Patent ID: 7347932

Claim:
An apparatus for separating a volume of composite liquid into a first component, an intermediate component including a second component, and a third component, the volume of composite fluid being contained in a flexible separation bag connected to at least a first component bag and an intermediate component bag, the apparatus comprising: a centrifuge having: a rotor comprising: a turntable for supporting the separation bag; and a central compartment for containing the at least first and intermediate component bags; a squeezing member for squeezing the separation bag and causing the transfer of at least one portion of the first component from the separation bag into the first component bag and the transfer of the intermediate component from the separation bag into the intermediate component bag; a memory for storing at least one centrifugation speed allowing for the sedimentation of the first, the second and the third components in the separation bag, and information related to at least one first transfer flow rate of the first component into the first component bag and at least one second transfer flow rate of the intermediate component into the intermediate component bag, whereby the at least one first transfer flow rate and the at least one second transfer flow rate are different; and a control unit programmed: for receiving from the memory the at least one centrifugation speed and the information related to the at least one first transfer flow rate and the at least one second transfer flow rate; and for causing the rotor to rotate at the at least one centrifugation speed; and for causing, after sedimentation of the first, the second and the third components in the separation bag, the squeezing member to squeeze the separation bag so as to transfer the at least one portion of the first component from the separation bag into the first component bag at the at least one first transfer flow rate, and to transfer the intermediate component from the separation bag into the intermediate component bag at the at least one second transfer flow rate.