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Apparatus for the continuous separation of biological fluids into components and method of using same

  • US 7,211,037 B2
  • Filed: 09/03/2003
  • Issued: 05/01/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for separating components of a fluid comprising:

  • an outer housing with an upper housing end and a lower housing end, wherein said outer housing increases in diameter from said upper housing end to said lower housing end, said lower housing end having a housing floor and said housing upper end having a housing outlet;

    a base said outer housing and said base having an interior volume between them and said outer housing adapted for rotation about a center axis;

    a top core having an outer wall, an upper top core end, and a lower top core end;

    said top core connected with said outer housing for rotation therewith;

    occupying a top coaxial volume of said interior volume of said outer housing; and

    providing a top separation volume between said top core and said outer housing;

    said upper top core end having a lumen connector;

    said lumen connector having a first lumen wall extending downward from the a top surface of the lumen connector;

    said lumen connector further having an inner lumen wall within said first lumen wall and extending downward from the top surface;

    said inner lumen wall having a top wall end and a bottom wall end;

    an upper plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a second lumen wall extending above said top surface;

    said upper plate adapted to form a tight fit with the lower top core end for rotation therewith;

    said second lumen wall adapted to overlap with said first lumen wall to form a lumen having an upper lumen end and a lower lumen end;

    said lumen extending axially through said core forming a first bowl channel for inflowing said fluid and said lumen having fluid communication with the separation volume via a trench;

    a bottom core having an outer wall, a top surface contacting and connected with bottom surface of upper plate for rotation therewith;

    an upper bottom core end, a lower bottom core end, said top surface having an indentation and a trench, and a lumen wall that has an upper wall end and a lower wall end;

    said bottom core occupying a bottom coaxial volume of said interior volume between said outer housing and said base;

    said upper wall end of lumen wall is adapted to engage with bottom wall end of inner lumen wall to form an inner lumen having an upper lumen end and a lower lumen end;

    said inner lumen forming a second bowl channel for removing a first separated fluid component;

    a lower plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a hollow cylinder near center of said lower plate;

    said hollow cylinder has an opening adapted to engage with lower wall end of said lumen; and

    said lower plate having a circumference adapted to form a tight fit with the lower bottom core end for rotation therewith;

    a connection sleeve having a sleeve flange surrounding a lumen mounting recess;

    said lumen mounting recess and top surface of lumen connector engaged to form a bowl chamber for removing a second separated fluid component;

    said connection sleeve further adapted to be secured to said apparatus near said housing outlet of said outer housing for rotation therewith.

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