Abstract: A device for processing donated blood comprises a porous medium interposed between the collection bag and a satellite bag into which a component separated by centrifugation can be expressed, the filter element preferably having a CWST of about 70 to about 115 dynes/cm. The porous medium blocks red blood cells, but allows platelets to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A device for separating plasma from blood is provided comprising a synthetic polymeric fibrous structure having a CWST in excess of 65 dynes/cm, the structure having a first region for receiving a blood sample and a second region for accumulating plasma.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing donated blood, particularly a platelet-containing solution such as platelet-containing plasma, involving separating blood into a red cell containing sediment layer and a supernatant layer, and passing the supernatant layer through a filter until the filter is blocked, thereby leaving platelets to be harvested. The preferred filter comprises a porous medium having a plurality of zones of progressively increasing density.

Abstract: A high efficiency leucocyte-depletion filter for use with packed red cell concentrate derived from freshly drawn blood comprises a fibrous filter medium with a pore size of from about 0.5 to less than 3.6 .mu.m and a CWST of from 53 to about 80. The filter is preferably used in conjunction with a gel prefilter and, optionally, a microaggregate filter so as to minimize clogging. In a preferred embodiment, the voids volume is about 60% to about 85%.

Abstract: A system for collecting and processing donated blood comprises a first porous medium interposed between a blood collection bag and a satellite bag and a second porous medium interposed between the blood collection bag and another satellite bag. The porous media are leucocyte depletion media. The system may also include one or more of the following: a red cell barrier medium, a separation medium, a gas inlet, and a gas outlet. The system can be used to centrifuge whole blood into one or more components, and includes a means for protecting the system during centrifugation.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for treating blood comprising (a) centrifuging blood and (b) passing a supernatant layer of the centrifuged blood through a porous medium until red blood cells block the porous medium.

Abstract: A composite structure, particularly a filter structure, is provided comprising a support having a surface and a porous membrane formed integrally to the surface of the support. The support preferably includes means for directing a fluid away from the surface of the support. The support surface is at least slightly soluble in a solvent. The porous membrane comprises a resin soluble in the solvent and precipitated while the casting solution is in contact with a porous substrate and the surface of the support. The membrane is formed and integrally secured to the surface of the support contemporaneously.

Abstract: A filter segment disc of a segment filter comprises a support and drainage plate with slots radiating from the filter hub toward the filter edge. The slots are configured to provide a substantially uniform fluid flow over the filtering medium of the filter segment, reduce residence time of filtrate in the filter, eliminate dead spots in the flow, and facilitate cleaning of permanent filters.

Abstract: A system for collecting and processing donated blood comprises a first porous medium interposed between a blood collection bag and a satellite bag and a second porous medium interposed between the blood collection bag and another satellite bag. The porous media are leucocyte depletion media. The system can be used to centrifuge whole blood into one or more components, and a means for protecting the system during centrifugation including a bracket carried by the centrifuge bucket for receiving the porous media.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for determining the wetting characteristic of a porous medium comprising applying at least one or more drops of each of at least two different liquids having different but closely spaced surface tensions to different locations on the porous medium and if necessary repeating the process until, of two liquids with neighboring surface tension, one is absorbed into the medium, and the other is not.

Abstract: A process for making filters with a non-bypassing peripheral seal which comprises heating a cylindrical filter housing to expand its internal diameter; inserting a filter disc that has a diameter larger than that of the internal diameter of the housing when cold; and allowing the assembly to cool.

Abstract: Devices for the depletion of leukocytes in blood products, preferably comprising an upstream porous element including means for removal of gels, at least one intermediate porous element including means for removal of microaggregates, and a downstream element including means for removal of leukocytes by both adsorption and filtration, preferably with at least one of the elements having been modified to a CWST in excess of 53 dynes/cm.

Abstract: Devices for the depletion of leukocytes in blood products, preferably comprising an upstream porous element including means for removal of gels, at least one intermediate porous element including means for removal of microaggregates, and a downstream element including means for removal of leukocytes by both adsorption and filtration, preferably with at least one of the elements having been modified to a CWST in excess of 53 dynes/cm.

Abstract: A filter segment disc of a segment filter comprises a support and drainage plate with slots radiating from the filter hub toward the filter edge. The slots are preferably of arcuate plan form and configured to provide a substantially uniform fluid flow over the filtering medium of the filter segment, reduce residence time of filtrate in the filter, eliminate dead spots in the flow, and facilitate cleaning of permanent filters. A filter support spacer may be provided adjacent the filtering surface to aid in support and positive spacing of the disc in a filter stack of which the disc may be an element.

Abstract: A device for the depletion of the leucocyte content in a platelet concentrate, preferably comprising a modified porous, fibrous medium with a critical wetting surface tension of at least about 90 dynes/cm and a method for the depletion of the leucocyte content and platelet concentrate comprising passing the platelet concentrate through the porous medium.

Abstract: A method of reducing the adhesion of bubbles to the surfaces of a medical administration set with which a parenteral liquid comes in contact prior to its introduction into a patient by treating the surfaces of the medical administration set with which the liquid comes in contact to increase the critical surface tension thereof prior to contacting the surfaces of the medical administration set with the liquid, preferably by radiation grafting with a solution of a monofunctional monomer compound.

Abstract: Filter media comprised of charge modified, resin coated inorganic microfibers are prepared by mixing inorganic microfibers with an aqueous solution of a water soluble, noncolloidal cationic thermosetting binder resin to form a dispersion, following which a precipitating agent is added to precipitate the binder resin and coat the microfibers. The coated microfibers may be used in the dispersed or suspended form as a filter aid. Preferably they are formed into a filter sheet which is then dried and cured to form a filter sheet of narrowly distributed pore size, pore sizes as small as one-half micron, and having a positive zeta potential in alkaline media. Glass is the preferred microfiber and polyamine-epichlorohydrins the preferred resins. By providing the normally negative zeta potential microfibers with a positive zeta potential the binder resins used to coat the microfibers substantially enhance particulate removal capabilities of the microfiber filter sheet.

Abstract: Cylindrical fibrous structures comprising a fibrous mass of nonwoven, synthetic, polymeric microfibers wherein the microfibers are substantially free of fiber-to-fiber bonding and secured to each other by mechanical entanglement or intertwining, the fiber structure having a substantially constant voids volume over at least a substantial portion of the structure and, preferably, a graded fiber diameter structure, both as measured in the radial direction. The structures are particularly useful as depth filters.

Abstract: Polymeric microfibrous structures comprised of normally hydrophobic microfibers coated with a cured, precipitated, cationic, thermosetting binder resin or polymer and characterized by being hydrophilic and having a positive zeta potential with enhanced capability for the removal of negatively-charged particulate material in a fluid medium are prepared by a process comprising the steps:(1) combining in a controlled manner a first solution of a water-soluble, non-colloidal, cationic, thermosetting binder resin or polymer and a second solution or dispersion of a precipitating agent to form a stable emulsion or suspension;(2) impregnating the microfibrous structure of normally hydrophobic microfibers with the stable emulsion or suspension to form a fibrous structure wetted with the stable emulsion or suspension; and(3) drying the wetted microfibrous structure and curing the binder resin or polymer.

Abstract: Microfibrous, polymeric filter sheets and filter elements prepared therefrom comprised of a normally hydrophobic, microfibrous, polymeric web, wherein the surfaces of the microfibers making up the web are coated with a cured, precipitated, cationic, thermosetting binder resin or polymer. The filter sheet is further characterized by being hydrophilic and having a positive zeta potential.