Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving efficiency and quality of plasma being removed from a blood separation chamber. The system includes a separation chamber in which plasma is separated from cellular blood components, a pump for moving the plasma and an outlet line for removing the separated plasma from the blood separation chamber. An optical sensor assembly is configured to monitor the blood separation chamber and measure an interface position between the separated component and the plasma, and to generate an output indicative of the measured interface position. A controller is programmed to utilize a lipid concentration input of the blood and to set an original lipemia offset, a lipemia threshold and lipemia final setpoint from a predetermined database, and to use a proportional-integral-derivative control loop to assess the actual interface position plus the lipemia threshold to adjust and achieve a final lipemia setpoint for use during separation procedures.

Abstract: A blood processing system includes a reuseable processing device and a single use fluid flow circuit. The reuseable hardware component includes a pump system, a valve system, and a centrifuge. The reuseable hardware component further includes a controller and holders for collection containers. The disposable fluid flow circuit includes a plurality of collection containers, a processing chamber received by the centrifuge and a plurality of conduits fluidly connecting the components of the fluid flow circuit. The controller is configured to command the pump system and the valve system to cooperate to convey whole blood from a blood source to the processing chamber and execute at least one blood processing procedure. The holders are configured so that the collection containers remain upright during the duration of the at least one blood processing procedure.

Abstract: A fluid separation device includes a centrifugal separator configured to receive a centrifugal separation chamber of a disposable fluid flow circuit, a pump system configured to convey a fluid into the centrifugal separation chamber and to remove a separated fluid component from the centrifugal separation chamber via an outlet, a color-based interface monitoring system configured to determine an interface position between separated fluid components continuously flowing through the centrifugal separation chamber based on dominant wavelength measurements of layers of separated fluid components during a centrifugal separation procedure, and a controller configured to measure the dominant wavelengths of the layers, calculate a duration as a color time for each measured dominant wavelength, set target color times, calculate error signals and calculate control signals to adjust the pump system to control the flow rate and interface position.

Abstract: A blood separation device includes a pump system, a separator, and a controller. The controller is programmed to execute a blood separation procedure including a red blood cell collection stage in which blood is conveyed into the separator, red blood cells are separated from the blood in the separator, and the separated red blood cells are conveyed from the separator into a collection container. The red blood cell collection stage is ended when a target volume of blood has been separated in the separator. The controller then determines a percentage of the red blood cells from the target volume of blood that have been collected in the collection container based on the volume of red blood cells and the hematocrit of the fluid in the collection container, a volumetric flow rate of pure red blood cells in the blood conveyed into the separator, and the procedure time.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for separating blood into two or more components for collection of red blood cells, plasma, or both red blood cells and plasma. A blood separation system includes a blood separation device and a fluid flow circuit configured to be mounted to the blood separation device. The blood separation device includes a centrifugal separator and a spinning membrane separator drive unit, with the blood being separated into its constituents by the centrifugal separator. Separated plasma may be collected following separation by the centrifugal separator or may first be conveyed from the centrifugal separator into the spinning membrane separator drive unit to separate cellular blood components from the plasma prior to collection of the filtered plasma. The cellular blood components filtered from the plasma may be retained in the circuit as a waste product or may be flushed out of the circuit to a recipient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ensuring the proper placement of color-coded tubing on a medical device are disclosed. The system includes one or more sensors and a computer memory containing a database of acceptable colors associated with said one or more sensors. The system is configured to compare the measured color of said color-coded tubing to colors of a color database, wherein the sensor is associated with a color from said database.

Abstract: A processing device includes a pump system, a valve system, a centrifuge, and a controller. A fluid flow circuit is mounted to the device to execute a procedure in which whole blood is processed into a red blood cell product, a plasma product, and a platelet concentrate product. The blood is first separated into red blood cells, buffy coat, and plasma using the centrifuge, with the red blood cells and plasma being removed from the centrifuge, while the buffy coat remains in the centrifuge. The fluid remaining in the centrifuge is circulated through the centrifuge to form a homogenous mixture. Once the mixture is formed, it is separated in the centrifuge into platelet concentrate and red blood cells. A platelet product is then collected by using whole blood or previously collected red blood cells to push the platelet concentrate from the centrifuge to a collection container.

