Patent ID: 6632191
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: A61M,B04B

Abstract:
A method of processing blood, the method comprising:providing a disposable set having an access means for withdrawing blood, an RBC container, a centrifuge rotor having a variable total volume, a filter and tubing connecting the access means, the container, the rotor and the filter; providing a control unit having a spinner means for loading and spinning the rotor; placing the rotor in the spinner means; drawing whole blood through the access means; directing the whole blood from the access means through the tubing to the rotor; causing the spinner means to rotate the rotor so as to separate the whole blood into a first component and a second component, wherein the first component is primarily plasma, and wherein the second component is primarily red blood cells and includes white blood cells; urging the first and second components out of the rotor, wherein at least one of the first and second components is urged out of the rotor while the rotor is still spinning; directing the second component through the filter so that white blood cells are caught in the filter and red blood cells pass through the filter; and directing the red blood cells from the filter to the RBC container.