Blood cell separator

Claim 2

A flow-through blood centrifuge apparatus comprising a vertically-mounted centrifugal bowl member mounted on a vertical axis, means for rotating said bowl member about said axis, a rotor chamber disposed substantially concentrically in said bowl member, blood inlet conduit means communicatively connected to said rotor chamber near the periphery thereof for admitting whole blood into said chamber, outlet conduit means, and means to communicatively connect said outlet conduit means to the rotor chamber at a level to collect a selected blood component during a flow-through procedure, wherein said rotor chamber is of substantially helical form having an upper end and a lower end, wherein said chamber is provided at its lower end with an enlargement defining an enclosure, wherein said outlet conduit means includes a flexible tube communicatively connected to the lower portion of said enclosure for collecting red blood cells, and wherein said apparatus includes a flexible tube communicatively connected to the upper end of the chamber for collecting plasma.

Claim 3

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 1, and wherein said apparatus further includes a flexible tube communicatively connected to an intermediate portion of the chamber for collecting white blood cells and platelets.

Claim 4

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 1, and wherein said blood inlet conduit means comprises a flexible conduit communicatively connected to the upper portion of said enclosure.

Claim 5

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 3, and wherein the lower portion of said helically formed chamber is relatively larger in cross-sectional size than the remaining upper portion of said chamber.

Claim 6

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 1, wherein said helical rotor chamber is of disposable material.

Claim 7

A flow-through blood centrifuge apparatus comprising a vertically-mounted centrifugal bowl member mounted on a vertical axis, means for rotating said bowl member about said axis, a rotor chamber disposed substantially concentrically in said bowl member, blood inlet conduit means communicatively connected to said rotor chamber near the periphery thereof for admitting whole blood into said chamber, outlet conduit means, and means to communicatively connect said outlet conduit means to the rotor chamber at a level to collect a selected blood component during a flow-through procedure, and wherein said rotor chamber is of substantially helical form and is provided at an intermediate portion with an upstanding obstruction, and wherein said outlet conduit means includes a flexible conduit communicatively connected to the chamber upwardly adjacent to said obstruction for collecting white blood cells and platelets.

Claim 8

A flow-through blood centrifuge apparatus comprising a vertically-mounted centrifugal bowl member mounted on a vertical axis, means for rotating said bowl member about said axis, a rotor chamber disposed substantially concentrically in said bowl member, blood inlet conduit means communicatively connected to said rotor chamber near the periphery thereof for admitting whole blood into said chamber, outlet conduit means, and means to communicatively connect said outlet conduit means to the rotor chamber at a level to collect a selected blood component during a flow-through procedure, and wherein said rotor chamber is of substantially helical form and is provided at an intermediate portion with an upstanding obstruction, and wherein said outlet conduit means includes a flexible conduit communicatively connected to the chamber upwardly adjacent to said obstruction for collecting white blood cells and platelets.

Claim 9

A flow-through blood centrifuge apparatus comprising a vertically-mounted centrifugal bowl member mounted on a vertical axis, means for rotating said bowl member about said vertical axis, a rotor chamber disposed substantially concentrically in said bowl member, blood inlet conduit means communicatively connected to said rotor chamber near the periphery thereof for admitting whole blood into said chamber, outlet conduit means, and means to communicatively connect said outlet conduit means to the rotor chamber at a level to collect a selected blood component during a flow-through procedure; wherein said chamber is of substantialy helical form having an upper end and a lower end and is provided at its lower end with means defining an upwardly enlarged enclosure, wherein said inlet conduit means comprises a first flexible conduit communicatively connected to the upper portion of said enclosure, and wherein said outlet conduit means comprises a second flexible conduit communicatively connected to the lower portion of said enclosure for collecting red blood cells.

Claim 10

A flow-through blood centrifuge apparatus comprising a vertically-mounted centrifugal bowl member mounted on a vertical axis, means for rotating said bowl member about said vertical axis, a rotor chamber disposed substantially concentrically in said bowl member, blood inlet conduit means communicatively connected to said rotor chamber near the periphery thereof for admitting whole blood into said chamber, outlet conduit means, and means to communicatively connect said outlet conduit means to the rotor chamber at a level to collect a selected blood component during a flow-through procedure; wherein said chamber is of substantialy helical form having an upper end and a lower end and is provided at its lower end with means defining an upwardly enlarged enclosure, wherein said inlet conduit means comprises a first flexible conduit communicatively connected to the upper portion of said enclosure, and wherein said outlet conduit means comprises a second flexible conduit communicatively connected to the lower portion of said enclosure for collecting red blood cells.

Claim 11

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 7, and at least one additional flexible outlet conduit communicatively connected to the chamber at a location spaced from said enclosure.

Claim 12

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 7, and a third flexible outlet conduit communicatively connected to the upper end of the chamber for collecting plasma.

