Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
366 words
A blood processing assembly comprising an apparatus including at least two pump rotors and a centrifuge device, and a prepackaged, self-contained fluid circuit module including flexible first conduit means having an inlet end adapted for communication with the circulatory system of a patient-donor and a spaced outlet end, said first conduit means defining a fluid pathway for whole blood withdrawn from the patient-donor, a first fluid receiving receptacle attached to said outlet end of said first conduit means and adapted for mounting in said centrifuge device, said first fluid receiving receptacle including zones for the collection of platelet-rich plasma and red blood cells in response to operation of said centrifuge device, flexible second conduit means having an inlet end attached to and communicating with said first fluid receiving receptacle at said zone for the collection of platelet-rich plasma and a spaced outlet end, said second conduit means defining a fluid pathway for the platelet-rich plasma, a second fluid receiving receptacle attached to said outlet end of said second conduit means and adapted for mounting in said centrifuge device, said second fluid receiving receptacle including a zone for the collection of plasma in response to operation of said centrifuge device, and housing means having sidewalls peripherally defining a hollow interior and including means on said sidewalls for supporting each of said conduit means intermediate said inlet and outlet ends thereof within the confines of said hollow interior with a portion of each of said conduit means supported in a predetermined arcuate configuration outwardly bowed from one of said sidewalls and being resiliently biased toward an upright position generally perpendicular to said one side wall with said outwardly bowed portions of said first and second conduit means being positioned in a spaced, noncontiguous relationship along said one sidewall to accommodate separate operative contact with said pump rotors, and means for removably mounting said fluid circuit assembly on said apparatus with said one sidewall disposed adjacent to said pump rotors to enable operative contact of said outwardly bowed portion of said first conduit means with one of said pump rotors and one said outwardly bowed portion of said second conduit means with the other one of said pump rotors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
366 words
A blood processing assembly comprising an apparatus including at least two pump rotors and a centrifuge device, and a prepackaged, self-contained fluid circuit module including flexible first conduit means having an inlet end adapted for communication with the circulatory system of a patient-donor and a spaced outlet end, said first conduit means defining a fluid pathway for whole blood withdrawn from the patient-donor, a first fluid receiving receptacle attached to said outlet end of said first conduit means and adapted for mounting in said centrifuge device, said first fluid receiving receptacle including zones for the collection of platelet-rich plasma and red blood cells in response to operation of said centrifuge device, flexible second conduit means having an inlet end attached to and communicating with said first fluid receiving receptacle at said zone for the collection of platelet-rich plasma and a spaced outlet end, said second conduit means defining a fluid pathway for the platelet-rich plasma, a second fluid receiving receptacle attached to said outlet end of said second conduit means and adapted for mounting in said centrifuge device, said second fluid receiving receptacle including a zone for the collection of plasma in response to operation of said centrifuge device, and housing means having sidewalls peripherally defining a hollow interior and including means on said sidewalls for supporting each of said conduit means intermediate said inlet and outlet ends thereof within the confines of said hollow interior with a portion of each of said conduit means supported in a predetermined arcuate configuration outwardly bowed from one of said sidewalls and being resiliently biased toward an upright position generally perpendicular to said one side wall with said outwardly bowed portions of said first and second conduit means being positioned in a spaced, noncontiguous relationship along said one sidewall to accommodate separate operative contact with said pump rotors, and means for removably mounting said fluid circuit assembly on said apparatus with said one sidewall disposed adjacent to said pump rotors to enable operative contact of said outwardly bowed portion of said first conduit means with one of said pump rotors and one said outwardly bowed portion of said second conduit means with the other one of said pump rotors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
131 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fluid circuit module further includes flexible first auxiliary conduit means having an inlet end adapted for communication with a source of fluid and an outlet end communicating with one of said first and second conduit means, and wherein said conduit support means is further operative for supporting a portion of said first auxiliary conduit means within the confines of said hollow interior and for supporting another portion of said first auxiliary conduit means in a predetermined arcuate configuration outwardly bowed from said one sidewall and resiliently biased toward an upright position generally perpendicular to said one sidewall and concentrically positioned adjacent to said outwardly bowed portion of said first conduit means to accommodate simultaneous operative contact with said one pump rotor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 2 wherein said first auxiliary conduit means and said first conduit means are joined in flow communication with each other, said junction being located upstream of said outwardly bowed portion of said first conduit means and downstream of said outwardly bowed portion of said first auxiliary conduit means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 3 and further including a first sealed container of fluid, wherein said inlet end of said first auxiliary conduit means is integrally joined in flow communication with said first sealed container outwardly of said hollow interior, and wherein said first sealed container comprises the source of fluid for said first auxiliary conduit means and forms an integral part of said module.