Method of separating a selected component from a multiple component material
First Claim
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1. A method of isolating and withdrawing a selected component from a multiple component material using a buoy, comprising:
- filling a separation container with the multiple component material, the separation container having a buoy with a tuned density, wherein the separation container defines a container longitudinal axis;
centrifuging the separation container to cause the multiple component material to separate into at least two fractions of varying densities by,allowing the buoy in the separation container to reach an equilibrium within the fractions,positioning at least a portion of one of the two fractions within a collection space near the buoy, andconveying the selected component of at least one of the two fractions along a guide surface of the buoy to an accumulation position near a perimeter of the buoy, wherein the buoy has a buoy maximum transverse dimension that is defined by a line that is transverse to the container longitudinal axis and the guide surface is inclined substantially through the container longitudinal axis and relative to a buoy sidewall for at least two-thirds of the buoy maximum transverse dimension of the buoy; and
withdrawing the selected component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A separator that uses centrifugation to fractionate a suspension such as blood comprises a separation container and a buoy. The buoy is carried in the separation container and has a tuned density that is configured to reach an equilibrium position in a suspension. The guide surface is carried on the buoy upper surface and is inclined to an accumulation position near a buoy perimeter. The buoy suspension fractionation system can be used in a method of isolating a fraction from a suspension, and in a method for re-suspending particulates for withdrawal.
453 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of isolating and withdrawing a selected component from a multiple component material using a buoy, comprising:
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filling a separation container with the multiple component material, the separation container having a buoy with a tuned density, wherein the separation container defines a container longitudinal axis; centrifuging the separation container to cause the multiple component material to separate into at least two fractions of varying densities by, allowing the buoy in the separation container to reach an equilibrium within the fractions, positioning at least a portion of one of the two fractions within a collection space near the buoy, and conveying the selected component of at least one of the two fractions along a guide surface of the buoy to an accumulation position near a perimeter of the buoy, wherein the buoy has a buoy maximum transverse dimension that is defined by a line that is transverse to the container longitudinal axis and the guide surface is inclined substantially through the container longitudinal axis and relative to a buoy sidewall for at least two-thirds of the buoy maximum transverse dimension of the buoy; and withdrawing the selected component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of isolating and withdrawing a selected component from a multiple component material using a buoy, comprising:
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filling a separation container having a buoy with a tuned density with the multiple component material, the separation container defining a container axis and the buoy having at least one maximum dimension along a line transverse to the container axis; centrifuging the separation container to cause the multiple component material to separate into fractions of varying densities by, allowing the buoy in the separation container to reach an equilibrium within the fractions, concentrating particulates by moving at least a portion of the multiple component material along a guide surface of the buoy, wherein the guide surface is substantially through a center of the container and is inclined at least two-thirds of the at least one maximum dimension of the buoy to an accumulation position near a perimeter of the buoy, and conveying the particulates along the guide surface of the buoy to a collection space; and withdrawing the selected component. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of isolating and withdrawing a selected component from a multiple component material using a buoy, comprising:
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placing a volume of the multiple component material in a separation container; applying a centrifugal force to the separation container, the volume of the multiple component material, and a buoy; and moving the buoy to a position relative to the separation container and the volume of the multiple component material such that a submerged volume of the buoy below an equilibrium interface is greater than an un-submerged volume of the buoy above the equilibrium interface; wherein the position of the buoy is based upon the buoy having a selected density and with a selected configuration, wherein the selected configuration includes; a buoy top wall and a buoy bottom wall with a buoy perimeter sidewall defining a maximum height extending between the buoy top wall and the buoy bottom wall and a minimum height extending between the buoy top wall and the buoy bottom wall, and a guide surface defined by the buoy top wall extending from a first edge at the buoy perimeter sidewall defining the maximum height through a central axis of the buoy to a second edge at the buoy perimeter sidewall defining the minimum height, wherein the guide surface extends from the first edge to the second edge at a first angle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of isolating and withdrawing a selected component from a multiple component material using a buoy, comprising:
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filling a separation container with the multiple component material; centrifuging the separation container to cause the multiple component material to separate into at least two fractions of varying densities and to cause a buoy that has a maximum cross-sectional area to move near an equilibrium interface between two separated fraction, wherein the buoy includes a maximum transverse dimension in the maximum cross-sectional area; conveying the selected component of at least one of the two fractions along a guide surface of the buoy to an accumulation position near a perimeter of the buoy, wherein the guide surface is inclined in substantially one direction relative to a buoy sidewall for more than half of the buoy maximum transverse dimension; and withdrawing the selected component. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification