Abstract: A blood processing device includes a pump system, a valve system, a centrifuge, and a controller configured and/or 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 blood into the centrifuge, separating the blood in the centrifuge into red blood cells and plasma, and collecting portions of the separated red blood cells and plasma. Subsequently, a portion of the collected red blood cells is pumped back into the centrifuge to collect an additional amount of the separated plasma. A buffy coat or white blood cell layer may be formed between the separated red blood cells and plasma in the centrifuge. If so, a portion of the collected plasma may be pumped back into the centrifuge to harvest the buffy coat or white blood cell layer.

Abstract: A blood processing device includes a pump system, a valve system, a centrifuge, and a controller configured and/or 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 blood into the centrifuge at an inflow rate, 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. The controller is configured and/or programmed to employ an inflow rate and/or an interface position that is based at least in part on the temperature of the blood.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for therapeutic red blood cell exchange and/or therapeutic plasma exchange. A blood separation device includes a centrifugal separator, a spinning membrane separator drive unit, a pump system, and a controller. Blood is conveyed through a fluid flow circuit into either the centrifugal separator or the spinning membrane separator, which separates out the target blood component (red blood cells, in the case of therapeutic red blood cell exchange, or plasma, in the case of therapeutic plasma exchange). The target blood component is retained in the circuit as a waste product, while a replacement fluid is added to the remaining blood component(s), which is then conveyed to a recipient. In addition to allowing for execution of an exchange procedure using either a centrifugal separator or a spinning membrane separator drive unit, the blood separation device also allows for the use of differently sized spinning membrane separators.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for collecting a platelet product having a target concentration. First and second target concentrations are first selected. Blood is then separated into red blood cells and platelet-rich plasma, with the platelet-rich plasma then being separated into platelet-poor plasma and platelet concentrate. At least a portion of the platelet concentrate is collected in a container as a platelet product having an actual platelet concentration, attempting to collect platelet concentrate having the first target concentration. After separation of the blood has been completed, at least a portion of the platelet-poor plasma and/or an additive solution is pumped into the container to decrease the concentration of the platelet product from the actual platelet concentration to the second target concentration.

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: An umbilicus-driven centrifuge includes a yoke configured to orbit a midsection of the umbilicus around a rotational axis at a first speed so as to cause a separation chamber associated with the umbilicus to rotate about the rotational axis at a second speed that is approximately double the first speed. An optical monitoring system directly monitors the separation chamber, with a light source oriented to emit light toward the separation chamber and a light detector oriented to receive at least a portion of the light after the light has passed through the separation chamber. A controller receives a plurality of signals from the light detector, then compares the period or frequency of the signals to an expected period or frequency. The controller determines that the umbilicus is experiencing an irregularity when the period or frequency is different from the expected period or frequency.

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: An optical plasma grading system includes a broadband light source configured to emit light having wavelengths in a visible spectrum, an optical spectrometer configured to receive a reflected portion of the emitted light and analyze at least a portion of the received, reflected light to determine a main wavelength of the portion of the received reflected light, and a controller operably connected to the optical spectrometer, the controller configured to determine a plasma grade of the plasma based at least upon the main wavelength of the plasma.

Abstract: A method and system for separating a suspension of biological fluids is disclosed. The method and system include measuring and adjusting the flow rate of fluid into and out of a separator in order to achieve a target outlet concentration.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining and controlling the location of an interface between separated blood components within a centrifuge. An optical monitoring assembly is used to determine the position of the interface, with the current position being compared to a target position. An error signal, which is indicative of the distance between the two positions, is input into a proportional-integral-derivative control algorithm to generate a control signal. The control signal is used to modify the rate at which a separated blood component is removed from the centrifuge so as to move the interface toward the target position. Blood characteristics, blood source characteristics, and/or the rate at which blood is pumped into the centrifuge are monitored for any changes, with a change in one or more of these factors being used to modify the control algorithm.

Abstract: A fluid separation device includes a centrifuge in which a fluid is separated into at least two components, with an interface therebetween. At least a portion of one of the separated fluid components is removed from the centrifuge and flows through a vessel. Light is reflected off of the separated fluid component in the vessel and received and analyzed to determine its main wavelength. If the main wavelength is higher than a maximum value, a target location of the interface is changed. If the main wavelength is less than the maximum value, then the location of the interface is compared to the target location. When the interface is sufficiently close to the target location, the optical density of the separated fluid component in the vessel is compared to a minimum value. If the optical density is less than the minimum value, the target location of the interface is changed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for the separation of blood into blood products and, more particularly, to systems and methods that permit automated recovery of white blood cells after producing a leukocyte-reduced blood product.

Abstract: Blood in a separation chamber is separated into a red blood cell layer, a plasma constituent, and a mononuclear cell-containing layer. A portion of the plasma constituent exits the chamber via a plasma outlet, while a first portion of the red blood cell layer exits via a red blood cell outlet. A second portion of the red blood cell layer exits the chamber via the red blood cell outlet and is collected. At least a portion of the collected red blood cell layer may then be conveyed to the chamber via the red blood cell outlet to convey at least a portion of the mononuclear cell-containing layer out of the chamber via the plasma outlet for collection. A second portion of the plasma constituent may be conveyed out of the chamber via the plasma outlet to more fully collect the mononuclear cell-containing layer without the use of collected plasma.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining and controlling the location of an interface between separated fluid components within a channel of a centrifugal separation chamber being rotated about a rotational axis. Light from a light source is received by a collimator, which directs collimated light through the channel in a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis. At least a portion of the collimated light exiting the channel is received by a light detector configured as a photodetector array. A signal emitted by the light detector is received by a controller, which determines the location of an interface between separated fluid components within the channel based at least in part on the signal. When the controller determines that the interface is not at a target location within the channel, the controller controls a centrifugal separator and/or a pump system to move the interface to the target location.

Abstract: Biological fluid processing cassettes with integrated filter structures are disclosed. A cassette body is formed of a generally rigid material, defining a plurality of internal fluid flow paths. The cassette body may be secured to a cassette cap to define a cavity, with a filter sealed within the cavity. Each of the cassette body and the cassette cap defines a port opening into the cavity, which allows fluid to flow from one of the internal fluid flow paths, into the cavity and through the filter, and then out of the cavity via the port of the cassette cap. Alternatively, the cassette body may define an external slot which receives at least a portion of a filter. Such a filter includes two ports, with one of the ports in fluid communication with a cassette port of the cassette body to allow fluid flow between the cassette body and the filter.

Abstract: A method (and a system for implementing such method) for creating a plurality of fluid products each having a minimum content of a fluid component includes providing a plurality of intermediate fluid volumes each having a known content of a fluid component. The intermediate fluid volumes are grouped by fluid component content, followed by a determination of whether two of the intermediate fluid volumes may be pooled to achieve the minimum content for a final fluid product. The method proceeds with creating combinations of three and then more intermediate fluid volumes achieving the minimum content for a final fluid product, followed by creating combinations of intermediate fluid volumes exceeding the minimum content. Each intermediate fluid volume is assigned to only one of the combinations, with the intermediate fluid volumes being assigned to the combinations so as to maximize the number of combinations and, thus, the number of final fluid products.

Abstract: Fluid separation chambers are provided with a central hub, with generally annular low-G 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, two outlet passages, and a terminal wall separating an upstream end of the separation channel from a downstream end of the channel. The radius of the high-G wall is greater at the downstream end of the separation channel than at the upstream end, which may include the radius gradually increasing along a tapered section of the high-G wall. The tapered section may extend from the upstream end of the separation channel to the downstream end of the channel or along a smaller length of the channel. The radius of the low-G wall may similarly increase from the upstream end of the separation channel to the downstream end.

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: An optical detection assembly for monitoring a fluid includes a light source, a light detector array, and a controller. The light source emits light into a fluid, while the light detector array includes a plurality of light detectors and receives light exiting the fluid. The controller determines the concentration of one or more substances in the fluid based on signals received from the light detector array. The assembly may include a second light detector array, with one array receiving transmitted light exiting the fluid, with the other receiving scattered light exiting the fluid. The assembly may include a vessel attachment receiving a portion of a vessel or a vessel connector connecting two vessels. The controller may be configured to determine the concentration of one or more substances in a fluid within a vessel received by a vessel attachment or in a fluid within a conduit defined by a vessel connector.

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.