Fenwal, Inc.

Melissa A Thill

Samantha M Planas

Amit J Patel

Courtney Moore

William Henry Cork, Iii

Kathleen M Higginson

Christopher J Wegener

Ryan Martin

Nicholas Reimold

Elizabeth Asma

William Henry Cork Iii

William H Cork Iii

During a first stage of a priming procedure, a priming fluid is conveyed into a spinning membrane separator via a filtrate outlet port so as to convey air out of the spinning membrane separator via an inlet port and a retentate outlet port of the spinning membrane separator. During an optional second stage of the priming procedure, the priming fluid is conveyed into the spinning membrane separator via the inlet port so as to convey air out of the spinning membrane separator via the retentate outlet port. A rotor positioned within a housing of the spinning membrane separator may be rotated with respect to the housing during the first and second stages to force air from within the rotor into an annulus defined between the rotor and the housing for more complete priming of the spinning membrane separator.

Priming of spinning membrane separators

A system and method are provided for separating previously-collected whole blood into a red blood cell fraction and a plasma fraction by which the container of previously-collected whole blood is determined to be empty based on using the combination of the measured gross weight of the container and a calculated fluid flow rate from the container, based on weigh scale feedback. Upon detection of the empty container, flow from the container is stopped.

Systems and methods for detecting an empty WB container

Methods and systems for processing biological fluid are disclosed. The methods and systems allow for processing of biological fluid to continue in the event that certain non-operator-correctable hardware errors of a non-critical nature are detected during such processing.

Method and system for the automated processing of biological fluid during low level alert condition

A fluid separation system is provided for separating a plasma-containing fluid into separated plasma and a concentrated fluid. The system cooperates with a fluid flow circuit including a fluid separation chamber and a plasma outlet line associated therewith for removing separated plasma from the fluid separation chamber. The system includes an optical sensor assembly that receives a portion of the plasma outlet line when the fluid flow circuit has been associated with the fluid separation system. To ensure proper installation of the plasma outlet line, the optical sensor assembly compares light received by its light detector to a baseline value, which is indicative of the amount of light received by the light detector before the plasma outlet line has been installed. The amount of received light being equal to or less than a selected percentage of the baseline value indicates that the plasma outlet line has been properly installed.

Systems and methods for ensuring proper tubing installation for fluid processing systems

Apparatus, system and method are provided for controlling flow through a biological fluid processing device. Pressure of fluid flow through a flow path is monitored and flow rate in the flow path is increased or decreased based on sensed pressure levels for selected periods of time. This has particular application in controlling flow in an infusion or return flow path of an apheresis device that separates whole blood into one or more blood components.

Biological fluid flow control apparatus and method

Methods and systems for priming biological fluid processing systems are disclosed. In accordance with such methods and systems, the disposable fluid processing circuit is primed by introducing a first priming solution into a portion of the circuit and a second priming solution into a portion of the circuit. The amount of citrate returned to the biological flood source is minimized.

Methods and systems for priming a biological fluid processing circuit

A system is provided for separating a plasma-containing fluid into separated plasma and a concentrated fluid. The system cooperates with a fluid flow circuit including a fluid separation chamber and a plasma outlet line associated therewith for removing separated plasma from the fluid separation chamber. The system includes an optical sensor assembly to monitor the contents of the plasma outlet line and produce an output indicative of the concentration of free plasma hemoglobin in the plasma outlet line. A controller of the system calculates the amount of free plasma hemoglobin in at least a portion of the concentrated fluid based at least in part on the output of the optical sensor assembly. The controller may periodically calibrate the optical sensor assembly by determining an instrument-specific correlation between optic output and free hemoglobin concentration and comparing it to experimentally determined data to ensure continued reliability of the optical sensor assembly.

Systems and methods for determining free plasma hemoglobin

Systems and methods are provided for processing a fluid and then returning processed fluid and/or replacement fluid to a fluid recipient. The returning fluid is monitored to detect air therein and, if air is detected, steps are taken to automatically purge the air from the returning fluid without requiring the intervention of a system operator. The system may respond to detected air by pumping the processed fluid and/or replacement fluid away from the fluid recipient and into a processed fluid reservoir, where the air is purged from the processed fluid and/or replacement fluid. Thereafter, the weight of the processed fluid reservoir may be checked to confirm that sufficient fluid has been pumped back into the reservoir to remove the air. After it has been confirmed that the air has been purged from the fluid, the system may resume pumping the fluid toward the fluid recipient.

Growing community of inventors

Kenosha, WI, United States of America

Melissa A Thill