Method and apparatus for processing biological fluids
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for processing biological fluids by centrifugal separation comprising:
- (a) a fluid processing container having a driven member affixed thereto and adapted to rotate about an axis when driven by a drive member;
(b) an enclosure about said container;
said enclosure comprising;
(i) a fixed member;
(ii) an opening in said fixed member through which said driven member is driven;
(iii) coupling means for mechanically coupling external rotary motion to the driven member, said coupling means being non-rotationally translatable about said axis;
(iv) sealing means for providing a fluid-tight seal between the fixed member and coupling means thereby enclosing said opening.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for processing biological fluids, such as blood, by centrifugal separation, is described in which no rotary seals are required for introduction of fluids to a centrifuge bowl. Instead, rotary motion from a drive motor is coupled by a coupling means to a driven member extending from an enclosed centrifuge bowl. The coupling means comprises a non-rotational member which translates, or orbits, about the bowl axis. A flexible boot, extending from the coupling means, seals the opening in the enclosure through which the driven member is driven.
113 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for processing biological fluids by centrifugal separation comprising:
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(a) a fluid processing container having a driven member affixed thereto and adapted to rotate about an axis when driven by a drive member; (b) an enclosure about said container;
said enclosure comprising;(i) a fixed member; (ii) an opening in said fixed member through which said driven member is driven; (iii) coupling means for mechanically coupling external rotary motion to the driven member, said coupling means being non-rotationally translatable about said axis; (iv) sealing means for providing a fluid-tight seal between the fixed member and coupling means thereby enclosing said opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A disposable biological fluid processing system comprising:
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(a) a fluid processing set; (b) a fluid processing container having a driven member affixed thereto and adapted to rotate about an axis; and (c) an enclosure about said container;
said enclosure comprising;(i) a fixed member having port means coupled to said set for introduction and expulsion of said fluid into and from said container; (ii) an opening in said fixed member through which said driven member may be driven; (iii) coupling means non-rotationally translatable about said axis for mechanically coupling external rotary motion to the driven member; and (iv) sealing means for enclosing the opening in said fixed member. - View Dependent Claims (6, 9, 10, 11)
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7. Apparatus for processing biological fluids by subjecting such fluids to a centrifugal force, comprising:
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(a) a fluid processing container adapted to rotate about an axis and having a driven member affixed thereto; (b) a drive member aligned with said axis; and (c) an enclosure about said container forming a non-rotational fluid-tight seal about said container;
said enclosure comprising;(i) a fixed member; (ii) an opening formed on said fixed member through which said driven member is driven; and (iii) a coupling member for mechanically coupling rotational motion from the drive member to the driven member, said coupling member being removably coupled to said drive member and non-rotationally translatable about the container axis; (iv) and a flexible sealing member extending between the fixed member and coupling member forming a fluid-tight seal enclosing said opening. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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12. Apparatus for processing blood by subjecting blood to a rotational centrifugal force, comprising:
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(a) a drive member; (b) a blood processing container adapted to be rotated about an axis upon being driven by a driven member; and (c) an enclosure about said container;
said enclosure comprising;(i) a fixed member; (ii) an opening formed in said fixed member through which the driven member is driven; (iii) coupling means for mechanically coupling rotational motion from said drive member to the driven member through said opening, said coupling means being non-rotationally translatable about said axis; (iv) and a flexible member extending between the fixed member and the enclosure for forming a fluid-tight seal enclosing said opening.
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13. A disposable biological fluid processing system comprising:
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(a) a fluid processing source set; (b) a fluid processing receiver set; (c) a fluid processing container having a driven member affixed thereto and adapted to rotate about an axis; and (d) an enclosure about said container;
said enclosure comprising;(i) a fixed member having an input port extending into said container and coupled to said source set and an output port extending into said container and coupled to said receiver set; (ii) an opening in said fixed member through which said driven member is driven; (iii) coupling means non-rotationally translatable about said axis for mechanically coupling external rotary motion to the driven member; and (iv) sealing means for enclosing the opening in said fixed member. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. Apparatus for processing blood by subjecting blood to a centrifugal force, comprising:
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(a) a drive member; (b) a blood processing container adapted to be rotated about an axis upon being driven by a driven member affixed thereto; and (c) an enclosure about said container;
said enclosure comprising;(i) a fixed member through which non-rotatable port(s) extend to the container for coupling said blood to said container; (ii) an opening formed in said fixed member through which the driven member is driven; (iii) coupling means for coupling rotational motion from said drive member to the driven member through the opening, said coupling means being non-rotationally translatable about said axis; (iv) and a flexible member extending between the fixed member and the coupling means for forming a fluid-tight seal enclosing the opening.
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16. A blood processing centrifuge system having a rotary container in which blood is processed, said system comprising:
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(a) stationary port means for providing a fluid path to or from said container; (b) a stationary enclosure about said container through which said port means extends; and (c) coupling means for mechanically coupling rotary motion, external to said stationary enclosure, to said container for rotating said container and wherein the coupling means comprises a member which orbits about the axis of rotation of the container and which is eccentrically coupled to said external rotary motion and said rotary container. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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- 18. A blood processing centrifuge system having a central axis of rotation having a centrifuge bowl rotatable about said axis with at least one conduit for providing fluid communication to the interior of the bowl, said conduit being non-rotatably coupled to said bowl through a stationary enclosure about said bowl and coupling means comprising a member which orbits about said axis for mechanically coupling external rotary motion through said enclosure to said bowl to rotate said bowl about said axis.
Specification