Patent ID: 7011761

Claim:
A processing method comprising the steps of performing a separation process with a separation device including separation of red blood cells and plasma from blood or a suspension containing red blood cells and plasma, conveying blood or the suspension into the separation device at a controlled blood flow rate Qb, at least in part, while the separation process occurs, conveying plasma from the separation device at a controlled plasma flow rate Qp, at least in part, while the separation process occurs, removing red blood cells from the separation device at a red blood cell flow rate Qrbc, at least in part, while the separation process occurs, whereby Qrbc=Qb−Qp, sensing hematocrit of red blood cells removed from the separation device to generate a sensed hematocrit output, and controlling a ratio between Qb and Qp based, at least in part, upon the sensed hematocrit output.