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 4 wherein said first sealed container comprises a sealed container of sterile anticoagulant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 1 and further including flexible second auxiliary conduit means defining a fluid pathway adapted for communication with a source of fluid and communicating with said first conduit means upstream of said outwardly bowed portion thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 6 and further including a second sealed container of fluid, wherein said second auxiliary conduit means includes an inlet end extending outwardly of said hollow interior and integrally joined in flow communication with said second sealed container, and wherein said second sealed container comprises the source of fluid for said second auxiliary conduit means and forms an integral part of said module.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 7 wherein said second sealed container of fluid comprises a sealed container of sterile saline.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fluid circuit module further includes flexible third conduit means having an inlet end attached to and in communication with said first fluid receiving receptacle adjacent to said red blood cell collection zone and an outlet end adapted for comunication with the circulatory system of the patient-donor for returning the collected red blood cells thereto, and wherein said conduit support means is further operative for supporting a portion of said third conduit means intermediate said inlet and outlet ends thereof within the confines of said hollow interior of said housing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 9 wherein said fluid circuit module further includes a third fluid receiving receptacle for collecting plasma, and flexible fourth conduit means having an inlet end communicating with said second fluid receiving receptacle in said plasma collection zone and an outlet end communicating with said third fluid receiving receptacle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 10 wherein said fluid circuit module further includes flexible fifth conduit means esablishing flow communication between said third conduit means and said fourth conduit means, and wherein said conduit support means is further operative for supporting a portion of said fifth conduit means within the confines of said hollow interior adjacent to the junction between said fifth conduit means and said third conduit means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 11 wherein said portable fluid circuit module further includes a flexible sleeve enclosing a portion of said first, second, third, and fourth conduit means adjacent to said associated fluid receiving receptacles thereby forming an umbilicus carried outwardly of said housing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 12 wherein said umbilicus extends outwardly from said sidewall of said housing means oppositely spaced from said one sidewall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes at least one sensing means positioned adjacent to said pump rotors, wherein said fluid circuit module further includes at least one monitoring device carried by said housing means in flow communication with at least one of said conduit means, and wherein said housing mounting means is further operative for positioning said housing means on said apparatus with said monitoring device in operative contact with said sensing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes optical sensing means positioned adjacent to said pump rotors, wherein said fluid circuit module includes a bubble trap carried by said housing means and joined in flow communication with one of said conduit means, and wherein said housing mounting means is further operative for positioning said housing means on said apparatus with said optical sensing means in operative contact with said bubble trap.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 15 wherein said fluid circuit module further includes third auxiliary conduit means defining a fluid path having an inlet end adapted for flow communication with a source of fluid and an outlet end joined in flow communication with said air bubble trap, and wherein said conduit support means is operative for supporting said outlet end of said third auxiliary conduit means within the confines of said housing interior.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 16 wherein said portable fluid circuit module further includes a sealed container of fluid, wherein said inlet end of said third auxiliary conduit means is integrally joined in flow communication with said sealed container of fluid, and wherein said sealed container of fluid comprises the source of fluid for said third auxiliary conduit means and forms an integral part of said module.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 17 wherein said sealed container of fluid comprises a sealed container of sterile saline.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes an optical sensor positioned adjacent to said pump rotors, wherein said second conduit means includes a translucent portion, and wherein said housing mounting means is operative for positioning said housing means on said apparatus with said optical sensor in operative contact with said translucent portion of said second conduit means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
A blood processing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes at least one valve means positioned adjacent to said pump rotors, and wherein said mounting means is operative for positioning said housing means on said apparatus with said valve means in operative contact with at least one of said conduit means for selectively controlling the flow of fluid through said conduit means.