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: System and methods treat plasma carrying contaminants and cellular matter that are capable of entraining contaminants. The systems and methods separate cellular matter from the plasma by filtration, thereby removing contaminants entrained within the cellular matter. The system and methods add to the plasma a photoactive material. The systems and methods emit radiation at a selected wavelength into the plasma to activate the photoactive material and thereby eradicate the contaminant that is free of entrainment by cellular matter.

Abstract: A method for purifying conventionally treated blood plasma to remove substantially all residual leukocytes while maintaining useful flow rates for medically useful amounts of plasma utilizes a disposable, heat-sterilizable filter employing one or more depth-type prefilters and at least one intermediate hydrophilic microporous membrane followed by at least one final hydrophilic microporous membrane having a smaller pore size than the intermediate membrane within a common housing. The purified plasma is preferably subjected to chemical treatment to destroy infectious agents such as hepatitis and HIV.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining liquid samples from a fluid flow path is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing having an access site communicating with the flow path and carrying a piercing member at a location spaced from the access site. The housing allows for translational movement of the piercing member toward the access site and into the flow path from where the sample is removed.

Abstract: Blood processing systems and methods establish on line communication between a container and a source of blood containing leukocytes and platelets, such as a human donor. The systems and methods create a centrifugal field between the source of blood and the container that separates from the blood an unfinished suspension of platelets having a first physiologic characteristic different than the desired physiologic characteristic. The systems and methods pump the unfinished platelet suspension outside the centrifugal field through a finishing device. The finishing device changes the first physiologic characteristic to the desired physiological characteristic, thereby creating the finished platelet suspension. The systems and methods convey the finished platelet suspension from the finishing device directly into the container. The systems and methods function without interrupting the on line communication between the container and the source of blood.

Abstract: A blood separation system operates in a first mode to convey whole blood into the inlet region of a blood processing chamber for centrifugal separation into packed red blood cells, a plasma constituent, and an interface, which carries mononuclear cells, between the packed red blood cells and the plasma constituent. The system removes packed red blood cells and the plasma constituent from the chamber, while maintaining the interface within the chamber. The system operates in a second mode to remove the interface from the chamber by conveying packed red blood cells into the inlet region. An outlet path conveys the removed interface from the chamber. The outlet path includes a first sensing element to locate mononuclear cells in the removed interface and provide a sensed output upon locating mononuclear cells.

Abstract: Blood separation systems and methods employ a rotating chamber. The chamber includes an inlet region where whole blood enters for centrifugal separation into packed red blood cells, a plasma constituent, and an interface carrying mononuclear cells between the packed red blood cells and the plasma constituent. The packed red blood cells in the chamber have a hematocrit value H.sub.PRBC. A controller operates in a first mode to convey whole blood into the inlet region while removing packed red blood cells and the plasma constituent from the chamber and while maintaining the interface within the chamber. The controller also operates in the first mode to maintain a set H.sub.PRBC by conveying packed red blood cells into the inlet region.

Abstract: Systems and methods treat plasma carrying contaminants and leukocytes that are capable of entraining contaminants. The systems and methods separate leukocytes from the plasma by filtration, thereby removing contaminants entrained within leukocytes. The systems and methods also add to the plasma a photoactive material and emit radiation at a selected wavelength into the plasma to activate the photoactive material and thereby eradicate the contaminant that is free of entrainment by leukocytes.

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: Blood processing systems and methods establish on line communication between a container and a source of blood containing leukocytes and platelets, such as a human donor. The systems and methods create a centrifugal field between the source of blood and the container that separates from the blood an unfinished suspension of platelets having a first physiologic characteristic different than the desired physiologic characteristic. The systems and methods pump the unfinished platelet suspension outside the centrifugal field through a finishing device. The finishing device changes the first physiologic characteristic to the desired physiological characteristic, thereby creating the finished platelet suspension. The systems and methods convey the finished platelet suspension from the finishing device directly into the container. The systems and methods function without interrupting the on line communication between the container and the source of blood.

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: Systems and methods remove a contaminant from a fluid like blood, regardless of whether the contaminant is carried free within the fluid or entrained within cellular matter carried within the fluid. The systems and methods rely upon photodynamic processes to remove free contaminants from the fluid. The systems and methods rely upon separation processes to remove the cellular matter and, with it, the contaminants it entrains from the fluid.

Abstract: A system and method for treating a fluid carrying a biological contaminant to which a photoactive material has been bound include a treatment device that defines a flow passage with a gap. The system and method operate to establish a flow of fluid from the inlet end of the gap to the outlet end of the gap. The system and method expose the fluid, as it transits the gap, to a source of radiation that activates the photoactive material bound to the contaminant. The system and method also mix the fluid as it flows within the gap.

Abstract: Systems and methods of collecting blood cells use a first container connected to at least three transfer containers. A filtration system is provided with one transfer container, which ultimately serves as the storage container for red blood cells free of white blood cells. The two other transfer containers are connected to each other, one of which is empty and one of which contains and additive solution for storage of red blood cells. The empty transfer container is used for storage of platelet concentrate, while the container that originally contained the additive solution is ultimately used to store the platelet-poor plasma component. A portion of the additive solution may be separately passed through the filtration system after filtration of the red cells to flush additional red blood cells from the filtration device.

Abstract: Improvements are provided in the sealing arrangment and in an inflatable shim for a membrane diffusion device which comprises a stack of membrane sections and means for defining interleaving flow paths for two different fluids, separated by the membranes.