Abstract: A centrifuge system for the formation of an autologous platelet gel wherein all of the blood components for the gel are derived from a patient to whom the gel is to be applied. First a platelet rich plasma and a platelet poor plasma are formed by centrifuging a quantity of anticoagulated whole blood that was previously drawn from the patient. The platelet rich plasma or platelet poor plasma is then automatically drawn out of the centrifuge bag and proportioned into separate chambers in a dispenser. The first portion is activated where a clot is formed and thrombin is obtained. The thrombin is then latter mixed with the second portion to obtain a platelet gel.

Abstract: A belt-driven blood centrifuge with side-mounted drive motor for rotating the centrifuge at a rotation speed selected to separate blood components. The centrifuge includes a drive shaft assembly rotated at an input rotation speed and a rotor assembly rotatably linked to the drive shaft assembly rotated at an output rotation speed twice the input rotational speed. A drive motor is provided with a drive pulley to drive a belt, a chain, and the like to provide the motive force to rotate the drive shaft at the input rotation speed. In one embodiment, a belt is provided to contact both the pulley of the drive motor and an outer surface of a rotatable shell of the drive shaft assembly. A base is included in the centrifuge upon which the drive shaft assembly is mounted. The drive motor is positioned adjacent the drive shaft assembly and mounted on the base.

Abstract: A centrifuge disposable having a collection chamber for receiving and holding a fluid to be centrifuged, the chamber having an outer perimeter, an inner perimeter, a generally circular cross-sectional area, and a conical outboard collecting portion. The collection chamber is typically formed from relatively rigid, molded plastic or other materials. The chamber further ports in communication near the outboard portions of the chamber to provide fluid communication to a tubing, which may be single lumen for discontinuous embodiments in which a single tube is used for fill and extraction and multi-lumen for continuous fill and extraction embodiments in which an inlet lumen is used for fill and one or more outlet lumens are used for extraction of separated components.

Abstract: A rigid centrifuge container for separating components of a fluid, comprising a rigid annular body having an axial core and an interior collection chamber for receiving and holding the fluid during centrifugation. The chamber has a generally off-centered figure eight-shaped side cross-sectional configuration, wherein the narrowest portion of the chamber is closer to the inner perimeter. The chamber further has an inlet channel extending radially from the core to a distance near the outer perimeter of the chamber, and an outlet channel extending radially from the core to a distance approximately near the narrowest portion of the chamber. The distal end of the inlet channel is in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber, and the distal end of the outlet channel is in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber at the narrowest portion.

Abstract: A method of harvesting a predetermined component contained in a fluid, comprising adding an aliquot of said fluid via the inlet tube of a rotating centrifuge container comprising at least one inlet tube and at least one outlet tube, wherein the fluid separates radially into fractions. The distal end of the outlet tube is in flow communication with the desired component. The desired component is removed from the rotating container via the outlet tube, and withdrawal is terminated when an undesired fraction is detected to be near the distal end of the outlet tube. In one embodiment the container is a doughnut shaped flexible bag. In an alternative method the centrifuge container is a rigid container having an interior collection chamber for receiving said whole blood and having a generally off-centered figure eight-shaped side cross-sectional configuration.

Abstract: A centrifuge disposable or separation assembly having a collection chamber for receiving and holding a fluid to be centrifuged, the chamber having an outer perimeter, an inner perimeter, a generally circular cross-sectional area, and a conical outboard collecting portion. The collection chamber is typically formed from relatively rigid, molded plastic or other materials. A mounting assembly is included as part of the invention to mount of the centrifuge disposable relative to the centrifuge rotor to facilitate balancing for smooth centrifuge rotation. The chamber further ports in communication near the outboard portions of the chamber to provide fluid communication to a tubing, which may be single lumen for discontinuous embodiments in which a single tube is used for fill and extraction and multi-lumen for continuous fill and extraction embodiments in which an inlet lumen is used for fill and one or more outlet lumens are used for extraction of separated components.

