Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system having a centrifugal rotor, a control system, a plurality of peristaltic pumps, and a removable tubing circuit wherein blood components can be processed. A pump-balancing process, implemented by the control system, causes selected pumps to fill and empty a reservoir in the tubing circuit. Ratios of displaced volume per pump revolution or other pumping action can be used by the control system to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the donation process. The pump-balancing process may be performed during priming or set-up of the blood processing system or during an actual donation.

Abstract: A system and method are used in connection with processing of blood components. The processing of blood components may involve centrifugal separation and/or filtering of the blood components. In some examples, at least some blood components are centrifugally separated in a chamber and then filtered via a filter rotating along with a centrifuge rotor, wherein the filter is located closer than the chamber to an axis of rotation of the rotor. The filter may include a porous filtration medium configured to filter leukocytes, platelets, and/or red blood cells. Some examples include a pressure sensor sensing pressure of pumped blood components. 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. Other uses of the sensed pressure are also possible.

Abstract: A bag assembly for the separation of a composite liquid into at least two components, comprises a set of bags and a bag-assembling device for assembling the set of bags. The set of bags comprises a separation bag connected by a product tube to at least one product bag. The bag-assembling device comprises a support member; a mounting means, connected to the support member, for removably mounting the bag-assembling device in a rotor of a centrifuge having a central cavity for containing the product bag; and a first securing means connected to the support member for releasably securing the product bag to the support member. The mounting means and the first securing means are so arranged that the product bag occupies a determined position in the central cavity of a rotor when the bag-assembling device in mounted therein.

Abstract: The methods of this invention involve preventing the formation of a complex between adenine and riboflavin by reducing the amount of adenine in a solution containing blood or blood components to be pathogen reduced.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the continuous separation of red blood cells from whole blood which includes the steps of removing the whole blood from a donor, continuously separating the whole blood into blood component layers within a separation vessel including at least a plasma layer, a buffy coat layer and a red blood cell layer, removing the plasma layer from the separation vessel, removing the buffy coat layer from the separation vessel, and removing red blood cells from the red blood cell layer which partially overlaps with the buffy coat layer to create a mononuclear cell (MNC)-reduced red blood cell layer in the separation vessel.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for treating cellular blood components and other cells containing mitochondria to improve vital qualities of the cells by contacting the cells with a mitochondrial enhancer to the cells. Mitochondrial enhancers prevent damage to and rejuvenate mitochondria and cells containing mitochondria. Mitochondrial enhancers include alloxazines and related compounds, such as riboflavin. Cells are optionally treated with photoradiation to reduce pathogens with may be present, before, after, and/or during treatment with mitochondrial enhancer. Treating with mitochondrial enhancer enables utilization of higher photoradiation energies, which achieves better pathogen reduction. When platelets are treated with mitochondrial enhancer, treated platelets may be stored for longer times than untreated platelets before they are administered to patients.

Abstract: A centrifuge for separating blood components, and methods for controlling the centrifuge. The apparatus has a fluid separation chamber having a first frustro-conical segment and a second frustro-conical segment. The second segment has a taper such that particles are subjected to substantially equal and opposite centripetal and fluid flow forces. A camera observes fluid flow, and a controller controls the flow. White blood cells are selectively captured within the second segment and are periodically flushed out of the fluid separation chamber. The camera is used to determine the quantity of particles captured. A limited quantity of high density particles, such as red blood cells, may be captured within the first segment before capturing relatively low density particles, such as white blood cells, within the second segment.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for controlling a fluid separation system, preferably a blood apheresis system having a leukocyte reduction chamber. The method utilizes at least a two-level alarm system. A first-level alarm condition is triggered in response to a pressure drop in the system to less than or equal to a specified system pressure and pauses fluid flow in at least a portion of the system. A second-level alarm condition is triggered in response to a specified number of said pressure drops within a specified period and reduces the flow rate of the fluid in the system. The alarm conditions may also trigger a visible and/or audible alarm. These alarm levels permit flow through the leukocyte reduction chamber to continue when the pressure drop is caused by a non-serious, self-resolving or easily-correctable condition such as misalignment of system components.

Abstract: A system for separating a composite fluid into component parts thereof, including: a centrifuge having a rotor with a separation space and at least two valve members disposed thereon and a container set having a separation container adapted to be disposed in the separation space of the rotor and first and second collection containers connected to the separation container by a first and a second tubes. The tubes are adapted to be disposed in operative relationship with the valve members so that flow through the tubes may be controlled thereby. Three components of the composite fluid may be separated therefrom by the present system and two components may be moved to the collection containers. The container set may further include a third collection container connected to the separation container by a tube, and a third component may thus be moved to this third container.