Abstract: A method of determining a cell concentration of a subject fluid includes first determining an unadjusted cell concentration of each of a plurality of fluids based on an intensity of light emitted through the fluid and a correlation curve derived using a first cell counter. A measured cell concentration obtained for each fluid from a second cell counter is then plotted against the unadjusted cell concentration to create a curve represented by an equation that is selected to be used as an adjustment equation. Light is then emitted through the subject fluid, with at least a portion of the light exiting the subject fluid being received. An unadjusted cell concentration of the subject fluid is determined based on the correlation curve and the intensity of the received light. The adjustment equation is then applied to the unadjusted concentration to determine an adjusted cell concentration of the subject fluid.

Abstract: A fluid separation system and method includes a durable hardware component including a pump station with plurality of pumps, a centrifuge mounting station and drive unit, a plurality of valves and clamps, and a controller. The system includes a single use fluid flow circuit having a separation chamber configured to be received by the centrifuge and the fluid flow circuit is engageable with the durable hardware component to control fluid flow within the fluid flow circuit. The fluid flow circuit having an air access component configured to selectively receive air and to provide the air into a conduit to induce plug flow between the separated fluid component and another separated fluid component, wherein the controller is configured to operate the system to perform one or more blood processing procedures to convey a fluid into the separation chamber and to remove a separated fluid component from the separation chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for separating blood into two or more components for collection of red blood cells, plasma, or both red blood cells and plasma. A blood separation system includes a blood separation device and a fluid flow circuit configured to be mounted to the blood separation device. The blood separation device includes a centrifugal separator and a spinning membrane separator drive unit, with the blood being separated into its constituents by the centrifugal separator. Separated plasma may be collected following separation by the centrifugal separator or may first be conveyed from the centrifugal separator into the spinning membrane separator drive unit to separate cellular blood components from the plasma prior to collection of the filtered plasma. The cellular blood components filtered from the plasma may be retained in the circuit as a waste product or may be flushed out of the circuit to a recipient.

Abstract: A blood processing system includes a durable hardware component and a single-use fluid flow circuit. The hardware component includes a controller configured to execute a procedure in which red blood cells are separated from whole blood and collected. An additive solution may be initially provided in a red blood cell collection container of the fluid flow circuit, with the controller actuating a pump system of the hardware component to convey the additive solution from the red blood cell collection container into an additive solution container of the fluid flow circuit. After red blood cells have been separated from blood and conveyed into the red blood cell collection container (along with at least a portion of the additive solution from the additive solution container), the red blood cells and additive solution in the red blood cell collection container may be conveyed into a whole blood container for collection and storage.

Abstract: Fluid separation chambers are provided with a central hub, with generally annular low- and high-G walls extending about the hub to define therebetween a separation channel. A terminal wall separates an upstream end of the separation channel from a downstream end. A plurality of radial walls extend from the hub to the separation channel to define an inlet passage and two outlet passages. The outlet passages may open into the separation channel at a bottom end of the channel. A ramp extends generally diagonally across the separation channel, from the high-G wall to the low-G wall. The ramp may be positioned at the downstream end of the separation channel or a portion of the ramp may extend to the bottom end of the channel.

Abstract: An optical sensor device configured for use in combination with a fluid flowing through a tubing, the optical sensor device includes a light source configured to emit a light, with at least a portion of the light being exposed to a fluid in the tubing and reflected, an optical sensor configured to receive at least a portion of the reflected light and analyze at least a portion of the received reflected light to determine a reflectance measurement, and a controller configured to correlate the reflectance measurement to an input particulate level and generate an output indicative of the fluid flow rate corresponding to the reflectance measurement. Also disclosed is a method of optically measuring fluid flow rate in a fluid processing system including optically monitoring fluid flow through a transparent portion of a tubing by measuring light reflectance of particles in the fluid.

