The packaging and sterilization process are the same, and both sets are manufactured in comparable GMP-controlled medical manufacturing areas in the same plant. The COBE Trima System equipment uses the same centrifugal separation concept as the COBE Specta. The COBE Trima equipment is a approximately 42 inches tall and 21 inches wide, and weighs less than 200 pounds, making it easy to transport. The COBE Trima System uses a disposable tubing set with a cassette that automatically loads the tubing into the pumps, valves, and sensors. The equipment uses five peristaltic pumps located on the front panel.
Blood is drawn from the donor and into the system by the inlet pump during the collection process.
AC and whole blood are mixed at the configured inlet to AC ratio as a result of the inlet and AC pump speeds. The blood and AC mixture then enters the separation channel in the centrifuge. As the whole blood is separated, platelets and plasma are removed by the collect and plasma pumps. RBC's are pushed from the channel into the collect bag or reservoir by the pressure created from the inlet pump forcing more blood into the channel. Components not collected are directed to a reservoir on the cassette.