Abstract: Centrifuge apparatus for use in separating a heavy phase from a light phase in a rotating bowl, the apparatus comprising means defining a channel forming a continuous loop and having an inlet, a first outlet, and a dam portion spaced along the channel from the inlet and having an inner wall radius that is greater than that of adjacent portions so as to provide a heavy phase dam region which can be completely filled with separated heavy phase so as to prevent separated light phase from flowing past it.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator comprising a circular centrifuge separation channel having an inlet for receiving a liquid to be separated and an outlet for providing components of the liquid in separated layers at different radial locations, a collection chamber for receiving the separated layers, the chamber having first, second and third outlets in the collection chamber for removing components at different radial locations in the chamber, the first and second collection tubes being joined together so that the combined flow of the two tubes flows in a combined collection tube, and pumps connected to receive liquid streams from the combined collection tube and the third collection tube, the pumps being located externally of, and not rotating with, the channel and collection chamber.

Abstract: A continuous flow centrifuge system having a disposable fluid container of constant cross-section mounted in a circular channel. The channel, defining a separation region, has a constant height and side walls of divering spirals to increase the cross-sectional area from inlet to outlet. The container expands dynamically to conform to the claimed geometry and the collection chamber is attached to the container to obtain the separated fluid fractions. The channel may be in an insert, defined between the walls of the insert and the rotor bowl or in a rotor head assembly.

Abstract: The disclosure is a disposable low-mass processing channel and multilumen tube system for operation with a 2.omega. sealless centrifuge in which the centrifuge rotor rotates at 2.omega. axially to a platform rotor rotating at 1.omega. and to a fixed axial clamp on the multilumen tube.The blood processing channel is equipped with several tube lumens for access to different blood fractions to be separated by the centrifuge action. The plastic lumen tube is supported at each end by plastic reinforcing tubes clamped at clamp ends and ending in thrust drive bearings at the free ends. The thrust drive bearings are arranged for rotation about the multilumen tube and for fixation with respect to slotted conical reinforcing tube receivers on the 1.omega. rotor.Centrifugal force fixes the thrust bearings in place within the slotted conical reinforcing tube receivers. The low-mass central portion of the multilumen tube is unsupported; in operation it flies free in a wide bend.

Abstract: An improved centrifuge assembly comprising a channeled rotor assembly and a ring-like fluid container disposed in the channel, whereby the centrifugal separation effects in the fluid container are determined by the geometry of the channel in the rotor. The fluid container is preferably formed from semirigid plastic material in the form of a tube having a rectangular cross section and is considered a disposable item to be discarded after a single use. The rotor assembly preferably includes a removable filler piece or center piece formed from a single piece of material, such as rigid plastic, as by molding, dimensioned to form, with the wall of the centrifuge bowl, a circular channel having dimensions appropriate to receive the semirigid container, which is suitably bent and placed in the channel. Fluid connections are provided from each end of the container to an axially located multichannel rotating seal. The connections lie in a plurality of radial slots in the filler piece.

Abstract: An improved centrifuge assembly comprising a channeled rotor assembly and a fluid container disposed in the channel, whereby the centrifugal separation effects in the fluid container are determined by the geometry of the channel in the rotor. This arrangement is particularly useful for two-stage blood platelet separation. The fluid container is preferably formed from semirigid plastic material and is considered a disposable item to be discarded after a single use. The rotary assembly preferably includes a removable filler piece or center piece formed from a single piece of material, such as rigid plastic, as by machining or molding, and having therein an open-topped channel having dimensions appropriate to receive the semirigid container, which is suitably curved and placed in the channel. Fluid connections are provided from each end of the container and an intermediate point to an axially located multichannel rotating seal. The connections lie in a plurality of radial slots in the filler piece.

Abstract: A centrifuge assembly useful for two stage blood platelet separation by counterflow comprising a channeled rotor assembly and a fluid container disposed in the channel, whereby the centrifugal separation effects in the fluid container are determined by the geometry of the channel in thr rotor. The fluid container is preferably formed from semirigid plastic material and is considered a disposable item, discarded after a single use. The rotor assembly preferably includes a removable filler piece or center piece formed from a single piece of material and having therein an open-topped channel having dimensions appropriate to receive the semirigid container, which is suitably curved and placed in the channel. Fluid connections are provided from a multi-chambered cavity attached to the ends of the container to an axially located multichannel rotating seal.

Abstract: A pressure monitoring system especially suitable for use with extra-corporeal circulation systems such as dialyzers, blood cell separators, oxygenators and the like, in which the internal system pressure must be monitored at one or more locations in the blood circuit, and appropriate warnings provided of pressure increases or decreases within defined limits. An initial pressure measuring cycle is provided and must be completed successfully before the main operating cycle of the overall system can begin. A pressure transducer provides signals to a digital closed-loop system which provides a suitable compensation during the initial or primary cycle and then holds that compensation value during the machine running cycle. Excursions of pressure beyond upper and lower limits of the stored reference or compensation value, in either direction, will cause the running cycle to terminate automatically.