Patent ID: 6123655
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: A61M,B04B

Abstract:
A centrifuge apparatus for processing biological fluids, comprising a hollow centrifuge processing chamber rotatable about an axis of rotation by engagement of the processing chamber with a rotary drive unit, the processing chamber having an axial inlet/outlet with an inlet and an outlet for biological fluid to be processed and for processed components of the biological fluid, said inlet/outlet leading into a separation space of variable volume wherein the entire centrifugal processing of biological fluid takes place, said processing chamber comprising a generally cylindrical wall extending from an end wall of the processing chamber, said generally cylindrical wall defining therein the hollow processing chamber which occupies a hollow open cylindrical space coaxial with the axis of rotation, the axial inlet/outlet being provided in said end wall coaxial with the generally cylindrical wall to open into the hollow processing chamber, the processing chamber containing within said generally cylindrical wall an axially moveable member, said separation space of variable volume being defined in an upper part of the processing chamber by said generally cylindrical wall and by said axially moveable member contained in the generally cylindrical wall of the processing chamber, wherein axial movement of said moveable member varies a volume of the separation space, the moveable member being axially moveable within the processing chamber to intake a selected quantity of biological fluid to be processed into the separation space via said inlet at a time selected from before and during centrifugal processing and to express processed biological fluid components from the separation space via said outlet during or after centrifugal processing.