Apparatus for collection, washing, and reinfusion of shed blood
First Claim
1. A method of processing blood from a surgical site on a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a source of suction;
b. providing a centrifuge including a centrifuge bowl having an inlet port, a floor, a separation chamber and an outlet port through which fluid exits the chamber;
c. providing a receptacle;
d. fluidly coupling the site and the inlet port;
e. fluidly coupling the outlet port and the receptacle;
f. coupling the suction to the outlet port through the receptacle;
g. compelling the blood from the site into the separation chamber by means of the suction;
h. operating the centrifuge so as to separate the blood into a plurality of components and isolate a fraction of red blood cells in the separation chamber; and
i. conveying at least one of the components, but not the fraction of red blood cells, from the outlet port to a receptacle.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated, vacuum-driven shed blood processing system that collects, dilutes, filters and washes postoperatively shed blood and concentrates red blood cells for reinfusion to the patient. The location of the centrifuge bowl between the surgical site and the vacuum source used to clean the site allows the immediate collection of shed blood in the bowl without an intermediate reservoir or an additional pump. In conjunction with a modified centrifuge bowl having a sealed aperture in its floor that permits reinfusion directly from the bowl without an additional reinfusion bag or reverse pump, this configuration processes blood for reinfusion using fewer steps and components yet without loss of functionality. Dilution of the blood upon its introduction into the system reduces the tendency to coagulate and allows the use of lower bowl rotation speeds. Slower rotation reduces red blood cell damage and lowers power requirements, which improves portability.
88 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method of processing blood from a surgical site on a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a. providing a source of suction; b. providing a centrifuge including a centrifuge bowl having an inlet port, a floor, a separation chamber and an outlet port through which fluid exits the chamber; c. providing a receptacle; d. fluidly coupling the site and the inlet port; e. fluidly coupling the outlet port and the receptacle; f. coupling the suction to the outlet port through the receptacle; g. compelling the blood from the site into the separation chamber by means of the suction; h. operating the centrifuge so as to separate the blood into a plurality of components and isolate a fraction of red blood cells in the separation chamber; and i. conveying at least one of the components, but not the fraction of red blood cells, from the outlet port to a receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23)
-
-
19. A method of processing blood from a surgical site on a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a. providing a centrifuge bowl having an inlet port, a separation chamber, a floor, and an outlet port through which fluid exits the bowl; b. fluidly coupling the site and the inlet port; c. conveying the blood from the site into the separation chamber; d. rotating the centrifuge bowl so as to separate the blood into a plurality of components and isolate a fraction of red blood cells in the separation chamber; e. stopping the rotation of the bowl; f. forming an aperture in the floor of the bowl so as to allow extraction of red blood cells from the bowl; and g. reinfusing the fraction of red blood cells into the patient through the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 24, 25)
-
Specification