Centrifuge apparatus for processing blood

• US 7,407,472 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuo Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sorin Group USA Incorporated (LivaNova Plc)
• Inventors: Skinkle, David W., Berch, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooley; Charles E
• Application Number:
  US11/079,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20060021952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 494/18, 494 23- 30, 494/38, 494/41, 494/43, 494/45, 494/47, 494/48, 494/50, 494/56, 494/37, 494/2, 494/5, 210/781, 210/782, 210/787, 210/512.1
• US Class Current: 494/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/05 for collecting, storing or administering blood, plasma or medical fluids multiple bags systems for separating or storing blood components A61M1/0209; Infusion or perfusion containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0209 Multiple bag systems for separating or storing blood components
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36224 with sensing means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36226 Constructional details of cassettes, e.g. specific details on material or shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362265 Details of valves
• 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 1/3698 Expressing processed fluid out from the turning rotor using another fluid compressing the treatment chamber; Variable volume rotors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 5/0428 with flexible receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 5/0442 with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation

Abstract

A centrifuge apparatus for processing blood comprising a bottom spring-loaded support plate; a top support plate; an axial inlet/outlet for blood to be processed and processed components of the blood, the axial inlet/outlet being attached to the top support plate by a rotating seal assembly; a variable volume separation chamber mounted between the bottom support plate and the top support plate, the variable volume separation chamber being fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet; a pump fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet; and a rotary drive unit attached to the bottom support plate. The top support plate is fixed vertically and the bottom spring-loaded support plate is mounted on springs that maintain pressure on the variable volume separation chamber and allow the bottom support plate to move vertically.

Claims

1. A centrifuge apparatus for processing blood comprising

a bottom spring-loaded support plate;

a top support plate;

an axial inlet/outlet for blood to be processed and processed components of the blood, the axial inlet/outlet being attached to the top support plate by a rotating seal assembly;

a variable volume separation chamber mounted between the bottom support plate and the top support plate, the variable volume separation chamber being fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet;

a pump fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet; and

a rotary drive unit attached to the bottom support plate,

wherein the top support plate is fixed vertically and the bottom spring-loaded support plate is mounted on springs that maintain pressure on the variable volume separation chamber and allow the bottom support plate to move vertically,

wherein the axial inlet/outlet is connected to a container for blood and to a plurality of containers for receiving separated components of the blood, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a multi-position valve for controlling intake of blood from the container for blood and outlet of processed blood components from the axial inlet/outlet to the plurality of containers for blood,

wherein the multi-position valve has a first position in which only two separate fluid conduits are provided within the valve and a second position in which only one fluid conduit is provided within the valve, and

wherein the variable volume separation chamber is a disk-shaped bag.

2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top support plate is disposable.

3. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disk-shaped bag is disposable.

4. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.

5. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotary drive unit and the pump are both controlled automatically by a processing unit.

6. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multi-position valve has four positions.

7. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multi-position valve is controlled automatically by a processing unit.

8. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container for blood and the plurality of containers for receiving separated components of the blood are disposable.

9. An apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of blood and blood components.

10. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotating seal assembly comprises one or more one piece lip seals.

11. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom support plate comprises a graduated scale that shows the amount of fluid present in the variable volume separation chamber.

12. A method of processing blood comprising:

providing a centrifuge apparatus, the centrifuge apparatus comprising

a bottom spring-loaded support plate;

a top support plate;

an axial inlet/outlet for blood to be processed and processed components of the blood, the axial inlet/outlet being attached to the top support plate by a rotating seal assembly;

a variable volume separation chamber mounted between the bottom support plate and the top support plate, the variable volume separation chamber being fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet;

a pump fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet; and

a rotary drive unit attached to the bottom support plate,

wherein the top support plate is fixed vertically and the bottom spring-loaded support plate is mounted on springs that maintain pressure on the variable volume separation chamber and allow the bottom support plate to move vertically,

wherein the axial inlet/outlet is connected to a container for blood and to a plurality of containers for receiving separated components of the blood, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a multi-position valve for controlling intake of blood from the container for blood and outlet of processed blood components from the axial inlet/outlet to the plurality of containers for blood,

wherein the multi-position valve has a first position in which only two separate fluid conduits are provided within the valve and a second position in which only one fluid conduit is provided within the valve, and

wherein the variable volume separation chamber is a disk-shaped bag;

introducing a quantity of blood into the variable volume separation chamber;

centrifuging the blood; and

removing the separated components of the blood through the axial inlet/outlet.

13. A method of claim 12, wherein the blood is centrifuged for from 5 to 15 minutes.

14. A method of claim 12, wherein the separated components of the blood are removed while the bottom support plate is still spinning.

15. A method of claim 12, wherein the quantity of blood introduced is from 20 to 200 ml.

16. A method of claim 12, wherein the top support plate is disposable.

17. A method of claim 12, wherein the disk-shaped bag is disposable.

18. A method of claim 12, wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.

19. A method of claim 12, wherein the rotary drive unit and the pump are both controlled automatically by a processing unit.

20. A method of claim 12, wherein the multi-position valve has four positions.

21. A method of claim 12, wherein the multi-position valve is controlled automatically by a processing unit.

22. A method of claim 12, wherein the container for blood and the plurality of containers for receiving separated components of the blood are disposable.

23. A method of claim 12, further comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of blood and blood components.

24. A method of claim 12, wherein the rotating seal assembly comprises one or more one piece lip seals.

25. A method of claim 12, wherein the bottom support plate comprises a graduated scale that shows the amount of fluid present in the variable volume separation chamber.

26. A centrifuge apparatus for processing blood comprising

a bottom support plate;

a top support plate;

an axial inlet/outlet for blood to be processed and processed components of the blood, the axial inlet/outlet being attached to the top support plate by a rotating seal assembly;

a variable volume separation chamber mounted between the bottom support plate and the top support plate, the variable volume separation chamber being fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet;

a pump fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet; and

a rotary drive unit attached to the bottom support plate,

wherein the top support plate is fixed vertically and the bottom support plate is mounted on a mechanical actuator that maintains pressure on the variable volume separation chamber and allows the bottom support plate to move vertically,

wherein the axial inlet/outlet is connected to a container for blood and to a plurality of containers for receiving separated components of the blood, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a multi-position valve for controlling intake of blood from the container for blood and outlet of processed blood components from the axial inlet/outlet to the plurality of containers for blood,

wherein the multi-position valve has a first position in which only two separate fluid conduits are provided within the valve and a second position in which only one fluid conduit is provided within the valve, and

wherein the variable volume separation chamber is a disk-shaped bag.

27. An apparatus of claim 26, wherein mechanical actuator is controlled automatically by a processing unit.