Abstract: A centrifuge blood processing system for separating fluid components comprising a first light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes in optical communication with the centrifuge blood processing system for providing an incident light beam for illuminating an observation region on the centrifuge blood processing system, a light collection element in optical communication with the centrifuge blood processing system for collecting at least a portion of the light transmitted, scattered or both from the observation region, a programmable controller for providing an operational procedure for the monitoring system; and an independent dedicated control circuit in electrical communication with the programmable controller and electrically coupled to the light source, the control circuit receiving command parameters from the controller and controlling periods of illumination from the light source in response to the command parameters. Periods of illumination are controlled to prevent the failure of LEDs.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods of monitoring and controlling the processing of blood and blood samples, particularly the separation of blood and blood samples into its components. In one aspect, the invention relates to optical methods, devices and device components for measuring two-dimensional distributions of transmitted light intensities, scattered light intensities or both from a separation chamber of a density centrifuge. In embodiment, two-dimensional distributions of transmitted light intensities, scattered light intensities or both measured by the methods of the present invention comprise images of a separation chamber or component thereof, such as an optical cell of a separation chamber. In another aspect, the present invention relates to multifunctional monitoring and control systems for blood processing, particularly blood processing via density centrifugation.