Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system is disclosed which includes a variety of novel components and which may be operated in accordance with a variety of novel methodologies. For instance, the system includes a graphical operator interface which directs the operator through various aspects of the apheresis procedure. Moreover, the system also includes a variety of features relating to loading a blood processing vessel into a blood processing channel and removing the same after completion of the procedure. Furthermore, the system also includes a variety of features relating to utilizing a blood priming of at least portions of the apheresis system in preparation for the procedure. In addition, the system includes a variety of features enhancing the performance of the apheresis system, including the interrelationship between the blood processing vessel and the blood processing vessel and the utilization of high packing factors for the procedure.

Abstract: An improved centrifuge bowl and related system is disclosed which is particularly apt for enhanced autologous blood salvage applications. The centrifuge bowl assembly includes a rotatable outer bowl, an internal spacer interconnected therewithin, and a stator assembly for introducing/removing fluid during rotation of the outer bowl and internal spacer. The outer bowl and internal spacer are configured to define a lateral passageway at the bottom of the assembly which terminates in an upward-facing port for fluid passage therethrough into an annular, cylindrical collection region. The annular port may be defined by a peripheral fin on the spacer and may be of a width that is less than the width of the cylindrical, annular collection region, wherein separated blood components (e.g. red blood cells) will accumulate across the width of the port during blood fill/wash cycles. As a result, enhanced washing is realized while maintaining throughput rates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for filtering or separating particles. The apparatus has a motor coupled to a centrifuge rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation. A fluid chamber rotates with the rotor. A substance is supplied to the inlet of the chamber. At least one of the motor and the substance supply are controlled to maintain a saturated fluidized bed of first particles within the fluid chamber while causing second particles to be retained in the chamber.

Abstract: Blood from a patient is treated extracorporeally by any selected one of a plurality of predetermined treatments. Each of the treatments involves the flow of blood from the patient into a primary chamber of a filtration unit, past a semipermeable membrane located in the filtration unit which separates the primary chamber from a secondary chamber of the filtration unit, out the filtration unit and back to the patient. A replacement fluid is selectively and controllably added to the blood, as required for the selected treatment. A secondary fluid is controllably and selectively introduced into the secondary chamber of the filtration unit for controllably collecting material passing across the semipermeable membrane from the blood or for supplying material to pass across the semipermeable membrane into the blood as required for the selected treatment. Materials are removed from the secondary chamber and collected in accordance with the selected treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for filtering or separating particles. The apparatus has a motor coupled to a centrifuge rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation. A fluid chamber rotates with the rotor. A substance is supplied to the inlet of the chamber. At least one of the motor and the substance supply are controlled to maintain a saturated fluidized bed of first particles within the fluid chamber while causing second particles to be retained in the chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for occlusion monitoring in a flow circuit using pressure waveform analysis. The flow circuit includes a first conduit and a second conduit which fluidly interconnects a fluid supply with the first conduit. A pump is disposed in an intermediate portion of the second conduit. Monitoring of the pressure in the first conduit is used to identify any occlusions in that portion of the second conduit which is disposed between the pump and the fluid supply.

Abstract: A centrifuge separation device is disclosed and includes a rotor configured to be connected to a centrifuge motor for rotation about an axis of rotation. A retainer is associated with the rotor and defines a passageway for a separation channel. A protrusion formed in one of the passageway walls extends towards and is spaced from the other of the passageway walls. The protrusion is sized to substantially block passage of materials in a predetermined density range and to substantially permit passage of materials outside of the predetermined density range. An indentation formed adjacent the protrusion in a wall of the passageway opposite the protrusion is configured to trap fluid during rotation of the rotor and to cooperate with the trapped fluid to maintain a substantially Coriolis-free pathway in a region of the passageway adjacent the protrusion.

Abstract: A flow rate of a fluid flowing in a tube is quantitatively determined by altering the electrical conductivity of the fluid by injection of a bolus of saline. The electrical conductivity of the altered conductivity is measured over the time it takes the altered conductivity fluid to pass a conductivity measuring location. The measured conductivity is integrated over the time it takes to pass the conductivity measuring location. The integral is interpreted to determine the flow rate.

Abstract: The integrity of a microporous membrane within a mass transfer device such as an oxygenator is tested simultaneously with applying a biocompatible surfactant to at least the blood-contact surface of the membrane. The membrane integrity test contacts both sides of the microporous membrane with a conductive fluid to establish an electrical circuit. An electrical signal is then applied to the circuit and a measurement is taken of the test voltage across an impedance in the circuit. The value of the test voltage is used to determine the conductivity and thus the integrity of the membrane. The biocompatible surfactant is mixed with the conductive fluid used in the electrical integrity test and has an affinity for the microporous membrane material so that a durable biocompatible coating is applied to at least a portion of the microporous membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing and controlling fluid flow through a plurality of fluid conduits includes a chassis, a plurality of conduit occluders mounted in the chassis, each occluder for association with at least one of the plurality of fluid conduits and each being selectively actuatable between an open position permitting fluid flow through a respective fluid conduit and a closed position obstructing conduit fluid flow. A single actuator is mounted in the chassis, the actuator for adjusting the plurality of occluders between the open and closed positions. A roller cage is also mounted in the chassis for mechanically interconnecting the actuator to the plurality of conduit occluders so that the single actuator is mechanically capable of maintaining one of the plurality occluders in the closed position while maintaining another of the plurality of occluders in the open position.