Abstract: A flexible, disposable centrifuge bag for receiving and holding a fluid sample, comprising one or more tubes and upper and lower flexible sheets having doughnut shaped configurations. The upper and lower sheets are superimposed and completely sealed together at their outer perimeters to define an outer perimeter of the centrifuge bag. The inner perimeter of the bag defines a central core. The tubes are sandwiched between the upper and lower sheets and extend from the central core of the centrifuge bag. The upper and lower sheets are sealed together at their inner perimeters such that the tubes are sealed between said upper and lower sheets at the inner perimeter. The bag may be used to harvest platelet rich plasma from whole blood in either a batch method or while simultaneously infusing additional aliquots of whole blood into the bag during centrifugation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for the separation a predetermined cellular component from a bodily fluid or tissue by centrifugation are provided. More specifically, this invention provides a method for the separation and isolation of one or more components, such as stem cells, buffy coat, bone marrow cells, erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes, serum, fluorescently labeled cells, and magnetically labeled cells, from whole blood, bone marrow, buffy coat, fat tissue, muscle tissue, and nerve tissue by centrifugation, wherein the components are isolated while the centrifuge is rotating.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor for separating components contained in a fluid, comprising an annular base having a first annular channel and an annular cover having a second annular channel for holding a flexible, doughnut-shaped centrifuge bag therebetween. When the base and the cover are superimposed, the first and second channels define an annular interior chamber having an off-centered figure eight configuration. The base and cover each comprise a grooved column axially centered and extending from the base top surface and the cover bottom surface, respectively. The flexible bag comprises inner and outer tubes which extend from the central core of the bag and which are seated in the column grooves to ensure that the bag is fixably rotatable with the rotor.

Abstract: A rigid centrifuge container for separating components of a fluid, comprising a rigid annular body having an axial core and an interior collection chamber for receiving and holding the fluid during centrifugation. The chamber has a generally off-centered figure eight-shaped side cross-sectional configuration, wherein the narrowest portion of the chamber is closer to the inner perimeter. The chamber further has an inlet channel extending radially from the core to a distance near the outer perimeter of the chamber, and an outlet channel extending radially from the core to a distance approximately near the narrowest portion of the chamber. The distal end of the inlet channel is in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber, and the distal end of the outlet channel is in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber at the narrowest portion.

Abstract: A belt-driven blood centrifuge with side-mounted drive motor for rotating the centrifuge at a rotation speed selected to separate blood components. The centrifuge includes a drive shaft assembly rotated at an input rotation speed and a rotor assembly rotatably linked to the drive shaft assembly rotated at an output rotation speed twice the input rotational speed. A drive motor is provided with a drive pulley to drive a belt, a chain, and the like to provide the motive force to rotate the drive shaft at the input rotation speed. In one embodiment, a belt is provided to contact both the pulley of the drive motor and an outer surface of a rotatable shell of the drive shaft assembly. A base is included in the centrifuge upon which the drive shaft assembly is mounted. The drive motor is positioned adjacent the drive shaft assembly and mounted on the base.

Abstract: A blood centrifuge with a drive assembly for transmitting an input rotation speed to a rotor with a sample reservoir at a desired rotation ratio. The drive assembly includes a base and an outer shell mounted to the base to rotate at an input rate. A bottom pulley is rigidly mounted to the base and attached to the outer shell with bearings. A top pulley is mounted to a center shaft of the outer shell to rotate with the outer shell about the central axis of the centrifuge. An internal drive belt is provided to transmit the rotation to the top pulley via a pair of transversely mounted idler pulleys that rotate with the outer shell. The top pulley is thus rotated at twice the input rate but in the same direction. A rotor assembly with the sample reservoir is attached to the top pulley to separate blood components.

Abstract: A method of harvesting platelet rich plasma from whole blood, comprising adding an aliquot of blood via the inlet tube of a rotating flexible centrifuge bag comprising inlet and outlet tubes sandwiched between doughnut shaped flexible sheets sealed together at the outer and inner perimeters. The whole blood separates radially into at least a platelet rich plasma fraction and a platelet poor fraction. The distal end of the outlet tube is in flow communication with the platelet rich plasma. The platelet rich plasma fraction is removed from the rotating bag via the outlet tube until a substantial portion of the platelet rich plasma fraction has been removed from the bag. Withdrawal of the platelet rich plasma is terminated when the platelet poor fraction is detected to be near the distal end of the outlet tube. The outlet tube preferably has a bent fitting on its distal end.

