Centrifuge separation and washing device and method

Claim 2

A centrifuge apparatus for separating and washing blood cells comprising: 1. enclosure means for enclosing a quantity of liquid suspended blood cells, 2. rotation means for rotating the enclosure means about the longitudinal axis thereof; 3. injector means for moving suspended blood cells and liquids into and out of the said enclosure; 4. seal means for sealing the injector means to the enclosure means in a liquid-tight relationship;

Claim 3

a plurality of angularly shaped blood cell receiving means in fluid communication with each other and evenly spaced about the longitudinal periphery of the enclosure means and forming a part of the enclosure means, wherein at least one pair of opposite wall portions of each of the said receiving means converge towards the longitudinal periphery of the enclosure means and thereby forming a locus of maximum centrifugal force in the rotating enclosure at the apexes formed by the juncture of the converging wall portions; 6. a plurality of independent conduit means in fluid communication with each other, each with one end thereof in fluid communication with the said injector means and the other end thereof connected to the said locus of maximum centrifugal force; 7. power means for rotating the rotation means and enclosure means to a speed of angular rotation sufficient to separate the blood cells from the suspending liquid and compact the blood cells in the blood cell receiving means; and 8. control means for controlling liquid flows through the said injector means, conduit means, blood cell receiving means and enclosure means for flowing suspended blood cells into each of the blood cell receiving means, for flowing a wash liquid through each of the said conduit means and then through the compacted blood cells in each of the blood cell receiving means whereby the wash liquid passes through essentially all of the compacted blood cells, for flowing a resuspending liquid into the enclosure means and into the blood cell receiving means and for flowing resuspended blood cells from each of the said receiving means through each, respective, conduit means, through the injector means and out of the

Claim 4

a plurality of angularly shaped blood cell receiving means in fluid communication with each other and evenly spaced about the longitudinal periphery of the enclosure means and forming a part of the enclosure means, wherein at least one pair of opposite wall portions of each of the said receiving means converge towards the longitudinal periphery of the enclosure means and thereby forming a locus of maximum centrifugal force in the rotating enclosure at the apexes formed by the juncture of the converging wall portions; 6. a plurality of independent conduit means in fluid communication with each other, each with one end thereof in fluid communication with the said injector means and the other end thereof connected to the said locus of maximum centrifugal force; 7. power means for rotating the rotation means and enclosure means to a speed of angular rotation sufficient to separate the blood cells from the suspending liquid and compact the blood cells in the blood cell receiving means; and 8. control means for controlling liquid flows through the said injector means, conduit means, blood cell receiving means and enclosure means for flowing suspended blood cells into each of the blood cell receiving means, for flowing a wash liquid through each of the said conduit means and then through the compacted blood cells in each of the blood cell receiving means whereby the wash liquid passes through essentially all of the compacted blood cells, for flowing a resuspending liquid into the enclosure means and into the blood cell receiving means and for flowing resuspended blood cells from each of the said receiving means through each, respective, conduit means, through the injector means and out of the

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the enclosure means is constructed of

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the rotation means has a cavity therein for receiving and retaining the enclosure means during rotation thereof.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the rotation means and enclosure means are complimentarily shaped so that the enclosure means may be periodically

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the enclosure means, conduit means and

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the said unitary structure is made

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the polymeric material is selected from a polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene, polyacrylate, polyester, polyamide, polysilicone, polycarbonate, polyacetate or butyrate, natural or synthetic rubbers and

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the polymeric material is extendable.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the shape of the unitary structure is conformed to the shape of the cavity in the rotation means by action of centrifugal forces acting on the unitary structure during rotation

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a stack of two or more of the said

