Patent ID: 7052606

Claim:
A disposable assembly for an apheresis system for separating blood into at least one high hematocrit red blood cell component for collection and for the leukoreduction of the high hematocrit red blood cell component; said disposable assembly comprising: a blood removal assembly for removing blood from a donor/patient; a blood processing vessel interconnected to said blood removal assembly, and coactive with a separation system for separating blood received from the donor/patient into blood components including high hematocrit red blood cells; a red blood cell collection assembly interconnected to said blood processing vessel, comprising: a leukoreduction filter preconnected to said blood processing vessel and disposed to receive high hematocrit red blood cells from said blood processing vessel; and a red blood cell collection container preconnected to said leukoreduction filter; whereby said red blood cell collection assembly provides for the pushing of said high hematocrit red blood cells through the leukoreduction filter simultaneously with or during the overall continuous separation process; and collecting the high hematocrit red blood cells in the collection container after the pushing of said high hematocrit red blood cells through the leukoreduction filter.