Abstract: A portable micro-organism inactivation system comprising: a casing mounting, a UV radiation source, a pump, and releasable tube support for supporting an elongate tube to define a flow path extending therethrough which is substantially free of substantial discontinuities are provided by the present invention. The elongate tube has a first portion and a second portion wherein the first portion has a UV-transparent wall. The first portion extends in close proximity to the UV radiation source within an irradiation zone thereof while the second portion is interfaced with the pump for pumping of fluid through the system so that substantially the whole of said individual fluid unit is exposed to a similar micro-organism inactivating level of UV-irradiation, while minimizing damage to the desired components thereof. The invention also provides a method of micro-organism inactivation in a fluid using a system of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for effective inactivation of micro-organisms in fluids with relatively high absorbance so as to limit damage. The apparatus has a large diameter passage (2) flow-through UV radiation system with a static mixer system (11) providing an intensive fluid flow mixing within an irradiation area in which the fluid flow is controlled to provide a flow rate not less than a minimum flow rate corresponding to a maximum fluid residence time within said irradiation area required for efficient mixing, and a maximum flow rate providing a minimum residence time for effective inactivation.

Abstract: A device suitable for use in the sterilization of a fluid such as a biological fluid or a fraction thereof, containing lymphocytes and/or micro-organisms, comprising a vessel having an inlet and an outlet and a passage which extends non-tortuously therebetween. A heat exchange device with a heat exchange surface is in substantially direct thermal contact with the interior of the passage. A temperature controller maintains the temperature of fluid in the passage below a temperature at which fluid components may form insoluble particles during irradiation. The passage has a wall which is substantially transparent to a lymphocyte and/or micro-organism inactivating radiation. The passage contains a static mixer device for thoroughly mixing the fluid so as to bring the whole of the fluid into an irradiation zone extending along and adjacent the passage walls and into contact with the heat exchange surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the sterilization (in the sense of rendering free from cells or organisms capable of division e.g. lymphocytes, protozoans, bacteria, viruses) of blood or other fluids. The present invention provides an apparatus (1) for use in the ultraviolet irradiation of the fluid (8), which comprises a vessel (2) having side walls (4) substantially transparent to ultraviolet radiation of an effective inactivating wavelength; a turning vessel support (3) for supporting and allowing said vessel to turn on said support which is driven (23) so as to directly or indirectly turn the vessel on the support. U.V. irradiation means are provided for irradiating at least part of the turning vessel (2). In use of the apparatus a thin layer (9) of the fluid (8) adjacent the wall surface (10) of the side wall (4) is carried round past the ultraviolet irradiation means (7) and sterilized thereby and mixed with the main body of said fluid (8).