Gambro, Inc.

Omega Medicinteknik Ab

Alfa-laval Separation Ab

Sanguistech Aktiebolag

Eric Westberg

Peter Unger

Lars K Ehnstrom

Birgitta Ekman Sparrman, Legal Representative

Sterile coupling comprising a male and a female connector, each provided with a membrane device comprising a membrane surface covered with an adhesive at the exterior surface. When the connectors are brought into operation, the adhesive surface are contacted to form a bonded surface. Then, a hole is generated through the bonded surface and the sterile portions of the devices are brought into cooperations. The hole is formed by a rupture member arranged in one of the connectors. After rupturing, the membrane devices retract to a space formed between the cylindrical bodies of the connectors.

Sterile coupling

Method of separating cells in a centrifuge, preferably for producing platelets. A cell suspension is provided in a processing bag and is centrifuged. The cell enriched fraction is transferred to a storage bag via an outlet tube. The outlet tube is arranged with a portion thereof in a position adjacent the periphery of the centrifuge. When the enriched fraction is transferred through the outlet tube placed at the periphery of the centrifuge and during centrifugation, the outlet tube operates as a cell trap and the enriched fraction is further separated. Preferably, the cell suspension is buffy coat and the enriched fraction comprises platelets. The corresponding bag assembly comprises a processing bag intended to enclose the cell suspension. The processing bag is placed in a centrifuge rotor for separating the cells into a fraction enriched on platelets by centrifugation. An outlet tube transfers the enriched fraction to a storage bag and is placed in a position adjacent the periphery of the centrifuge rotor for further separation of the enriched fraction at transferring, during continued centrifugation, the enriched fraction through the outlet tube.

Method for separating cells, especially platelets, and bag assembly therefor

A centrifuge is provided for the separation and/or treatment of cells in a substantially annular or partially annular separation bag connected by at least one tube to at least one secondary bag. The centrifuge comprises a rotor bowl connected at the upper end of a rotor shaft. The rotor shaft includes a hollow upper portion defining a central compartment for receiving the at least one secondary bag. The rotor bowl includes a separation compartment for receiving the separation bag and an expandable hydraulic chamber located within the separation compartment for selectively squeezing the separation bag within the separation compartment so as to transfer a separated component from the separation bag into a secondary bag in the central compartment. A hydraulic system is connected to the hydraulic chamber by a duct extending through the rotor shaft for pumping a hydraulic liquid to and from the hydraulic chamber.

Centrifuge and container system for treatment of blood and blood components

A centrifuge with an associated container system in the form of cassettes for separation and treatment of blood or blood components has been developed. The centrifuge includes a rotor having a central compartment in the form of a tubular shaft cavity extending concentrically with the axis of rotation of the rotor and an annular separation compartment which is arranged around the cavity at the upper part thereof. A first container system is arranged in the rotor, for washing of blood cells, includes a round bag and two or more flexible secondary containers connected thereto, one of which contains a treatment liquid and a tubular sleeve adapted to the shaft cavity of the rotor. The secondary containers are arranged in the sleeve to rest against each other and the round bag is mounted on a projecting flange at the upper part of the sleeve.

A centrifuge with an associated container system in the form of cassettes for separation and/or treatment of blood or blood components. The centrifuge comprises a rotor having a central compartment in the form of a tubular shaft cavity extending concentrically with the axis of rotation of the rotor and an annular separation compartment which is arranged around said cavity at the upper part thereof. A first container system arranged in the rotor for washing of blood cells comprises a round bag with two or more flexible secondary containers connected thereto, of which at least one contains a treatment liquid, and a tubular sleeve adapted to the shaft cavity of the rotor. The secondary containers stand in the sleeve resting against each other, and the round bag is mounted on a projecting flange at the upper part of the sleeve. A second container system arranged in the rotor for separation of a thrombocyte suspension differs from the first in that the sleeve has a smaller diameter than the shaft cavity of the rotor and is adapted to be centered in the center of the cavity. An initially empty secondary container for receiving the separated components from the round bag is arranged in the centered sleeve.

A separation set for blood component preparation and similar separations for use in a centrifuge rotor, the set including a plate-like separation container made of a flexible material, an annular pinch valve which is mounted on and divides the separation container into a central section and an annular outer section, a first component container which is connected to the center of the separation container, a second component container which is connected to the circumference of the separation container, and a blood withdrawal tube for supplying blood to the outer section. The blood is separated in the outer section into plasma, buffy coat and red blood cells. Then the plasma is displaced to the first component container and the buffy coat to the central section where it is enclosed through the action of the pinch valve. The separation set with the pinch valve is then removed from the centrifuge and the red blood cells are transferred to the second component container.

Separation set having plate-like separation container with annular pinch valve for blood component preparation

Bag set for use in centrifugal separation

Thawed glycerolized red blood cells are washed in a system (1) of closed collapsible containers of flexible material which are positioned concentrically in a centrifuge rotor. The blood cells are held in an annular primary container (2) into which wash liquid is centrifugally fed from a c entral container (3) and from which supernatant is expressed into a central waste container (4) while the primary container is being compressed as a result of centrifugal action on an elastic body (24) in the rotor. A container assembly (1) for use in carrying out the washing comprises an annular collapsible primary container (2), a collapsible circular closed wash liquid container (3), a collapsible circular, closed waste container (4), and valve controlled conduits for passing liquid from the wash liquid container into the primary container and from the primary container into the waste container. The wash liquid container (3) and the waste container (4) are positioned one on top of the other in the circular area surrounded by the primary container (2).

Method of washing blood cells and container assembly thereof

Method and apparatus for plasmapheresis

Centrifugal separator

In a centrifugal separator a flexible member for the transport of liquid to or from a centrifuge rotor is arranged to rotate around a rotating rotor in the same direction as the rotor but with only half of its rotational speed. By such rotation the flexible member may be firmly connected with both the rotor and a stationary member without being twisted. According to the invention the flexible member has a high torsional stiffness, good tensile strength and an outside having good wear resistance. The casing comprises interplaited threads which may be metal or plastic, some of which extend helically with a certain pitch around the flexible member and others of which extend helically with an opposite pitch around the member. The interplaiting of the threads is such that the casing per se is axially compressible and expandable under radial expansion and compression, respectively. As mounted, the casing is axially expanded so that through radial compression it is in frictional engagement with the flexible member.

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Lidingö, Sweden

Eric Westberg