Buoy fractionation system

• US 8,596,470 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanuman, LLC, Biomet Biologics LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hanuman, LLC, Biomet Biologics LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leach, Michael D., Dorian, Randel, Hoeppner, Jacy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, John
• Application Number:
  US13/400,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20120145652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 210/242.1, 210/512.1, 210/513, 210/515, 210/516, 210/518, 210/519, 210/523, 210/789, 422/101, 422/547, 422/548
• US Class Current: 210/518
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/029 Separating blood components present in distinct layers in a container, not otherwise provided for containers for storing blood or blood components A61J1/05; sampling or analysing blood by separating blood components G01N33/491
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3693 using separation based on different densities of components, e.g. centrifuging
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/02 for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 41/00 Drugs used in surgical methods, e.g. surgery adjuvants for preventing adhesion or for vitreum substitution
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/08 Plasma substitutes; Perfusion solutions; Dialytics or haemodialytics; Drugs for electrolytic or acid-base disorders, e.g. hypovolemic shock artificial tears A61P27/04
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/26 Separation of sediment aided by centrifugal force or centripetal forcecentrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/262 by using a centrifuge
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50215 using a float to separate phases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/491 by separating the blood components G01N15/05 takes precedence

Abstract

A separator system operable to use centrifugation to fractionate a multiple component material, such as a suspension including blood, comprises a buoy. The buoy can be carried in a separation container and has a tuned density that is configured to reach an equilibrium position in the multiple component material. A guide surface is carried on a 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.

Claims

1. A buoy fractionation system, comprising:

a buoy member having a first surface and an opposed second surface defining a width of the buoy member at an outer perimeter of the buoy member;

wherein at least the first surface extends to the outer perimeter of the buoy member and transverse to an axis extending from the second surface;

wherein the first surface has a surface portion that is angled toward a sump region that is nearer the outer perimeter than a center of the buoy member;

wherein the first surface is angled toward the sump region for greater than one-half of the width of the buoy member;

wherein the at least a portion of the buoy member is configured to be moved to an interface of at least two fractions of a separated material and the sump region is configured to positioned within one of the two fractions;

wherein an angled portion of the first surface extends through the center of the buoy member to the sump region;

wherein the first surface includes a precision collection area having an angle towards the sump region that is different from the angle of the surface portion of the first surface.

2. The buoy fractionation system of claim 1, wherein the first surface is angled from a first edge of the perimeter to a second edge of the perimeter, wherein the second edge is opposite the first edge.

3. The buoy fractionation system of claim 1, wherein the buoy member further defines a through passage that extends entirely through the buoy member and the first surface and the second surface such that a material is operable to pass the buoy member through the through passage.

4. The buoy fractionation system of claim 1, wherein the first surface is planar and is a guide surface configured to guide at least a portion of a multiple component material to the sump region.

5. The buoy fractionation system of claim 4, further comprising:

a container having a first end spaced apart from a second end;

wherein the first surface of the buoy member is directly accessible from at least one of the first end of the container or the second end of the container.

6. The buoy fractionation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a container having a first end wall configured to have a centrifugal force applied thereto to separate components of a multiple component material;

wherein the second surface is configured to move away from the first end wall.

7. A buoy fractionation system, comprising:

a buoy member having a first surface and an opposed second surface defining a width of the buoy member at an outer perimeter of the buoy member; and

a container having a first end spaced apart along an axis from a second end;

wherein the first surface of the buoy member is directly accessible from at least one of the first end of the container or the second end of the container;

wherein at least the first surface extends to the outer perimeter of the buoy member;

wherein the first surface is angled relative to the axis;

wherein a sump region is nearer the outer perimeter than a center of the buoy member;

wherein the first surface has a surface portion that is angled toward the sump region for greater than one-half of the width of the buoy member;

wherein the at least a portion of the buoy member is configured to be moved to an interface of at least two fractions of a separated material and the sump region is configured to positioned within one of the two fractions;

wherein an angled portion of the first surface extends through the center of the buoy member to the sump region;

wherein the first surface includes a precision collection area having an angle towards the sump region that is different from the angle of the surface portion of the first surface.

8. The buoy fractionation system of claim 7, wherein the first surface extends an entire width of the buoy member and is angled from a first edge of the perimeter to a second edge of the perimeter, wherein the second edge is opposite the first edge through the center of the buoy member.

9. The buoy fractionation system of claim 8, wherein the surface portion of the first surface is a planar guide surface configured to guide at least a portion of a multiple component material to the sump region.

10. The buoy fractionation system of claim 7, wherein the buoy member further defines a tapered through passage that extends entirely through the buoy member and the first surface and the second surface such that a material is operable to pass the buoy member through the through passage.

11. The buoy fractionation system of claim 7, wherein the second surface is configured to move away from the first end wall.

12. The buoy fractionation system of claim 11, wherein the second surface is convex.

13. A buoy fractionation system, comprising:

a buoy member having a first guide surface and an opposed second surface defining a width of the buoy member at an outer perimeter of the buoy member; and

a container having a first end spaced apart along an axis from a second end and configured to receive the buoy member where the outer perimeter of the buoy member is configured to slidably engage an inner wall surface of the container;

wherein the first guide surface of the buoy member is accessible directly from at least one of the first end or the second end of the container;

wherein the first guide surface extends to the outer perimeter of the buoy member;

wherein the first guide surface is angled relative to the axis of the container when positioned within the container;

wherein the first guide surface is angled greater than one-half the width of the buoy member;

wherein at least a portion of the buoy member is configured to be moved to an interface of at least two fractions of a separated material wherein at least a portion of the first guide surface is configured to be positioned within one of the two fractions,

wherein an angled portion of the first guide surface has a surface portion that extends through a center of the buoy member towards the outer perimeter;

wherein the first guide surface includes a precision collection area that has an angle towards the outer perimeter that is different from the angle of the first guide surface.

14. The buoy fractionation system of claim 13, wherein the first guide surface extends an entire width of the buoy member and is angled from a first edge of the perimeter to a second edge of the perimeter, wherein the second edge is opposite the first edge through the center of the buoy member.

15. The buoy fractionation system of claim 13, wherein the buoy member further defines a tapered through passage that extends entirely through the buoy member and the first guide surface and the second surface such that a material is operable to pass the buoy member through the through passage.

16. The buoy fractionation system of claim 13, wherein the second surface is convex.

17. The buoy fractionation system of claim 13, wherein the first guide surface is angled at least two-thirds the width of the buoy member.