Patent ID: 6241649
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B04B

Abstract:
A method for the automatic control of a blood centrifuge wherein blood is added to the centrifuge in a filling step and red blood cells are separated from the blood in a settling process, the method comprising:providing a blood centrifuge, a blood pump for communicating blood to the centrifuge and a controller configured to receive data and to produce at least one output;providing first input data to the controller indicative of a selected output parameter comprising one of a desired hematocrit value for blood after completion of the filling step and a desired time required to complete the filling step;providing second input data to the controller indicative of a hematocrit value of blood entering the blood centrifuge;providing third input data indicative of a level of packed red blood cells in the blood centrifuge to the controller;providing fourth input data to the controller indicative of a volume of red blood cells in the centrifuge; andprocessing the first, second, third and fourth input data in the controller to produce a first output for controlling blood flow rate through the pump during the filling step.