Continuous flow separation chamber
Inventors
Murphy, Matthew • Uhlmann, Dominique • Powers, Edward • Ragusa, Michael • Pagès, Etienne
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12042595-B2
Publication Date
2024-07-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
A continuous flow centrifuge bowl includes a rotatable outer body, and a top and bottom core that are rotatable with the outer body. The bottom core has a wall extending proximally from a bottom wall. The proximally extending wall is radially outward from at least a portion of the top core and, together with the top core, defines a primary separation region in which initial separation of the whole blood occurs. The bowl may also have a secondary separation region located between the top core and the outer body, and a rotary seal that couples an inlet port and two outlet ports to the outer body. The inlet port may be connected to an inlet tube that extends distally into a whole blood introduction region. Additionally, one of the outlet ports may be connected to an extraction tube that extends into a region below the bottom core.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a centrifuge bowl for continuous separation of whole blood into a first blood component and a second blood component. The bowl includes an outer body rotatable about a longitudinal axis and a top core located within and rotatable with the outer body, with the top core being coaxial with the outer body. The bowl also includes a bottom core having a bottom wall and a vertically extending wall extending from the bottom wall, where the vertically extending wall is radially outward from at least a portion of the top core.
A primary separation region is defined by the vertically extending wall and at least a portion of the top core so that separation of the whole blood begins in the primary separation region. A secondary separation region is located between the top core and the outer body. Whole blood is introduced through an inlet port via an inlet tube into an introduction region, and the inlet tube is configured to introduce the whole blood into that introduction region.
The bowl extracts a first blood component through a first blood component outlet port using a first blood component extraction tube extending into a first blood component extraction region, with the extraction region positioned below the bottom core. The second blood component exits through a second blood component outlet port fluidly connected to the secondary separation region. A centrifuge bowl rotary seal attached to the outer body couples the inlet port, the first blood component outlet port, and the second blood component outlet port to the outer body.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim directed to the centrifuge bowl architecture for continuous separation of whole blood into two components, with inventive features distributed across the bowl’s rotational structure, defined primary/secondary separation regions, inlet/outlet routing, and rotary sealing. Dependent claims refine bypass isolation, weir/neck flow, defined channels, component identity, and optical monitoring with controller-based pump control.
Rotatable outer body with coaxial top core and bottom core defining separation regions
A centrifuge bowl for continuous separation of whole blood includes an outer body rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a top core located within and rotatable with the outer body and coaxial with the outer body, and a bottom core having a bottom wall and a vertically extending wall extending from the bottom wall, where the vertically extending wall is radially outward from at least a portion of the top core, with a primary separation region defined by the vertically extending wall and at least a portion of the top core.
Primary and secondary separation regions for initiating and completing component separation
A primary separation region is defined by the vertically extending wall and at least a portion of the top core, with separation of the whole blood into the first and second blood components beginning in the primary separation region, and a secondary separation region is located between the top core and the outer body.
Inlet tube introducing whole blood to an introduction region
An inlet port introduces whole blood into the centrifuge bowl, and an inlet tube fluidly connected to and extending distally from the inlet port is configured to introduce the whole blood into an introduction region.
First component outlet and extraction tube forming a first component extraction region
A first blood component outlet port draws the first blood component out of the centrifuge bowl, and a first blood component extraction tube extends from the first blood component outlet port to a first blood component extraction region.
Second component outlet port fluidly connected to the secondary separation region
A second blood component outlet port is fluidly connected to the secondary separation region and draws the second blood component from the centrifuge bowl.
Centrifuge bowl rotary seal coupling inlet and outlet ports to the outer body
A centrifuge bowl rotary seal attached to the outer body couples the inlet port, the first blood component outlet port, and the second blood component outlet port to the outer body.
Bypass seal between inlet tube and chimney to prevent introduction-region bypassing
The centrifuge bowl includes a bypass seal positioned between the outer diameter of an inlet tube and the inner diameter of a chimney to isolate the introduction region from the chimney.
Optical sensor monitoring interface location and controller controlling pump rate
The centrifuge bowl includes an optical sensor on the outer body shoulder configured to monitor the interface between the first blood component and the second blood component, and a controller that controls operation of a first blood component pump based on the location of the interface to draw the first blood component.
Weir disk and neck portion directing the second component to a second outlet
The centrifuge bowl includes a weir disk extending from a neck portion such that a second blood component flows over the weir disk into the neck portion before exiting through a second blood component outlet port.
Second blood component channel connecting secondary separation region to second outlet port
The centrifuge bowl adds a second blood component channel defined between the bottom surface of the weir disk and the top surface of the top core, where the second blood component channel fluidly connects the secondary separation region to a second blood component outlet port.
Specific component identities: red blood cells and plasma
The centrifuge bowl is configured such that the first blood component is red blood cells and the second blood component is plasma.
Overall claim coverage centers on a continuous-flow centrifuge bowl with a rotatable outer body and coaxial inner core structures that define primary and secondary separation regions, paired with inlet/outlet routing through a rotary seal. Dependent claim refinements add bypass sealing between an inlet tube and a chimney, weir/neck flow and a defined second component channel, component identity selection (red blood cells and plasma), and optical interface monitoring with controller-based control of a first blood component pump.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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