Patent GB-1259789-A (GB)
Title: Washing process and centrifuge assembly
IPC: B04B11/06
Filed: 1969-03-05
Abstract: 1,259,789. Centrifugal separator. BAXTER LABORATORIES Inc. 5 March, 1969 [18 March, 1968], No. 11595/69. Heading B2P. A centrifuge for washing preserved red blood cells, Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a rotor 21, a pair of containers 37, 38 supported from the rotor, charging means including a pump for effecting influent washing fluid flow of predetermined volume into each of the containers under an independent pressure head as the rotor spins for washing the cells 36 contained therein, means defining an independent influent path for each of said containers, and discharging means for collecting effluent spent washing fluid from each of the containers.  The rotor 21 has a hub 25 with outwardly projecting radial members 26 from which in turn project pairs of arms 29 on which receptacles 23, 24 are pivotably mounted. The containers 37, 38 are supported on conical seats 39 in the receptacles, each of which is closed by a slidable cap 41 through which extend influent and effluent ducts 43, 45. The latter are connected via a fluid control centrifugal clamp assembly 51, a disposable distributor-collector 89, flexible conduits 145, 147 and 149, 151, tubes 235, 237 and control box 245 respectively to a pump 153 or to an influent reservoir 233 and an effluent tank 155. The clamp assembly 51, Fig. 10, is secured to the hub 25 and comprises a clamping mechanism 58 which is associated with each of the containers 37, 38 and consists of a spring biased block 59 slidable in a well 56 (57) in a body 55 and carrying a T-shape clamp member 67 having recesses 77, 78 through which the influent and effluent ducts 43, 45 of the associated container 37 (38) extend. When the centrifuge is stationary, the receptacles 23, 24 are in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the clamp members 67 are in the position shown on the right of Fig. 10 thereby blocking the ducts 43, 45 to prevent flow into and out of the containers 37, 38. When the centrifuge is rotating the receptacles 23, 24 are in the position shown in Fig. 2 and the clamp member 67 are in the position shown on the left of Fig. 10 thereby opening the ducts 43, 45 to permit flow into and out of the containers. The distributor-collector 89; Fig. 4, comprises a cup-shaped rotor 97 and a cylindrical stator 105 between which are provided influent and effluent chambers 123, 125 and 127, 129 respectively. The chamber 123 is associated with container 38 and, through a bore 137 in the stator, with the influent conduit 145. The chamber 125 is associated with the container 37 and, through a bore in the stator with influent conduit 147. The chamber 127 is in communication with the container 37 and the effluent conduit 49 and the chamber 129 with container 38 and effluent conduit 151. An upper end portion 165 of the stator head 111 is supported for movement in mutually perpendicular directions on a removable bearing mechanism 157 (see Specification 1,259,790) to accommodate for stresses imparted to the stator by the rotating rotor. The rotor has a spigot portion 95 which engages in an opening 91 in the body 55 of the clamp assembly 51. The pump 153 is of the roller type and delivers equal volumes of influent to the containers 37, 38 via the conduits 145, 147. The reservoir 153 is connected to the pump and, alternatively, for initial filling of the centrifuge with influent, directly to the conduits 145, 147 through the tubes 235, 237. The tank 155 receives the effluent via the conduits 149, 151. Portions of the conduits 145, 147, 149, 151 and of the tubes 235, 237 are disposed in grooves in a top plate of the control box 245 in which are arranged solenoids and their associated electrical circuitry. Pressure pads 267, 269, 271 are carried on the ends of reciprocable arms controlled by the solenoids. The parts are arranged so that when a solenoid is de-energized, the flow paths through its associated tubes, ducts and conduits are open. When a solenoid is energized its pressure pad will be projected to clamp its associated ducts, conduits and tubes to cut their flow paths.