Centrifuge system utilizing disposable components and automated processing of blood to collect platelet rich plasma

• US 7,306,555 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arteriocyte Medical Systems, Inc (Isto Biologics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Malcolm, David, Dolecek, Victor D., McIntosh, Kevin D., Sitko, Vitaly G., Merte, Kenneth E., Berg, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): DRODGE, JOSEPH W
• Application Number:
  US11/518,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20070045201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 210/360.1, 210/512.1, 210/787, 494 16- 18, 494 31- 33, 494 43- 45, 494/60, 494/56, 138/120
• US Class Current: 494/31
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3693 using separation based on different densities of components, e.g. centrifuging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3696 with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0092 starting product created by centrifuging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0415 Plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0427 Platelets; Thrombocytes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0429 Red blood cells; Erythrocytes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/331 used as turbidity change detectors, e.g. for priming-blood or plasma-hemoglubine-interface detection
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 13/00 Control arrangements specially designed for centrifuges; Programme control of centrifuges control arrangements for feed, charge, or discharge B04B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 5/0442 with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 7/02 Casings; Lids shock absorbers, vibration dampers F16F

Abstract

A centrifugal method, and corresponding system, for processing blood to collect platelet rich plasma. A separation chamber is filled with blood from a fill syringe by rotating the separation chamber at a fill rotation rate and pumping the blood from the fill syringe. A soft spin is used to initially separate red blood cells from platelets by spinning the separation chamber at a soft spin rate. A percentage of the blood is drawn from the separation chamber back into the fill syringe to remove separated red blood cells. A second portion of the separated blood is drawn from the separation chamber until a red blood cell/platelet interface is detected. A hard spin is performed by spinning the separation chamber at a higher rate and connecting tubing is cleared of red blood cells by drawing a predetermined clearing volume. The platelet rich plasma is then collected in the collection syringe.

Claims

1. A disposable centrifuge apparatus comprising:

a separation chamber consisting essentially of a first chamber section and a second chamber section, separated by a divider element with each chamber section including a cylindrical elongated portion adjacent to the divider element, a collection portion with a side wall that slopes inward toward the central axis of the chamber section to define a reducing circular cross-section along the central axis, a cylindrical nipple attached to the collection portion, and a port providing an inlet and an outlet path for fluid to the chamber section; and

a tubing assembly including first and second tubing sections attached to the chamber section ports at a first end and a three-way tubing connector connecting second ends of the first and second tubing sections, wherein the tubing assembly is shaped substantially as an arc;

a third tubing section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the three-way tubing connector;

a fourth tubing section having a first end and a second end; and

a tube clamp connecting the second end of the third tubing section and the first end of the fourth tubing section, wherein the clamp comprises a tapered section;

wherein the first, second and third tubing sections of the tubing assembly form a loop and are in fluid communication with each other and the separation chamber.

2. The disposable centrifuge apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubing assembly further includes:

a fifth tubing section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the second end of the fourth tubing section and the second end to a fill syringe and further comprising a syringe connector;

a sixth tubing section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the second end of the fourth tubing section and the second end to a collection syringe and further comprising a syringe connector; and

a tubing connector connecting the second end of the fourth tubing section to the first ends of the fifth and the sixth tubing sections.

3. The disposable centrifuge apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tubing connector is a divided connector.

4. The disposable centrifuge apparatus of claim 1, wherein the length of the first, second and third tubing sections is approximately 16 inches.

5. The disposable centrifuge apparatus of claim 1, wherein the three-way connector and the tube clamp are approximately 16 inches apart.

6. The disposable centrifuge apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tube clamp is a two part connector.

7. The disposable centrifuge apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tube clamp reduces the tubing diameter.

8. The disposable centrifuge apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plastic is urethane.

9. The disposable centrifuge apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth tubing sections comprise single lumen plastic tubing.

10. The disposable centrifuge apparatus of claim 1, wherein the three-way connector is a tubing tee or a Y connector.