Abstract: An automated blood processing device includes one or more optical sensors configured to detect intensity of at least a portion of light through a fluid having a concentration of platelets and providing signals indicative of the intensity, and a controller configured to receive the signals from the at least one optical sensor. The controller is configured to determine an instantaneous concentration measurement of platelets within the fluid based on the received signals. In a method for determining completion of a platelet collection procedure, an instantaneous platelet yield is determined based on the instantaneous platelet concentration and a flow rate, and a total platelet yield is determined based on a sum of the instantaneous platelet yields. The method may further include comparing the total platelet yield to a target platelet yield, and ending the procedure if the total platelet yield is greater than the target platelet yield.

Abstract: Fluid separation chambers are provided with a central hub, with generally annular low- and high-G walls extending about the hub to define therebetween a separation channel. A plurality of radial walls extend from the hub to the channel to define an inlet passage and two outlet passages. The low-G wall may include an air drain taper and/or a decreased radius adjacent to an associated outlet passage. The radius of the low-G wall and (optionally) the high-G wall may gradually decrease from an upstream end of the channel to a downstream end for improved separation. A ramp may extend across the channel, with a bottom end positioned adjacent to the bottom end of the channel, where the outlet passages open into the channel. The outlet passage associated with the high-G wall may open into the channel at an upstream end of the ramp or at the upstream end of the channel.

Abstract: A blood processing device includes a pump system, a valve system, a continuous-flow centrifuge, and a controller programmed to control the operation of the pump system, the valve system, and the centrifuge to execute a blood separation procedure. The blood separation procedure executed by the controller includes pumping whole blood through a leukoreduction filter and into the centrifuge, separating the blood in the centrifuge into red blood cells and plasma, with an interface between the red blood cells and plasma located at an interface position within the centrifuge, and pumping at least a portion of the red blood cells and at least a portion of the plasma out of the centrifuge.

Abstract: An interface monitoring system is provided for detecting the location of an interface between separated fluid components within a channel of a centrifugal separation chamber having a rotational axis. The system includes a light source and a light detector, with the light source being configured to transmit a light along an initial path toward the rotational axis, into the centrifugal separation chamber, and through the channel of the centrifugal separation chamber. The light detector is configured to receive at least a portion of the light as the light exits the centrifugal separation chamber and generate a signal indicative of the location of the interface between separated fluid components within the channel of the centrifugal separation chamber, with the light detector being oriented to receive light traveling in a direction generally perpendicular to the initial path of the light.

Abstract: Blood processing systems, devices, and methods including a durable hardware component, a single use fluid flow circuit, and a controller configured to estimate the concentration of platelets in a donor's circulating blood.

Abstract: An optical detection assembly for monitoring a biological fluid in a vessel includes two fluid-adjustment structures, which are spaced apart and configured to receive at least a portion of a biological fluid-containing vessel therebetween. A light source (which may be associated with one of the fluid-adjustment structures) is configured to emit light through a thickness of the biological fluid in the vessel, while a light detector (which may be associated with the other one of the fluid-adjustment structures) is configured to receive at least a portion of the light from the light source after it has passed through the biological fluid in the vessel. At least a portion of at least one of the fluid-adjustment structures is configured to move with respect to at least a portion of the other one so as to change the thickness of the biological fluid in the monitored portion of the vessel.

Abstract: An optical detection assembly for monitoring a fluid includes a light source, a light detector array, and a controller. The controller receives signals from the light detector array that are indicative of the intensity of light received by the light detector array after the light has passed through the fluid. The controller generates a scattering profile based on the signals, with the scattering profile including rising and falling edges each having a slope. The controller calculates one or both slopes and determines the platelet mass index (for a platelet-containing fluid) and/or the concentration of a substance in the fluid based on said slope(s). The optical detection assembly may also be used to analyze a reference fluid having a known concentration of the substance, with signals received by the controller when analyzing the reference fluid being a factor when determining the concentration of the substance in the fluid of interest.