Method and chamber for separating granulocytes from whole blood

Abstract

The method for separating whole blood into the components thereof is practiced with and within a separation chamber mounted in a centrifuge device during centrifugation of the chamber, the chamber having inner and outer wall surfaces and first and second side edges. The method comprises the steps of: arranging and configuring the chamber such that it has (a) an inlet on the first side thereof through which whole blood is received, (b) a first upper outlet at the top of the chamber from which plasma with particles therein is withdrawn, (c) a second lower outlet at the bottom corner of the chamber on the second side thereof from which red blood cells are withdrawn, and (d) the inner wall surface positioned in a plane including a tangent to a circle about the axis of rotation and the plane positioned about normal (in a vertical direction) to a radius extending from the axis of rotation of the centrifuge device. The method and chamber direct whole blood into the chamber from the first side thereof at a point between the bottom and top of the chamber. Heavier particles such as red blood cells are directed downwardly and outwardly along the outer wall surface toward the lower bottom corner of the chamber. At the same time, plasma is directed upwardly along the inner wall surface of the chamber, so that there is separation of white blood cells, particularly granulocytes, from the whole blood, which are directed with the plasma, toward and out the first outlet from the chamber.