Patent Number: 06212255&
Section: summary

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION X-Ray irradiation of blood plasma is one of the methods sanctioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for providing a product which diminishes the chance of transfusion-induced diseases. For this purpose, the radiation dose and dose distributions that may occur from X-ray sources must be controlled accurately for meeting regulatory requirements. X-ray irradiation for sterilization has several advantages over gamma ray irradiation, electron beam application and other types of blood purification. First, X-rays can be accurately controlled in application and secondly, equipment for providing the X-rays is relatively safe, and also, the equipment for providing the X-rays is comparatively inexpensive as compared to the other types of blood purification. SUMMARY OF INVENTION The inventive blood irradiator provides a uniform dose of X-ray beam irradiation for a blood plasma contained in a blood transfusion bag. In one embodiment, the bag is placed in a selected cannister for receiving the X-ray beam, and the system includes two X-ray tubes positioned to irradiate the bag from opposite sides to provide a uniform radiation to the blood in the bag. The foregoing features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the invention. The accompanying drawings, listed herein below, are useful in explaining the invention.