Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A method of separating a selected component from a fluid comprising: providing an elongated, flexible separation member with an input port and at least one output port with a flow path therebetween a first substantially non-rotatable, fluid flow conduit in fluid flow communication with the input port and a second, substantially non-rotatable, fluid flow conduit in fluid flow communication with the at least one output port; providing a centrifuge with a hollow cylindrical receiving chamber; placing the separation member into the receiving chamber adjacent an interior, curved, circular peripheral wall thereof; positioning a free, distal end of the first conduit and a free distal end of the second conduit outside of the centrifuge; rotating the centrifuge, including the receiving chamber, while simultaneously holding the distal ends fixed, providing an input fluid flow at the fixed distal end of the first fluid flow conduit and at least partly filling the elongated separation member therewith; providing a flow path constricting interface surface, adjacent a part of the flow path, oriented at a selected angle with respect to the fluid flow; separating by centrifugation, at least the selected component, in a portion of the fluid in the separation member; forming a fluid interface between a portion of the separated component and a portion of the residual fluid adjacent the provided selectively oriented interface surface; and sensing the location of the fluid interface with respect to the interface surface and withdrawing a portion of the separated component through the output port, via the second fluid flow conduit, and out the fixed distal end thereof in response to the interface being sensed at a predetermined location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
271 words
A method of separating a selected component from a fluid comprising: providing an elongated, flexible separation member with an input port and at least one output port with a flow path therebetween a first substantially non-rotatable, fluid flow conduit in fluid flow communication with the input port and a second, substantially non-rotatable, fluid flow conduit in fluid flow communication with the at least one output port; providing a centrifuge with a hollow cylindrical receiving chamber; placing the separation member into the receiving chamber adjacent an interior, curved, circular peripheral wall thereof; positioning a free, distal end of the first conduit and a free distal end of the second conduit outside of the centrifuge; rotating the centrifuge, including the receiving chamber, while simultaneously holding the distal ends fixed, providing an input fluid flow at the fixed distal end of the first fluid flow conduit and at least partly filling the elongated separation member therewith; providing a flow path constricting interface surface, adjacent a part of the flow path, oriented at a selected angle with respect to the fluid flow; separating by centrifugation, at least the selected component, in a portion of the fluid in the separation member; forming a fluid interface between a portion of the separated component and a portion of the residual fluid adjacent the provided selectively oriented interface surface; and sensing the location of the fluid interface with respect to the interface surface and withdrawing a portion of the separated component through the output port, via the second fluid flow conduit, and out the fixed distal end thereof in response to the interface being sensed at a predetermined location.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim I, wherein the centrifuge providing step includes providing a dual member centrifuge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 2 including fixing the distal ends at selected location while the separation member is being rotated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 including, in the separating step, forming an outer region of residual fluid with an inner region of selected component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 4 including selectively withdrawing a portion of the volume of the residual fluid while simultaneously providing additional input fluid flow thereby replacing at least in part the volume of withdrawn residual fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 5 including applying rotational forces along the entire length of the elongated separation member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 4 including accumulating, during the separating step, a second selected component in a region between the inner and the outer regions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 7 including withdrawing essentially the entire volume of the selected component and then withdrawing essentially the entire volume of the second selected component.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
41 words
A method as in 8 wherein the withdrawing steps include pumping essentially the entire separated volume of the selected component into a first container and then pumping essentially the entire separated volume of the second selected component into a second container.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
41 words
A method as in 8 wherein the withdrawing steps include pumping essentially the entire separated volume of the selected component into a first container and then pumping essentially the entire separated volume of the second selected component into a second container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 8 including priming the separation member with a selected fluid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as in claim 10 wherein the selected fluid is blood.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein the receiving chamber includes an annular receiving slot for positioning the elongated separation member therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as in claim 1 including, in the withdrawing step, pumping a portion of the volume of the separated component out of the distal end of the second conduit while simultaneously providing additional input fluid flow thereby replacing at least in part the volume of withdrawn selected component.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
218 words
A system for separating a selected fluid component in a fluid from an exterior source, the system comprising: means for centrifugation including means defining a rotatable, generally cylindrical, receiving member with said member defining an annular slot; and a closed fluid transfer system including, an elongated, hollow, flexible fluid flow separation member defining a fluid input port, a residual fluid output port and a selected component output port, and defining a fluid flow region between at least said fluid input port and said selected component output port first, second and third flexible, substantially non-rotatable tubing members each with first and second ends, said tubing members coupled at respective of said first end to said input port, said residual output port and said component output port, said separation member being slidable receivable within said annular slot with said second ends locatable at a fixed region outside of said rotatable member, said separation member positioned in said slot in a generally cylindrical shape, a fluid flow restricting interface surface carried adjacent said fluid flow region and oriented at a selected angle to a fluid flow from said input port to said selected component output port; and means for detecting the presence of an interface between the separated selected component and the remaining fluid adjacent a region of said interface means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
218 words
A system for separating a selected fluid component in a fluid from an exterior source, the system comprising: means for centrifugation including means defining a rotatable, generally cylindrical, receiving member with said member defining an annular slot; and a closed fluid transfer system including, an elongated, hollow, flexible fluid flow separation member defining a fluid input port, a residual fluid output port and a selected component output port, and defining a fluid flow region between at least said fluid input port and said selected component output port first, second and third flexible, substantially non-rotatable tubing members each with first and second ends, said tubing members coupled at respective of said first end to said input port, said residual output port and said component output port, said separation member being slidable receivable within said annular slot with said second ends locatable at a fixed region outside of said rotatable member, said separation member positioned in said slot in a generally cylindrical shape, a fluid flow restricting interface surface carried adjacent said fluid flow region and oriented at a selected angle to a fluid flow from said input port to said selected component output port; and means for detecting the presence of an interface between the separated selected component and the remaining fluid adjacent a region of said interface means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 14, with said separation member rotatable along with said receiving member and with said tubing members non-rotatable with said receiving member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as in claim 14 wherein said transfer system a blood collection and pheresis set with the source a blood donor and said means for coupling to the exterior source including a draw cannula for piercing a blood containing vein of the donor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as in claim 14 including means for withdrawing the separated blood component from the separation chamber into said separated component accumulation container in response to said interface being sensed at a selected location.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 14 with said returning means including means for reinfusing the residual fluid to the donor.