Abstract: Apparatus for withdrawing whole blood from a donor, separating the whole blood to obtain a target cell population and returning a selected one of either the target cell population or at least a portion of the whole blood remainder to the donor or patient. A disposable separation inset for use in association with a rotatable separation device of the apparatus may also be provided. The disposable inset may include a chamber for receiving a cell suspension that includes the target cell, a receptacle for containing particles having a binding site for selectively binding to the target cell and a means for introducing the particles into the chamber.

Abstract: A method combining the techniques of immunoaffinity separation and continuous flow centrifugal separation is provided for selective separation of a nucleated heterogeneous cell population from a heterogeneous cell mixture. The heterogeneous cell mixture is intimately contacted to promote binding thereto by particles having attached a substance that actively binds to a specific desired type of cell out of the cell mixture. The particles are selected so that the sedimentation velocity of the particle/cell conjugate differs sufficiently from those of other cells in the cell mixture to allow its separation by means of a continuous flow cell separator.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating a biological component from a biological fluid are disclosed. The apparatus includes a chamber for receiving a biological fluid including a biological component, and a rotor for creating a centrifugal field within the chamber. A source of particles may be included wherein the particles have a binding site for selectively binding to the biological component. The particles may be aseptically introduced into the chamber. The apparatus may withdraw whole blood from a donor, separate the whole blood to obtain a target cell population and return a selected one of either the target cell population or at least a portion of the whole blood remainder to the donor or patient. A disposable separation inset for use in conjunction with a rotatable separation device such as the apparatus described above may also be provided.

Abstract: A separation zone for separating platelets from a platelet-rich suspension establishes a relationship between its radial thickness (h) and axial height (Z) that, taking into account the given angular velocity of rotation and the given kinematic viscosity of the platelet-rich suspension introduced through the inlet, represents a (.lambda.) value that is less than 700,where ##EQU1## where: .OMEGA. is the angular velocity (in rad/sec);h is the radial depth (or thickness) of the chamber (in cm);.upsilon. is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid being separated (in cm.sup.2 /sec); andZ is the axial height of the chamber (in cm).

Abstract: A method combining the techniques of immunoaffinity separation and continuous flow centrifugal separation is provided for selective separation of a nucleated heterogeneous cell population from a heterogeneous cell mixture. The heterogeneous cell mixture is intimately contacted to promote binding thereto by particles having attached a substance that actively binds to a specific desired type of cell out of the cell mixture. The particles are selected so that the sedimentation velocity of the particle/cell conjugate differs sufficiently from those of other cells in the cell mixture to allow its separation by means of a continuous flow cell separator.

Abstract: A drip chamber includes a cap that extends the field of view of a droplet in a vertical direction above the plane of the droplet, as well as horizontally in the plane of the droplet. The drip chamber has a deformable body and an interior volume to accommodate manual air purging and priming by squeezing the body.

Abstract: A separation zone for separating platelets from a platelet-rich suspension establishes a relationship between its radial thickness (h) and axial height (Z) that, taking into account the given angular velocity of rotation and the given kinematic viscosity of the platelet-rich suspension introduced through the inlet, represents a (.lambda.) value that is less than 700,where ##EQU1## where: .OMEGA. is the angular velocity (in rad/sec);h is the radial depth (or thickness) of the chamber (in cm);.nu. is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid being separated (in cm.sup.2 /sec); andZ is the axial height of the chamber (in cm).

Abstract: A method combining the techniques of immunoaffinity separation and continuous flow centrifugal separation is provided for selective separation of a nucleated heterogeneous cell population from a heterogeneous cell mixture. The heterogeneous cell mixture is intimately contacted to promote binding thereto by particles having attached a substance that actively binds to a specific desired type of cell out of the cell mixture. The particles are selected so that the sedimentation velocity of the particle/cell conjugate differs sufficiently from those of other cells in the cell mixture to allow its separation by means of a continuous flow cell separator.

Abstract: A chamber for rotation about a rotational axis to separate blood components includes first and second spaced apart side walls forming a separation zone. Blood conveyed into the separation zone separates into a first region of cellular components, a second region of plasma, and an interface region between the first and second regions. An outlet conveys the second region of plasma from the separation zone. An interior wall extends into the separation zone to permit passage of the second region of plasma to the outlet while retarding passage of the interface region and the first region of cellular components to the outlet. The tapered second surface has a major axis that is oriented at a non-parallel angle with respect to the axis of the outlet. Due to this orientation, the boundary between the interface region and the other two regions is held uniform along the tapered surface.