Abstract: A system for automated operation of a blood separation system controlling the input of blood samples, the separation of blood components, and the discharge of the components. The system includes a blood reservoir and centrifuge for receiving blood samples and separating the blood components. A sensor determines when adequate separation has been achieved and a controller receives signals from the sensor to operate a centrifuge drive assembly to achieve desired separation. Separation may be based on a calibrated rotation time for the centrifuge as measured by a timer. An input pump pumps blood samples to the blood reservoir, and an outlet pump removes separated samples from the blood reservoir. The inlet and outlet pumps are operated by the controller, and the inlet pump may be operated to discharge separated components not collected by the blood separation system, whereby additional sample volume is added for ongoing operation.

Abstract: A centrifuge system with a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of fractions removed or output from the centrifuge to a collection chamber. In one embodiment, the centrifuge system provides an integral heater element operable by a temperature controller to control the temperature of the collection chamber or dispenser assembly. A temperature sensor is provided to allow the temperature controller to accurately monitor the temperature of the fraction held in chambers or syringes in the dispenser assembly. In a more particular embodiment, the centrifuge system is utilized to separate and extract platelets from blood samples. The heater element is positioned adjacent collection syringes in the dispenser assembly and selectively operated to maintain the temperature of the platelets in the collection syringes within an activation temperature range to activate the platelets and facilitate creation of autologous platelet gel.

Abstract: A belt-driven blood centrifuge with side-mounted drive motor for rotating the centrifuge at a rotation speed selected to separate blood components. The centrifuge includes a drive shaft assembly rotated at an input rotation speed and a rotor assembly rotatably linked to the drive shaft assembly rotated at an output rotation speed twice the input rotational speed. A drive motor is provided with a drive pulley to drive a belt, a chain, and the like to provide the motive force to rotate the drive shaft at the input rotation speed. In one embodiment, a belt is provided to contact both the pulley of the drive motor and an outer surface of a rotatable shell of the drive shaft assembly. A base is included in the centrifuge upon which the drive shaft assembly is mounted. The drive motor is positioned adjacent the drive shaft assembly and mounted on the base.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system is disclosed which includes a variety of novel components and which may be operated in accordance with a variety of novel methodologies. For instance, the system includes a graphical operator interface which directs the operator through various aspects of the apheresis procedure. Moreover, the system also includes a variety of features relating to loading a blood processing vessel into a blood processing channel and removing the same after completion of the procedure. Furthermore, the system also includes a variety of features relating to utilizing a blood priming of at least portions of the apheresis system in preparation for the procedure. In addition, the system includes a variety of features enhancing the performance of the apheresis system, including the interrelationship between the blood processing vessel and the blood processing vessel and the utilization of high packing factors for the procedure.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system is disclosed which includes a novel structure that is to be operated using novel methods. The system includes a disposable assembly that has integral fluid passageways. A blood removal conduit and a blood return conduit are interconnected with the integral fluid passageways. A diaphragm is mounted in the disposable assembly and is removably attachable to a sensor via a number of novel connection devices. In one embodiment, the sensor may include a transducer that is capable of measuring the force exerted on the diaphragm. The corresponding force may be correlated to a pressure of fluid in either the blood removal conduit and/or the blood return conduit.

Abstract: A centrifuge system for the formation of an autologous platelet gel wherein all of the blood components for the gel are derived from a patient to whom the gel is to be applied. First a platelet rich plasma and a platelet poor plasma are formed by centrifuging a quantity of anticoagulated whole blood that was previously drawn from the patient. The platelet rich plasma or platelet poor plasma is then automatically drawn out of the centrifuge bag and proportioned into separate chambers in a dispenser. The first portion is activated where a clot is formed and thrombin is obtained. The thrombin is then latter mixed with the second portion to obtain a platelet gel. Prior to the formation of the platelet gel genetic or medicinal agents may be added thus allowing the platelet gel to additionally serve as a delivery vehicle.

Abstract: The delivery system of the present invention is comprised of at least two chambers which store, individually, an activated blood component and an inactivated blood component. The first chamber comprises an activating agent and a filter which may be one in the same thus allowing the formed clot to be triturated thereby isolating the thrombin from the clot. The second chamber stores the inactivated blood component that when mixed with thrombin will produce a gel. The first or second chamber may further contain agents which are desired to be delivered to a specific site. The unique design of the delivery system allows for ease in operation of combining two agents at a specific time and place.