Apparatus and method for separating and concentrating fluids containing multiple components
First Claim
1. A separation system for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the separation system comprising:
- a first buoy member having an exterior perimeter defined by an exterior wall, the first buoy member including a passage through the first buoy member and within the exterior perimeter, where the first buoy member further includes a first surface that is positioned a distance from a top edge defined by a side of the first buoy member, where the passage is formed at least in part through the first surface, and a second surface inclined towards the first surface;
a connection member operably connected to the first buoy member;
a second buoy member operably connected to the connection member, wherein a distance between the second buoy member and the first buoy member is operable to be formed so that at least a first surface of the second buoy member is operable to be spaced a distance from the first buoy member;
a valve assembly including a gate member biased towards the first buoy member to contact the first buoy member and close the passage through the first buoy member;
a hinge portion positioned between the gate member and the connection member to hingedly bias the gate member towards the first buoy member; and
a valve support portion extending from the gate member and surrounding at least a portion of the connection member;
wherein the hinge portion is formed between the gate member and the valve support portion.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus that allows for separating and collecting a fraction of a sample. The apparatus, when used with a centrifuge, allows for the creation of at various fractions in the apparatus. A buoy system that may include a first buoy portion and a second buoy member operably interconnected may be used to form at least three fractions from a sample during a substantially single centrifugation process. Therefore, the separation of various fractions may be substantially quick and efficient. Also selected fractions from the sample can be applied to a patient, either alone or as part of a mixture.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A separation system for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the separation system comprising:
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a first buoy member having an exterior perimeter defined by an exterior wall, the first buoy member including a passage through the first buoy member and within the exterior perimeter, where the first buoy member further includes a first surface that is positioned a distance from a top edge defined by a side of the first buoy member, where the passage is formed at least in part through the first surface, and a second surface inclined towards the first surface; a connection member operably connected to the first buoy member; a second buoy member operably connected to the connection member, wherein a distance between the second buoy member and the first buoy member is operable to be formed so that at least a first surface of the second buoy member is operable to be spaced a distance from the first buoy member; a valve assembly including a gate member biased towards the first buoy member to contact the first buoy member and close the passage through the first buoy member; a hinge portion positioned between the gate member and the connection member to hingedly bias the gate member towards the first buoy member; and a valve support portion extending from the gate member and surrounding at least a portion of the connection member; wherein the hinge portion is formed between the gate member and the valve support portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A separation system for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the separation system comprising:
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a first buoy member having an exterior perimeter defined by an exterior wall, the first buoy member including a passage through the first buoy member and within the exterior perimeter; a connection member operably connected to the first buoy member; a second buoy member operably connected to the connection member, wherein a distance between the second buoy member and the first buoy member is operable to be formed so that at least a first surface of the second buoy member is operable to be spaced a distance from the first buoy member; and a valve assembly including a gate member biased towards the first buoy member to contact the first buoy member and close the passage through the first buoy member; wherein the first buoy member further includes; a first surface that is positioned a distance from a top edge defined by a side of the first buoy member, wherein the passage is formed at least in part through the first surface, and a second surface inclined towards the first surface; wherein the gate member includes a specific density greater than at least one of the densest component of the multiple component material or an aggregate density of the multiple component material.
