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.

Abstract: A device and method for separating whole blood includes flowing whole blood to a centrifuge, separating whole blood into blood components within the centrifuge, and flowing separated blood components out of the centrifuge. The device and method include a flow rate stoppage phase executed one or more times during the method. The flow rate stoppage phase includes (i) stopping the flow of whole blood to the centrifuge and stopping the flow of separated blood components out of the centrifuge; (ii) spinning the centrifuge at a selected rate; and (iii) after a selected time ending the flow rate stoppage phase and resuming the flow of whole blood to the centrifuge and the flow of separated blood components out of the centrifuge.

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 computer-implemented method comprises providing a fluid circuit comprising fluid pathways configured to mount and associate with a durable processing device comprising a pressure sensor in communication with a controller and a fluid pathway. A container is connected to the pressure sensor and may receive a volume of fluid. A change in pressure values between a first and second time is measured from when the volume of fluid is not in communication with the pressure sensor to when the volume of fluid is in communication with the pressure sensor, the volume of fluid within the container or a presence or absence of a fluid connection to the fluid pathway based on the change in pressure values is determined, and a response action is executed if the volume of fluid within the container is not within an authorized volume range for the time period, or if a fluid connection is unauthorized.

Abstract: A fluid processing device includes a controller, a centrifuge, and a pump system. The controller controls the pump system to convey a fluid into a centrifuge chamber received by the centrifuge at first and second rates, with the controller also controlling the centrifuge to rotate the chamber at a first rotation rate when the fluid is being conveyed into the chamber at the first rate and controlling the centrifuge to rotate the chamber at a second rotation rate when the fluid is being conveyed into the chamber at the second rate. The first and second rotation rates are different, with each being based at least in part on a concentration of a fluid component within the fluid, the rate at which the pump system is conveying the fluid into the centrifuge chamber, and a target concentration of the fluid component in one of the first and second constituents.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprises providing a fluid circuit comprising fluid pathways configured to mount and associate with a durable processing device comprising a pressure sensor in communication with a controller and a fluid pathway. A container is connected to the pressure sensor and may receive a volume of fluid. A change in pressure values between a first and second time is measured from when the volume of fluid is not in communication with the pressure sensor to when the volume of fluid is in communication with the pressure sensor, the volume of fluid within the container or a presence or absence of a fluid connection to the fluid pathway based on the change in pressure values is determined, and a response action is executed if the volume of fluid within the container is not within an authorized volume range for the time period, or if a fluid connection is unauthorized.

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: 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.