Patent ID: 11904281
Assignee: FENWAL, INC.
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B | IPC A  B

Claim 0:
1. A fluid processing system including a priming subsystem for priming a spinning membrane separator, the priming subsystem comprising:
a priming fluid container in which a priming fluid is disposed;
the spinning membrane separator having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
at least a first selectable junction disposed between the priming fluid container and the inlet of the spinning membrane separator, the first selectable junction configured to open a path between the priming fluid container and the inlet or to block the path between the priming fluid container and the inlet;
a first pump coupled to the first outlet of the spinning membrane separator;
at least a second selectable junction coupled to the second outlet of the spinning membrane separator;
a controller coupled to at least the first selectable junction, the first pump, and the second selectable junction, the controller configured:
a) to open the first selectable junction to open the path,
b) to operate the first pump to draw priming fluid from the priming fluid container into the spinning membrane separator,
c) to close the first and second selectable junctions after priming fluid has been drawn into the spinning membrane separator,
d) to operate the first pump after the first selectable junction is closed to draw a vacuum, and
e) to open the first selectable junction after the vacuum has been drawn;

a disposable fluid circuit and a reusable hardware configured to accept the disposable fluid circuit,
the disposable fluid circuit comprising:
the spinning membrane separator,
a first syringe, and
a flow control cassette comprising a housing containing the path and the first and second selectable junctions;
wherein each of the selectable junctions comprises at least two apertures, a first aperture of the at least two apertures in fluid communication with a first channel and a second aperture of the at least two apertures in fluid communication with a second channel, and a deflectable surface that covers the first aperture but not the second aperture, and
the flow control cassette comprises a frame and at least one flexible side wall attached to one side of the frame, a portion of the flexible side wall defining the deflectable surface; and

the reusable hardware comprising:
a spinning membrane separator drive coupled to the spinning membrane separator,
a first syringe pump configured to have the first syringe coupled thereto and to move a piston within the first syringe,
a control cassette interface having at least one actuator for each of the selectable junctions, and
the controller coupled to the spinning membrane separator drive, the first syringe pump, and the control cassette interface.