Abstract: A centrifuge apparatus is used for collecting white blood cells, primarily mononuclear cells, from whole blood stratified into layers. A thin mononuclear (MNC) layer is formed at the interface of red blood cells and plasma. A barrier is positioned in the separation vessel of the centrifuge at a location to intercept the thin layer. An MNC collect port is positioned in front of the barrier to collect the thin layer. MNC fluid is allowed to pool behind the barrier to surround the collect port before collection is started. Collection ceases when the pool is removed and allowed to build again. By operating the collect in an intermittent fashion, improvements in purity and collect volume are achieved. The intermittent collection procedure can be useful for harvesting granulocytes and, in general, any sparse stratified component of a centrifuged solution where the sparse component is layered between more dense and less dense strata.

Abstract: A centrifuge apparatus is used for collecting white blood cells (WBC), primarily mononuclear cells, from whole blood stratified into layers. A thin mononuclear (MNC) layer is formed at the interface of red blood cells and plasma. A barrier is positioned in the separation vessel of the centrifuge at a location to intercept the thin layer. MNC fluid is allowed to pool behind the barrier before collection is started. To collect the MNC pool, the stratified red blood cell layer is raised from below the interface level by slowing or reversing flow in the RBC exit line thereby causing the MNC pool to spill over the barrier into a well in which a collect line is positioned. Collection ceases when a desired percentage of the pool is removed and the normal position of the interface is re-established; thereafter the pool builds again. By raising the MNC pool from below, improvements in purity and collect volume are achieved.

Abstract: A method is provided for the lyophilization of mammalian sperm cells which can be stored and reconstituted to provide morphologically intact cells. The method is advantageous in that the sperm cells may be stored at ambient temperatures for extended periods of time and recovered morphologically intact with DNA-containing heads and intact flagella. The lyophilization medium comprises a carbohydrate and a polymer selected from PVP, HES, dextran and poloxamers or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for processing blood in an apheresis system is disclosed. The present invention includes selecting a packing factor for separated blood component types in the separation stage(s) of a blood processing vessel. A packing factor is a number that reflects the degree with which the blood component types are packed together in the separation stage(s) and is dependent at least upon the rotational speed and the flow rate into the blood processing vessel. The method further includes providing an apheresis system and operating it under conditions to separate the blood into a plurality of blood component types and achieve the selected packing factor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved gas/fluid detector for use in contained fluid systems, and is particularly apt for medical applications wherein fluids are transfused to a patient. The invention includes directing energy pulses into a fluid containment region of interest, detecting energy at the region of interest during each of a plurality of intervals associated with the energy pulse, generating a multi-component detection output utilizing the detected energy for each of the time intervals and separately employing each of the components of the multi-component detection output to determine whether a predetermined condition exists within the contained region of interest. Such predetermined condition may be one of the absence/presence of fluid/gas. Preferably, a multi-component detection signature is provided in the form of a digital serial output and compared with a reference signature that is provided in a corresponding digital serial output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maximizing the total amount of blood processed during an apheresis procedure by optimizing the concentration of anticoagulant in a donor/patient and the associated extracorporeal tubing set is provided. A simplified model of anticoagulant accumulation in a donor/patient's body is used to calculate an optimal anticoagulant infusion rate profile to the donor/patient during a blood processing procedure. A maximum acceptable anticoagulant concentration in the donor/patient acts as an upper limit on the rate at which anticoagulant may be infused to the donor/patient using the optimized infusion rate profile. A minimum acceptable anticoagulant level acts as a lower limit in optimally controlling the anticoagulant concentration in the extracorporeal tubing set.

Abstract: A process is provided for freezing, including freeze-drying of cells, cell-membranes or cell-like materials using a cryoprotectant medium which stabilizes the cells or membranes for freezing or freeze-drying and allows for freezing or freeze-drying to be performed at -60.degree. C. or higher.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system is disclosed which includes a variety of novel components and which may be operated in accordance with a variety of novel methodologies. For instance, the system includes a graphical operator interface which directs the operator through various aspects of the apheresis procedure. Moreover, the system also includes a variety of features relating to loading a blood processing vessel into a blood processing channel and removing the same after completion of the procedure. Furthermore, the system also includes a variety of features relating to utilizing a blood priming of at least portions of the apheresis system in preparation for the procedure. In addition, the system includes a variety of features enhancing the performance of the apheresis system, including the interrelationship between the blood processing vessel and the blood processing vessel and the utilization of high packing factors for the procedure.