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5. A separation system for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the separation system comprising:
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a first buoy member having an exterior perimeter defined by an exterior wall, the first buoy member including a passage through the first buoy member and within the exterior perimeter, where the first buoy member further includes a first surface that is positioned a distance from a top edge defined by a side of the first buoy member, where the passage is formed at least in part through the first surface and a second surface inclined towards the first surface; a connection member operably connected to the first buoy member; a second buoy member operably connected to the connection member, wherein a distance between the second buoy member and the first buoy member is operable to be formed so that at least a first surface of the second buoy member is operable to be spaced a distance from the first buoy member; a valve assembly including a gate member biased towards the first buoy member to contact the first buoy member and close the passage through the first buoy member; and a spring member operably contacting the gate member to springedly bias the gate member towards the first buoy member; wherein the spring member physically and directly contacts the gate member to bias the gate member against the first buoy member and directly contacts at least one of the connection member and the second buoy member. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A separation system for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the separation system comprising:
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a first buoy member having an exterior perimeter defined by an exterior wall, the first buoy member including a passage through the first buoy member and within the exterior perimeter, where the first buoy member further includes a first surface that is positioned a distance from a top edge defined by a side of the first buoy member, wherein the passage is formed at least in part through the first surface and a second surface inclined towards the first surface; a connection member operably connected to the first buoy member; a second buoy member operably connected to the connection member, wherein a distance between the second buoy member and the first buoy member is operable to be formed so that at least a first surface of the second buoy member is operable to be spaced a distance from the first buoy member; and a valve assembly including a gate member biased towards the first buoy member to contact the first buoy member and close the passage through the first buoy member; a spring member operably contacting the gate member to springedly bias the gate member towards the first buoy member; wherein the gate member includes a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of the densest component of the multi-component material and the spring member includes a spring force less than a force formed by the densest component on the gate member during the application of the centrifugal force.
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9. A separation system for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the separation system comprising:
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a first buoy member having an exterior perimeter defined by an exterior wall, the first buoy member including a passage through the first buoy member and within the exterior perimeter; a connection member operably connected to the first buoy member; a second buoy member operably connected to the connection member, wherein a distance between the second buoy member and the first buoy member is operable to be formed so that at least a first surface of the second buoy member is operable to be spaced a distance from the first buoy member; and a valve assembly including a gate member biased towards the first buoy member to contact the first buoy member and close the passage through the first buoy member; wherein the valve assembly includes a biasing member to bias the gate member towards the first buoy member; wherein the second buoy member includes second passages; wherein the gate member is operable to be biased by the biasing member against the second buoy member. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A separation system for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the separation system comprising:
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a first buoy member having a first side and a second side; a second buoy member having a first and second side, wherein the second buoy member defines a passage that extends through the first side and the second side and within an external perimeter of the second buoy member; a connection member fixedly connected to the second side of the first buoy member and the first side of the second buoy member so that the second side of the first buoy member is spaced a distance from the first side of the second buoy member; a plug member; a spring biasing the plug member towards the second side of the second buoy member; a base member positioned a distance from the second side of the second buoy member; wherein the spring is positioned between the base member and the plug member; wherein the base member includes a substantially cruciform member with a support peg extending towards the second buoy member from an intersection of a first portion and a second portion of the cruciform member; wherein the spring member is positioned over the support peg; further wherein the plug member includes a depression operable to allow the plug member to move from a closed position to an open position relative to the second buoy member while riding over the support peg. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A separation system for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the separation system comprising:
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a first buoy member having a first side and a second side; a second buoy member having a first and second side, wherein the second buoy member defines a passage that extends through the first side and the second side and within an external perimeter of the second buoy member; a connection member fixedly connected to the second side of the first buoy member and the first side of the second buoy member so that the second side of the first buoy member is spaced a distance from the first side of the second buoy member; a plug member; and a spring biasing the plug member towards the second side of the second buoy member; wherein the plug member includes a specific gravity substantially equal to or greater than a specific gravity of the densest component of the multiple component material; wherein the spring includes a spring force operable to be overcome during the application of a centrifugal force to the densest component causing the plug member to overcome the spring force of the spring and move away from the second buoy member.
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17. A separation system for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the separation system comprising:
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a first buoy member having a first exterior perimeter defined by an exterior wall, the first buoy member including a first passage through the first buoy member and within the first exterior perimeter; a connection member fixedly connected to the first buoy member near a first end of the connection member; a second buoy member fixedly connected near a second end of the connection member a distance from the first buoy member so that at least a first surface of the second buoy member is spaced a distance from the first buoy member, the second buoy member including a second passage through the second buoy member and within the exterior perimeter; a first valve assembly including a gate member biased towards the first buoy member to contact the first buoy member to close the first passage through the first buoy member; and a second valve assembly including a plug member biased towards the second buoy member to close the second passage through the second buoy member; wherein the first valve assembly includes a spring member; wherein the spring member surrounds at least a portion of the connection member and springedly biases the gate member towards the first buoy member. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification