Patent ID: 8097171

Claim:
A method for preparing a fluid fraction from blood, the method comprising the steps of: applying a blood sample to a proximal portion on a topside of a separation medium comprising a plurality of short large-diameter fibers comprising a diameter of from about 13 microns to about 20 microns, and a length of about from 5 mm to 9 mm and a plurality of long small-diameter fibers comprising a diameter of from about 5 microns to about 8 microns, and a length of from about 6 mm to about 20 mm displaying partial order by way of similar orientation of fibers that are close together, the separation medium being in the form of a layer such that, the plurality of short large-diameter fibers and the plurality of long small-diameter fibers in the layer are substantially coplanar and form a first set of pores in one direction and a second set of pores in a second direction such that substantially more cells can pass thorough the first set of pores than through the second set of pores, wherein a bottom side of the separation medium is impregnated with a reinforcing material with a hot melt adhesive coupling the reinforcing material to the separation medium to form a composite material, and wherein the separation medium has fewer of the short large-diameter fibers than the long small-diameter fibers; and receiving a fluid fraction of the blood sample at a distal portion of the composite material.