Abstract: Devices for the removal of cells or other particles from a biological fluid are disclosed. The devices include a removal medium housed within a chamber of a housing. The devices include inlet and outlet ports carried by the walls. One or both of the ports includes a flow path portion having a chamber-communicating portion that has a cross-section that is larger than the cross-section of an adjacent flow path portion.

Abstract: A porous web for filtering fluids has a plurality of adjacent layers of fiber material having anisotropic properties. The anisotropic directions of a given vectorial property of at least two adjacent layers differ one from the other by an angle greater than 0°, and preferably of at least 8°. The porous web is particularly useful as a filter element for the filtration of biological fluids, such as blood and blood components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter for the separation of leukocytes from whole blood, comprising a hydrophobic support material and a polymeric coating material, whereby the surface of the filter has a critical surface wetting tension in the range 50 to 80 dyn/cm and the polymeric coating material may be obtained by polymerisation reaction of mixtures comprising hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers. The invention further relates to a method for production of said filter and devices for the separation of leukocytes from whole blood and the use of the filter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sterile system and a method for filtering biological or medical liquids, especially blood or blood constituents. According to the filtering system and method, the sterile air already in the system is collected before the beginning of the filtration process, and after the filtration process, in order to completely empty the system used. Said filtering system comprises a collapsible container having a first and second air inlet/outlet line. The first air inlet/outlet line communicates with the first chamber of the filter by means of a flow connection, and the second air inlet/outlet line with the second chamber of the filter. Only the air inlet/outlet line communicating with the first filter chamber is sealed by a hydrophobic membrane or a return valve in the filtering system, such that the system has an especially simple structure.

Abstract: A porous web for filtering fluids comprising a plurality of adjacent layers of fibre material having anisotropic properties, characterised in that the anisotropic directions of a given vectorial property of at least two adjacent layers differ one from the other by an angle greater than 0° and preferably of at least 8°. The disclosed porous web is useful particularly as a filter element for the filtration of biological fluids, such as blood and blood components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter for the separation of leukocytes from whole blood, comprising a hydrophobic support material and a polymeric coating material, whereby the surface of the filter has a critical surface wetting tension in the range 50 to 80 dyn/cm and the polymeric coating material may be obtained by polymerisation reaction of mixtures comprising hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers. The invention further relates to a method for production of said filter and devices for the separation of leukocytes from whole blood and the use of the filter.

Abstract: A filter device for the depletion of the leukocyte content from blood products including two or more porous elements each made of one or more layers or filtering materials, wherein said porous elements are arranged in the filter device according to decreasing hydrophilicity, from inlet to outlet, of the filtering material constituting said elements.

Abstract: A device for separating blood into blood components comprising:—a collecting container (2) for receiving blood (WB),—a first satellite container (4) connected, in fluid flow communication, to said collecting container (2) through a leukocyte filter (22) for receiving from said collecting container (2) a leukocyte depleted first blood component (PRP),—a second satellite container (6) connected, in fluid flow communication, with said collecting container (2) through said filter (22) for receiving from said collecting container a second leukocyte depleted blood component (PRC), and flow control means (36, 38, 42) for allowing fluid flow from said collecting container selectively into said first (4) or second (6) satellite container through said leukocyte filter (22), whereby whole blood (WB) can be separated into a first (PRP) and second (PRC) leukocyte depleted blood component with a single leukocyte filter (22).

Abstract: The invention relates to a sterile system and a method for filtering biological or medical liquids, especially blood or blood constituents. According to the filtering system and method, the sterile air already in the system is collected before the beginning of the filtration process, and after the filtration process, in order to completely empty the system used. Said filtering system comprises a collapsible container having a first and second air inlet/outlet line. The first air inlet/outlet line communicates with the first chamber of the filter by means of a flow connection, and the second air inlet/outlet line with the second chamber of the filter. Only the air inlet/outlet line communicating with the first filter chamber is sealed by a hydrophobic membrane or a return valve in the filtering system, such that the system has an especially simple structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for separating whole blood into blood components. The device has a collecting container for collecting whole blood, a primary container, and one or a plurality of satellite containers downstream from the primary container. The collecting container is connected to the primary container via a branch line containing a leucocyte filter. In addition, a bypass line is provided between the collecting container and the primary container for creating a fluid connection that circumvents the leucocyte filter. The primary container is also connected, via an additive line, to an additive container containing an additive agent for storing a blood component. The method involves collecting the donor's whole blood in the collecting container and conveying it, via the bypass line, into the primary container. The whole blood located in the primary container is then separated by centrifuigation into an erythrocyte layer and a mixed layer of blood plasma and thrombocytes.

Abstract: A device for separating whole blood into blood components having a collecting container for collecting whole blood, a primary container, and one or a plurality of satellite containers downstream from the primary container. The collecting container is connected to the primary container via a branch line containing a leucocyte filter. In addition, provision is made for a bypass line between the collecting container and the primary container for creating a fluid connection, circumventing the filter. The primary container is, furthermore, connected, via an additive line, to an additive container containing an additive agent for storing a blood component. For extracting leucocyte-free erythrocyte concentrate, the donor's whole blood, collected in the collecting container is first conveyed, via the bypass line into the primary container. The whole blood located in the primary container is then separated by centrifuging into an erythrocyte layer and a mixed layer of blood plasma and thrombocytes.