Red cell apheresis method

Claim 1

A method of automatically separating blood from a single donor via a single phlebotomy needle into constituent components comprising the steps: a) drawing a first collection of whole blood with said phlebotomy needle from said donor into a separation chamber; b) centrifugally separating a low density component from said first collection of whole blood from higher density components in the separation chamber, the higher density components from the first collection including white blood cells; c) displacing the low density component from the first collection to a first container for subsequent extracorporeal use; d) terminating the separation process in the chamber; e) returning the higher density components from the first collection remaining in the separation chamber to the donor via said phlebotomy needle, utilizing the returning higher density components with dilutent solution after exiting the separation chamber, the dilutent solution being Dumped into the higher density components at a rate high enough such that the higher density components can be returned to the donor at an elevated rate; f) drawing a second collection of whole blood from the same donor into the separation chamber; g) centrifugally separating a low density component from higher density components from said second collection of whole blood in the separation chamber; h) displacing the low density component from the second collection to the first container; i) terminating the separation process in the chamber; j) removing the phlebotomy needle from the donor; k) displacing the higher density components from the second collection remaining in the separation chamber to a second container for subsequent extracorporeal use, thereby collecting amounts of both higher density components and low density components in a relatively short period of time with increased yield and less inconvenience than if collected separately; and l) filtering white blood cells from the higher density components from the second collection before the higher density components enter the second container.

Claim 2

A method of automatically separating blood from a single donor via a single phlebotomy needle into constituent components comprising the steps: a) drawing a first collection of whole blood with said phlebotomy needle from said donor into a separation chamber; b) centrifugally separating a low density component from said first collection of whole blood from higher density components in the separation chamber, the higher density components from the first collection including white blood cells; c) displacing the low density component from the first collection to a first container for subsequent extracorporeal use; d) terminating the separation process in the chamber; e) returning the higher density components from the first collection remaining in the separation chamber to the donor via said phlebotomy needle, utilizing the returning higher density components with dilutent solution after exiting the separation chamber, the dilutent solution being Dumped into the higher density components at a rate high enough such that the higher density components can be returned to the donor at an elevated rate; f) drawing a second collection of whole blood from the same donor into the separation chamber; g) centrifugally separating a low density component from higher density components from said second collection of whole blood in the separation chamber; h) displacing the low density component from the second collection to the first container; i) terminating the separation process in the chamber; j) removing the phlebotomy needle from the donor; k) displacing the higher density components from the second collection remaining in the separation chamber to a second container for subsequent extracorporeal use, thereby collecting amounts of both higher density components and low density components in a relatively short period of time with increased yield and less inconvenience than if collected separately; and l) filtering white blood cells from the higher density components from the second collection before the higher density components enter the second container.

Claim 9

A method of automatically separating blood from a single donor via a single phlebotomy needle into constituent components in an apheresis apparatus comprising the steps: a) drawing a first collection of whole blood from said donor via said phlebotomy needle; b) anticoagulating the withdrawn whole blood with anticoagulant; c) forcing the anticoagulated whole blood into a separation chamber; d) centrifugally separating a low density component of said first collection of whole blood from higher density components in the separation chamber, the higher density components including white blood cells; e) displacing the low density component from the first collection to a first container for subsequent extracorporeal use; f) terminating the separation process in the chamber; g) returning the higher density components from the first collection remaining in the separation chamber to the donor via said phlebotomy needle, diluting the higher density components exiting the separation chamber with a dilutent solution pumped into the higher density components at a rate high enough such that the higher density components can be returned to the donor at an elevated rate and priming a first line with additive solution, the first line being in fluid communication with a second container; h) drawing a second collection of whole blood from the donor into the separation chamber via said needle; i) centrifugally separating a low density component from higher density components from said second collection of whole blood in the separation chamber; j) displacing the low density component from the second collection to the first container; k) terminating the separation process in the chamber; l) removing the phlebotomy needle from the donor; m) displacing the higher density components from the second collection remaining in the separation chamber to the second container for subsequent extracorporeal use, thereby collecting amounts of both higher density components and low density components in a relatively short period of time with increased yield and less inconvenience than if collected separately; and n) filtering white blood cells from the higher density components from the second collection before the higher density components enter the second container.

Claim 10

A method of automatically separating blood from a single donor via a single phlebotomy needle into constituent components in an apheresis apparatus comprising the steps: a) drawing a first collection of whole blood from said donor via said phlebotomy needle; b) anticoagulating the withdrawn whole blood with anticoagulant; c) forcing the anticoagulated whole blood into a separation chamber; d) centrifugally separating a low density component of said first collection of whole blood from higher density components in the separation chamber, the higher density components including white blood cells; e) displacing the low density component from the first collection to a first container for subsequent extracorporeal use; f) terminating the separation process in the chamber; g) returning the higher density components from the first collection remaining in the separation chamber to the donor via said phlebotomy needle, diluting the higher density components exiting the separation chamber with a dilutent solution pumped into the higher density components at a rate high enough such that the higher density components can be returned to the donor at an elevated rate and priming a first line with additive solution, the first line being in fluid communication with a second container; h) drawing a second collection of whole blood from the donor into the separation chamber via said needle; i) centrifugally separating a low density component from higher density components from said second collection of whole blood in the separation chamber; j) displacing the low density component from the second collection to the first container; k) terminating the separation process in the chamber; l) removing the phlebotomy needle from the donor; m) displacing the higher density components from the second collection remaining in the separation chamber to the second container for subsequent extracorporeal use, thereby collecting amounts of both higher density components and low density components in a relatively short period of time with increased yield and less inconvenience than if collected separately; and n) filtering white blood cells from the higher density components from the second collection before the higher density components enter the second container.