating to hematocrit of red blood cells in the separation device. The systems and methods generate outputs and control commands based, at least in part, upon H.sub.b.

Abstract: A blood processing system and associated method include a first variable volume chamber to hold blood and a second variable volume chamber to hold additive solution for blood. The system and method further employ a separation device to remove undesired material from blood. An actuated element exerts external force simultaneously upon both first and second variable volume chambers to expel a first flow of blood from the first variable volume chamber and a second flow of additive solution from the second variable volume chamber. The system and method mix outside the first and second variable volume chambers the blood flow with the flow of additive solution to create a mixed flow comprising blood and additive solution. The system and method direct the mixed flow of blood and additive solution through a filter to remove undesired matter from the blood.