Claim 14

A centrifuge apparatus for separating suspended, finely-divided particulate material comprising: 1. enclosure means for enclosing a quantity of liquid suspended particulate material; 2. rotation means for rotating the enclosure means about the longitudinal axis thereof; 3. injector means for moving suspended finely-divided particulate material and liquids into and out of the said enclosure; 4. seal means for sealing the injector means to the enclosure means in a liquid-tight relationship; 5. a plurality of angularly shaped particulate material receiving means in fluid communication with each other and evenly spaced about the longitudinal periphery of the enclosure means and forming a part of the enclosure means, wherein at least one pair of opposite wall portions of each of the said receiving means converge towards the longitudinal periphery of the enclosure means and thereby forming a locus of maximum centrifugal force in the rotating enclosure at the apexes formed by the juncture of the converging wall portions; 6. a plurality of independent conduit means in fluid communication with each other, each with one end thereof in fluid communication with the said injector means and the other end thereof connected to the said locus of maximum centrifugal force; 7. power means for rotating the rotation means and enclosure means to a speed of angular rotation sufficient to separate the particulate material from the suspending liquid and compact the particulate material in the particulate material receiving means; and 8. control means for controlling liquid flows through the said injector means, conduit means, particulate material receiving means and enclosure means for flowing suspended particulate material into each of the particulate material receiving means, for flowing a resuspending liquid into the material receiving means and for flowing resuspended particulate material from each of the said receiving means, through each, respective, conduit means, through the injector means and out of the centrifuge

Claim 15

A centrifuge apparatus for separating suspended, finely-divided particulate material comprising: 1. enclosure means for enclosing a quantity of liquid suspended particulate material; 2. rotation means for rotating the enclosure means about the longitudinal axis thereof; 3. injector means for moving suspended finely-divided particulate material and liquids into and out of the said enclosure; 4. seal means for sealing the injector means to the enclosure means in a liquid-tight relationship; 5. a plurality of angularly shaped particulate material receiving means in fluid communication with each other and evenly spaced about the longitudinal periphery of the enclosure means and forming a part of the enclosure means, wherein at least one pair of opposite wall portions of each of the said receiving means converge towards the longitudinal periphery of the enclosure means and thereby forming a locus of maximum centrifugal force in the rotating enclosure at the apexes formed by the juncture of the converging wall portions; 6. a plurality of independent conduit means in fluid communication with each other, each with one end thereof in fluid communication with the said injector means and the other end thereof connected to the said locus of maximum centrifugal force; 7. power means for rotating the rotation means and enclosure means to a speed of angular rotation sufficient to separate the particulate material from the suspending liquid and compact the particulate material in the particulate material receiving means; and 8. control means for controlling liquid flows through the said injector means, conduit means, particulate material receiving means and enclosure means for flowing suspended particulate material into each of the particulate material receiving means, for flowing a resuspending liquid into the material receiving means and for flowing resuspended particulate material from each of the said receiving means, through each, respective, conduit means, through the injector means and out of the centrifuge

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control means also functions to flow a wash liquid through each of the conduit means and then through the particulate material in each of the particulate material receiving means as a step intermediate the step of flowing the suspended particulate material into the receiving means and the step of flowing the resuspended particulate material from the receiving means, whereby the wash liquid

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the enclosure means is constructed of

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the rotation means has a cavity therein for receiving and retaining the enclosure means during rotation

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the rotation means and enclosure are complimentarily shaped so that the enclosure means may be periodically removed from the rotation means and replaced by a new enclosure means.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the enclosure means, conduit means and sealing means form a replaceable and disposable unitary structure.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the said unitary structure is made

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the polymeric material is selected from a polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene, polyacrylate, polyester, polyamide, polysilicone, polycarbonate, polyacetate or butyrate, natural or synthetic rubbers and

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the polymeric material is extendable.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the shape of the unitary structure is conformed to the shape of the cavity in the rotation means by action of centrifugal forces acting on the unitary structure during rotation

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein a stack of two or more of the said

Claim 28

reducing the angular speed of rotation of the enclosure, flowing blood cell suspending liquid into the enclosure, resuspending the blood cells in the suspending liquid and flowing the suspended blood cells through the

Claim 29

reducing the angular speed of rotation of the enclosure, flowing blood cell suspending liquid into the enclosure, resuspending the blood cells in the suspending liquid and flowing the suspended blood cells through the

Claim 30

The method of claim 22 wherein a stack of two or more of the said enclosure means are rotated with a single rotation means and the said method is simultaneously carried out with each enclosure in the stack.

Claim 33

The method of claim 24 wherein between steps 2 and 3, a wash liquid is flowed from a wash liquid supply source, in fluid communication with the first ends of the conduits, through the conduits, into the apexes of the converging wall portions of the compartments, whereby the wash liquid passes through essentially all of the compacted particulate material and

Claim 34

The method of claim 24 wherein a stack of two or more of the said enclosure means are rotated with a single rotation means and the said method is simultaneously carried out with each enclosure in the stack.