Particle filter method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of separating first particles from second particles, the method comprising the steps of:
- rotating a centrifuge rotor about an axis of rotation, the rotor having a fluid chamber;
passing second particles into an inlet of the fluid chamber;
forming, with the second particles, a saturated fluidized bed within the fluid chamber; and
flowing the liquid having at least first particles into the fluid chamber inlet while maintaining the bed within the fluid chamber, so that the bed substantially prevents flow of first particles from the fluid chamber inlet to a fluid chamber outlet while substantially permitting flow of the liquid to the outlet.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for filtering or separating particles. The apparatus has a motor coupled to a centrifuge rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation. A fluid chamber rotates with the rotor. A substance is supplied to the inlet of the chamber. At least one of the motor and the substance supply are controlled to maintain a saturated fluidized bed of first particles within the fluid chamber while causing second particles to be retained in the chamber.
150 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method of separating first particles from second particles, the method comprising the steps of:
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rotating a centrifuge rotor about an axis of rotation, the rotor having a fluid chamber; passing second particles into an inlet of the fluid chamber; forming, with the second particles, a saturated fluidized bed within the fluid chamber; and flowing the liquid having at least first particles into the fluid chamber inlet while maintaining the bed within the fluid chamber, so that the bed substantially prevents flow of first particles from the fluid chamber inlet to a fluid chamber outlet while substantially permitting flow of the liquid to the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 50, 51, 52)
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24. A method of separating white blood cells from a liquid, the method comprising the steps of:
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passing at least particles into an inlet of a fluid chamber; forming within the fluid chamber a substantial barrier to white blood cell flow through the fluid chamber, the barrier including a saturated fluidized bed of the particles; flowing into the fluid chamber a liquid having at least the particles and the white blood cells to be separated; obstructing with the fluidized bed, while permitting the liquid to pass through the fluid chamber, white blood cell movement through the fluid chamber, at least a portion of the obstructing step occurring during at least a portion of the flowing step; and releasing a portion of the particles from the fluidized bed while maintaining a saturated bed of the particles in the fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 53, 54)
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32. A method of separating blood components, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying a centrifugal force to blood to separate the blood into components including at least plasma, platelets, and white blood cells, whereby at least a portion of the platelets become at least partially activated during the applying step; flowing the separated blood components into a fluid chamber; and rotating the fluid chamber about an axis of rotation; and filtering the components in the rotating fluid chamber with a barrier for obstructing white blood cells, to remove white blood cells, while a substantial number of platelets remain activated, wherein at least a portion of the filtering step occurs during at least a portion of the flowing step and during at least a portion of the applying step. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A method of separating blood components, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying a centrifugal force to blood to separate the blood into components including at least plasma, platelets, and white blood cells. whereby at least a portion of the platelets become at least partially activated during the applying step; flowing the separated blood components into a fluid chamber; and filtering the components in the fluid chamber to remove white blood cells, while a substantial number of platelets remain activated, the filtering including flowing the components into a saturated fluidized bed of platelets, wherein at least a portion of the filtering step occurs during at least a portion of the flowing step and during at least a portion of the applying step.
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36. A method of separating particles in a liquid, the method comprising the steps of:
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initially separating particles in a liquid according to at least one of different densities and different sedimentation velocities; flowing at least a portion of the particles separated in the initial separating step into a fluid chamber; forming a saturated fluidized bed of particles in the fluid chamber, the particles forming the saturated fluidized bed including particles flowing in the fluid chamber during the flowing step; and further separating the particles within the fluid chamber according to different sedimentation velocities, the further separating step including filtering particles with the saturated fluidized bed of particles. - View Dependent Claims (37, 42)
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38. A method of separating blood components, the method comprising the steps of:
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rotating a centrifuge rotor about an axis of rotation, the rotor having a separation chamber and a fluid chamber; conveying blood components into the separation chamber; separating the blood components within the separation chamber into at least first blood components and second blood components; directing second blood components and at least a portion of the first blood components from the separation chamber into the fluid chamber; and filtering within the fluid chamber, while the fluid chamber is on the centrifuge rotor, the first blood components with a barrier for obstructing first particles, to remove at least a portion of first particles from the second blood components. - View Dependent Claims (40, 43, 44, 45)
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39. A method of separating blood components, the method comprising the steps of:
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rotating a centrifuge rotor about an axis of rotation, the rotor having a separation chamber and a fluid chamber; conveying blood components into the separation chamber; separating the blood components within the separation chamber into at least first blood components and second blood components; directing second blood components and at least a portion of the first blood components from the separation chamber into the fluid chamber; and filtering within the fluid chamber, while the fluid chamber is on the centrifuge rotor, the first blood components to remove at least a portion of first particles from the second blood components, the filtering including obstructing passage of first particles using a saturated fluidized bed of second particles.
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41. A method of separating first and second particles within a fluid chamber provided on a centrifuge rotor, the method comprising the steps of:
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rotating the centrifuge rotor about an axis of rotation; flowing liquid carrying at least first and second particles from a source into an inlet of the fluid chamber, the second particles entering the fluid chamber inlet at a first concentration; and forming a saturated fluidized bed including the second particles, the saturated fluidized bed preventing a substantial number of first particles from flowing from the fluid chamber inlet to a fluid chamber outlet while permitting liquid and a second concentration of second particles to flow to the outlet, the second concentration of second particles being substantially equal to the first concentration, wherein at least a portion of the flowing step occurs during at least a portion of the forming step. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57)
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46. A method of separating first particles from liquid and second particles, the method comprising:
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rotating a centrifuge rotor about an axis of rotation, the rotor having a separation chamber and a fluid chamber; conveying at least liquid, first particles, and second particles into the separation chamber; separating within the separation chamber a first portion of the first particles from the liquid, a second portion of the first particles, and the second particles; directing at least some of the liquid, the second portion of the first particles, and the second particles from the separation chamber into the fluid chamber; and filtering within the fluid chamber, while the fluid chamber is on the centrifuge rotor, the second portion of the first particles with a barrier for obstructing first particles, to remove at least some of the first particles from the liquid and from the second particles. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 58, 59)
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Specification