Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for centrifugally separating blood into one or more components, such as a plasma-rich component, and a plasma-poor component. This apparatus employs a centrifuge intended to be used immediately adjacent to a blood donor. A flexible displacement container having a displacer fluid operated diaphragm is positioned within a blood processing chamber of the centrifuge rotor. The blood processing chamber comprises a pair of contoured support shoes which structurally supports the displacement container and a flexible blood processing container. Separated first blood component is expressed from the flexible processing blood container by movement of the diaphragm and is collected in a receiver container as the centrifuge rotor spins. A reservoir for displacer fluid is mounted closer to the axis of rotation of the centrifuge than the flexible displacement container and in fluid communication therewith. The centrifugal force created by the spinning rotor creates a pressure differential between the reservoir and displacement container sufficient to pump the displacer fluid into said pouch, thus moving the diaphragm and expressing blood components from the blood processing bag.

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First Claim