Plasma separator with centrifugal valve

Claim 1

A separator device for separating mixed light phase and heavy phase constituents of blood and establishing a permanent barrier between said phases, including: a tubular container sealed at both ends and adapted to contain the blood to be separated; elastomeric barrier means fixedly located intermediate the container ends and dividing the container into first and second chambers which upon the application of centrifugal force are adapted to contain in major proportions the light phase and heavy phase, respectively; a passageway through the barrier means connecting the first and second chambers; and a bulb extending over and closing the passageway, the bulb having a normally closed slit, and thrust generating means attached to said bulb and responsive to centrifugal force to open the slit, the bulb normally sealing off the passageway to provide a barrier between first and second chambers, and when subjected to a predetermined centrifugal force, the thrust generating means flexes open the slit to open the passageway to provide communication between the chambers to permit the light phase to travel to the first chamber and the heavy phase to travel to the second chamber, and upon cessation of the applied centrifugal force, the bulb returns to its normal position to seal off the passageway and provide a barrier between the first and second chambers.