Abstract: A system for separating a composite fluid into component parts thereof, including: a centrifuge having a rotor with a separation space and at least two valve members disposed thereon and a container set having a separation container adapted to be disposed in the separation space of the rotor and first and second collection containers connected to the separation container by a first and a second tubes. The tubes are adapted to be disposed in operative relationship with the valve members so that flow through the tubes may be controlled thereby. Three components of the composite fluid may be separated therefrom by the present system and two components may be moved to the collection containers. The container set may further include a third collection container connected to the separation container by a tube, and a third component may thus be moved to this third container.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for controlling a fluid separation system, preferably a blood apheresis system having a leukocyte reduction chamber. The method utilizes a return-flow alarm system. A return-flow alarm-triggering pressure is specified, and when pressure of the return flow in the system is higher than or equal to the specified pressure, a return-flow alarm is triggered.

Abstract: Methods are provided for treating a vaccine containing infectious particles which may be viral, bacterial, and/or cellular in nature. Preferred methods include the steps of adding an effective, non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer to the fluid and exposing the fluid to photoradiation sufficient to inactivate the infectious particles but not enough to damage the antigenic characteristics of the infectious particles.

Abstract: The methods of this invention involve preventing the formation of a complex between adenine and riboflavin by reducing the amount of adenine in a solution containing blood or blood components to be pathogen reduced.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for controlling a fluid separation system, preferably a blood apheresis system having a leukocyte reduction chamber. The method utilizes a three-level alarm system. A first-level alarm condition is triggered in response to a pressure drop in the system to less than or equal to a specified system pressure and pauses fluid flow in at least a portion of the system. A second-level alarm condition is triggered in response to a specified number of said pressure drops within a specified period and reduces the flow rate of the fluid in the system. The alarm conditions may also trigger a visible and/or audible alarm. These alarm levels permit flow through the leukocyte reduction chamber to continue when the pressure drop is caused by a non-serious, self-resolving or easily-correctable condition such as misalignment of system components.

Abstract: A system for separating a composite fluid into component parts thereof, including: a centrifuge having a rotor with a separation space and at least two valve members disposed thereon and a container set having a separation container adapted to be disposed in the separation space of the rotor and first and second collection containers connected to the separation container by a first and a second tubes. The tubes are adapted to be disposed in operative relationship with the valve members so that flow through the tubes may be controlled thereby. Three components of the composite fluid may be separated therefrom by the present system and two components may be moved to the collection containers. The container set may further include a third collection container connected to the separation container by a tube, and a third component may thus be moved to this third container.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for controlling a fluid separation system, preferably a blood apheresis system having a leukocyte reduction chamber. The method utilizes a three-level alarm system. A first-level alarm condition is triggered in response to a pressure drop in the system to less than or equal to a specified system pressure and pauses fluid flow in at least a portion of the system. A second-level alarm condition is triggered in response to a specified number of said pressure drops within a specified period and reduces the flow rate of the fluid in the system. The alarm conditions may also trigger a visible and/or audible alarm. These alarm levels permit flow through the leukocyte reduction chamber to continue when the pressure drop is caused by a non-serious, self-resolving or easily-correctable condition such as misalignment of system components.

Abstract: A centrifuge for processing blood and blood components in a processing bag connected to at least one secondary bag comprises a rotor for spinning a processing bag and separating a content thereof in at least two components, and a squeezing member for exposing a processing bag to an external pressure and causing a transfer of a separated component from a processing bag into a secondary bag. Electrically powered devices, such as valves and photocells, are mounted on the rotor for controlling a transfer of fluid from a processing bag into a secondary bag. An electrical power supply system supplies the electrically powered devices with electrical power through the rotor.

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 channel and the utilization of high packing factors for the procedure.

Abstract: The claimed invention refers to a centrifuge intended for processing blood and blood components and with its function based on the effective utilisation of ring type blood processing bags with associated secondary bags and other accessories. The most outstanding feature of the centrifuge, in accordance with the claimed invention, is that its rotor, at the same intended height of the ring bag (22) inner periphery, shows at least three supports (9–11) arranged along this periphery and intended to locate the ring bag's inner strengthened periphery edge on guide holes at the same time as the centrifuge and its rotor is equipped with a joint rotating inner lid (6) which includes a clamp function (7) that clamps ring bag (22) securely along and between supports (9–11).

Abstract: Sterile coupling comprising a male and a female connector, each provided with a membrane device comprising a membrane surface covered with an adhesive at the exterior surface. When the connectors are brought into operation, the adhesive surface are contacted to form a bonded surface. Then, a hole is generated through the bonded surface and the sterile portions of the devices are brought into cooperations. The hole is formed by a rupture member arranged in one of the connectors. After rupturing, the membrane devices retract to a space formed between the cylindrical bodies of the connectors.