Patent ID: 7695423
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: A61M,B04B

Abstract:
1. A centrifuge for use in the continuous separation of blood into components comprising: a housing; a disk structure rotatably mounted within the housing; said disk structure forming a separation channel comprising an inner wall and an outer wall; a first input port adapted for introducing whole blood into the separation channel; a first output port adapted for removing concentrated red blood cells from the separation channel; and a second output port adapted for removing plasma from the separation channel; said separation channel substantially defining a circle having a centerpoint and a circumference; wherein said disk structure is adapted for mechanical connection to a motor for rotating the disk structure about a central axis such that the circle defined by the separation channel is perpendicular to the central axis and the centerpoint is substantially aligned with the central axis, the separation channel has a first portion where the outer wall is at or near its maximum distance from the central axis and the first output port is positioned in the first portion of the separation channel, and the separation channel has a second portion where the inner wall is at or near its minimum distance from the central axis and the second output port is positioned in the second portion of the separation channel, and the separation channel has a first defined depth in the first portion near the outer wall, and a second defined depth in the second portion near the inner wall, and the second defined depth is less than the first defined death.