Abstract:
System, apparatus and method for opening a heat-bonded connection formed between two hollow, flexible thermoplastic conduits. A pressure difference is created between the inside of at least one of the conduits and the ambient atmosphere sufficient to cause expansion of a wall of the tubing conduit in the vicinity of a frangible portion at least partially blocking the connection to disrupt the frangible portion and reduce the blocking.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for obtaining platelets are disclosed. Platelets are collected in a pre-determined volume of plasma and a determined amount of a combined storage medium including the pre-determined amount of plasma and a volume of a synthetic additive solution.
Abstract:
Methods for controlling a spinning membrane separator so as to limit fouling of the membrane by changing the rotation rate of the spinning membrane in response to the fouling rate, while maintaining a constant outlet cellular concentration. Increasing the spinner rotation rate will increase the strength of the Taylor vortices generated within the separator by the spinning of the membrane, which should reduce fouling of the membrane. The goal of the method is to rotate the spinning membrane at the slowest rate possible without unacceptable fouling. Two specific methods to control fouling are disclosed. In a first, unidirectional method, the spin rate of the membrane is only increased in response to undesirable fouling in order to prevent the fouling from continuing. In a second, bidirectional method, the spin rate of the membrane may be either increased or decreased in response to the measured fouling rate in order to maintain the fouling rate within a desired range.
Abstract:
Fluid separation chambers are provided for rotation about an axis in a fluid processing system. The fluid separation chamber may be provided with first and second stages, with the first and second stages being positioned at different axial locations. In another embodiment, at least one of the stages may be provided with a non-uniform outer diameter about the rotational axis, which may define a generally spiral-shaped profile or a different profile for fractionating a fluid or fluid component. One or more of the stages may also have a varying outer diameter along the axis. The profile of the chamber may be provided by the chamber itself (in the case of rigid chambers) or by an associated fixture or centrifuge apparatus (in the case of flexible chambers).
Abstract:
Methods and systems for obtaining platelets are disclosed. Platelets are collected in a pre-determined volume of plasma and a determined amount of a combined storage medium including the pre-determined amount of plasma and a volume of a synthetic additive solution.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for the washing and processing of biological fluid/biological cells are disclosed. The systems and methods utilize a disposable fluid circuit including a spinning membrane separation device to wash the biological cells.
Abstract:
A system and method processes blood donation data for presentation on an operator interface. A handheld computing device has a touch screen display and a processing circuit to provide an icon associated with an executable application on a first display screen, the icon configured to be positioned along with icons for other executable applications on the first display screen. The processing circuit is to retrieve an indication of a need for a particular blood component, wherein the particular blood component is selected from the group comprising whole blood, double red cells and plasma. The processing circuit is to provide the indication of the need for a particular blood component to the display. The processing circuit is to provide to the touch screen display a remaining time or a date the blood donor is next eligible to donate a blood component based on a donation eligibility guideline.
Abstract:
A system and method are provided for controlling fouling and complement protein activation during separation of plasma from whole blood using a spinning membrane separator. The separator includes a pair of relatively rotating surfaces spaced apart to define a gap therebetween, with at least one of the surfaces comprising a membrane that allows plasma to pass therethrough but substantially prevents the passage of red cells. In accordance with the method, the membrane material and membrane fabrication technique are selected so as that the resulting membrane both resists fouling and complement protein activation. In a specific embodiment, the membrane is has a smooth surface and substantially linear pores. The pores have a nominal diameter of less than 2 microns (so as to exclude platelets) and preferably a diameter of from 0.6 microns to 0.8 microns, as may be obtained by use of track-etching. In addition, the membrane material preferably is polycarbonate, as it has been determined that polycarbonate does not activate complement proteins.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for the treatment and post-treatment processing of a mononuclear cell product are disclosed. The methods and systems include and provide for the separation of excess conditioning fluid and unbound treating agent prior to return of said treated mononuclear cell product to a patient.
Abstract:
Automated systems and methods for providing platelet concentrates and synthetic storage media with reduced residual plasma volumes are disclosed. The disclosed systems and methods reduce the residual volume of plasma in platelet concentrate to obtain a platelet product having a volume of plasma that is approximately 5% or less of the total platelet product volume. The disclosed systems and methods also reduce the residual volume of plasma in platelet concentrate to obtain a washed platelet product, wherein the volume of plasma in the washed platelet product is approximately 1% or less of the total washed platelet product volume. Storage media for platelets including less than approximately 10% plasma are also disclosed.