Method for collecting a desired blood component and performing a photopheresis treatment
First Claim
1. A method of collecting a desired blood component comprising:
- providing a separator having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
drawing whole blood from a source;
adding an anticoagulant fluid to the whole blood in a predetermined ratio to form a mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid;
pumping the mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid into the separator via the inlet at a selected inlet rate;
separating the mixture into blood components of different densities;
withdrawing plasma and red blood cells from the separator while continuing to pump the mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid into the separator, the plasma and red blood cells being withdrawn at rates so as to build up buffy coat in the separator, the plasma being withdrawn via the first outlet and the red blood cells being withdrawn via the second outlet; and
upon a predetermined amount of buffy coat building up in the separator, collecting the buffy coat from the separator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method for separating whole blood into components and collecting a desired blood component. The method allows a desired blood component to be subjected to centrifugal forces within a separator for prolonged periods of time, yielding a cleaner cut and higher yield of the desired blood component. Whole blood is drawn from a source and pumped into a separator, the undesired blood components are removed from the separator at rates so as to build up the desired blood component in the separator. The desired blood component is only removed after a predetermined amount of the desired blood component has built up in the separator. It is preferred that the desired blood component be buffy coat and that the method be used to perform photopheresis treatments. In another aspect, the invention is a method of performing a full photopheresis treatment to treat diseases in a reduced time, preferably less than about 70 minutes, and more preferably less than about 45 minutes.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of collecting a desired blood component comprising:
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providing a separator having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
drawing whole blood from a source;
adding an anticoagulant fluid to the whole blood in a predetermined ratio to form a mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid;
pumping the mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid into the separator via the inlet at a selected inlet rate;
separating the mixture into blood components of different densities;
withdrawing plasma and red blood cells from the separator while continuing to pump the mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid into the separator, the plasma and red blood cells being withdrawn at rates so as to build up buffy coat in the separator, the plasma being withdrawn via the first outlet and the red blood cells being withdrawn via the second outlet; and
upon a predetermined amount of buffy coat building up in the separator, collecting the buffy coat from the separator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of collecting a desired blood component comprising:
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withdrawing whole blood from a patient;
combining anticoagulant with the whole blood at a selected ratio of anticoagulant to whole blood;
pumping the combination of whole blood and anticoagulant through a fluid flow controller to a separator;
operating the separator until air is displaced;
continuing to pump the combined whole blood and anticoagulant into the separator and collecting separated plasma until a selected amount of plasma is collected;
mixing plasma with a priming fluid and returning the mixture of plasma and priming fluid to the patient at the same rate as incoming whole blood until red blood cells are detected;
withdrawing red cells and pumping at a speed controlled so as to maintain a red cell line selected level in the separator while collecting buffy coat in the separator;
at a selected time, when a desired amount of buffy coat cells are collected in the separator, continuing to pump whole blood into the separator while discontinuing pumping red blood cells, thereby causing the red blood cells to push buffy coat out of the separator until a desired amount is collected in a buffy coat collector;
discontinuing collection of buffy coat when red blood cells have been detected. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of performing a photopheresis treatment for diseases on a patient comprising:
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drawing whole blood from a source;
adding an anticoagulant fluid to the whole blood in a predetermined ratio to form a mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid;
separating the mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant into a plurality of blood components according to density;
mixing a photoactivation chemical with at least one of the blood components to form a mixture of the photoactivation chemical and the at least one blood component;
irradiating the combination of the at least one blood component and photoactivation chemical; and
returning the irradiated combination to a patient;
wherein the entire photopheresis treatment is completed in less than about 70 minutes. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of collecting a desired blood component comprising:
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providing a separator having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
drawing whole blood from a source;
adding an anticoagulant fluid to the whole blood in a predetermined ratio to form a mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid;
pumping the mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid into the separator via the inlet at a selected inlet rate;
separating the mixture into blood components of different densities;
withdrawing plasma and buffy coat from the separator while continuing to pump the mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid into the separator, the plasma and buffy coat being withdrawn at rates so as to build up red blood cells in the separator, the plasma and buffy coat being withdrawn via the first outlet; and
upon a predetermined amount of red blood cells building up in the separator, collecting the red blood cells from the separator via the second outlet.
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Specification