Claim 13

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 9, and a fourth flexible outlet conduit communicatively connected to an intermediate portion of the chamber for collecting other whole blood components.

Claim 14

A flow-through centrifuge apparatus comprising a bowl member mounted on a vertical axis; means for rotating said bowl member about said axis, a tubular rotor chamber of substantially helical form disposed substantially concentrically in said bowl member, said tubular chamber having a first end, a second end and a radial extent; first outlet conduit means communicatively coupled to said tubular rotor chamber at a first given radial distance from said axis for removing a heavy fraction during flowthrough procedure; second outlet conduit means communicatively coupled to said tubular rotor chamber at a second given radial distance for removing a light fraction during flow-through procedure; and inlet conduit means communicatively connected to said tubular rotor chamber for admitting material to be separated into said tubular chamber, at a third given radial distance from said axis intermediate said first radial distance and said second radial distance; whereby during flow-through procedure, the heavier phase of the material supplied via the inlet conduit means travels along the tubular rotor chamber, toward said first end and the lighter phase of the material travels along the tubular rotor chamber toward said second end, the heavier and lighter phases forming an interface within the tubular rotor chamber.

Claim 15

A flow-through centrifuge apparatus comprising a bowl member mounted on a vertical axis; means for rotating said bowl member about said axis, a tubular rotor chamber of substantially helical form disposed substantially concentrically in said bowl member, said tubular chamber having a first end, a second end and a radial extent; first outlet conduit means communicatively coupled to said tubular rotor chamber at a first given radial distance from said axis for removing a heavy fraction during flowthrough procedure; second outlet conduit means communicatively coupled to said tubular rotor chamber at a second given radial distance for removing a light fraction during flow-through procedure; and inlet conduit means communicatively connected to said tubular rotor chamber for admitting material to be separated into said tubular chamber, at a third given radial distance from said axis intermediate said first radial distance and said second radial distance; whereby during flow-through procedure, the heavier phase of the material supplied via the inlet conduit means travels along the tubular rotor chamber, toward said first end and the lighter phase of the material travels along the tubular rotor chamber toward said second end, the heavier and lighter phases forming an interface within the tubular rotor chamber.

Claim 16

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 11, wherein said inlet conduit means is connected to said chamber intermediate its said ends.

Claim 17

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 12, wherein said tubular rotor chamber has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

Claim 18

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 11, wherein said tubular rotor chamber has the form of a conical spiral.

Claim 19

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 14, wherein said tubular rotor chamber has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

Claim 20

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 11, wherein said tubular rotor chamber is provided at said first end with an enlargement defining an enclosure, and wherein said first outlet conduit means includes a flexible tube communicatively connected to a lower portion of said enclosure for collecting red blood cells.

Claim 21

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first end is positioned lower than said second end and said chamber is provided at its said first end with an enlargement defining an enclosure, and wherein said first outlet conduit means includes a flexible tube communicatively connected to a lower portion of said enclosure for collecting red blood cells.

Claim 22

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 17, wherein said second outlet conduit means includes a flexible tube communicatively connected to said second end of the chamber for collecting plasma.

Claim 23

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 18, wherein said apparatus further includes an additional flexible tube communicatively connected to an intermediate portion of said chamber for collecting white blood cells and platelets.

Claim 24

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 18, wherein said inlet conduit means comprises a flexible conduit communicatively connected to an upper portion of said enclosure for supplying blood to said chamber.

Claim 25

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 20, wherein a lower portion of said helically formed chamber is relatively larger in cross-sectional size than the remaining upper portion of said chamber.

Claim 26

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 11, wherein said rotor chamber is provided at an intermediate portion with an upstanding obstruction, and the apparatus includes outlet conduit means comprising a flexible conduit communicatively connected to said chamber upwardly adjacent to said obstruction for collecting white blood cells and platelets.

Claim 27

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first end of said is lower than said second end of said chamber and said chamber is provided at its said first end with means defining an upwardly enlarged enclosure, and wherein said inlet conduit means comprises a first flexible conduit communicatively connected to an upper portion of said enclosure, and wherein said first outlet conduit means comprises a second flexible conduit communicatively connected to a lower portion of said enclosure for collecting red blood cells.

Claim 28

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 23, and at least one additional flexible outlet conduit communicatively connected to the chamber at a location spaced from said enclosure.

Claim 29

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 23, and wherein said second outlet conduit means comprises, a third flexible conduit communicatively connected to said second end of the chamber for collecting plasma.

Claim 30

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 25, and a fourth flexible outlet conduit communicatively connected to an intermediate portion of said chamber for collecting other whole blood components.

Claim 31

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 11, wherein said chamber has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

Claim 32

The centrifuge apparatus of claim 11, wherein said tubular chamber is disposable.