Patent ID: 7166231
Filing Date: 2007-01-23
Classification: B01D,B04B

Abstract:
1. A method for centrifugally separating whole blood into red blood cells and a plasma constituent comprising the steps of rotating a separation zone about a rotational axis, the rotating separation zone having radially spaced apart walls with a high-G side and a low-G side located closer to the rotational axis than the high-G side, the spaced apart walls defining a blood flow path that extends circumferentially about the rotation axis, the rotating separation zone including an entry region where whole blood enters the rotating separation zone to begin separation and a terminal wall that is circumferentially spaced from the entry region, where flow is halted, directing whole blood into the rotating separation zone through a first path adjacent the entry region, to begin separation of the whole blood into red blood cells toward the high-G side and plasma constituent toward the low-G side, directing red blood cells separated in the separation zone in a circumferential flow direction toward the terminal wall, and directing separated red blood cells from the rotating separation zone through a second path that communicates with the separation zone adjacent the terminal wall such that substantial plasma constituent can not flow circumferentially past or into the second path, the second path including a portion that is recessed into the high-G wall.