The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 03, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 30, 1997
Abinash Nayak, Grayslake, IL (US);
Clint D. Luckinbill, Carpentersville, IL (US);
John T. Foley, Wheeling, IL (US);
Minh D. Tran, Grayslake, IL (US);
James R. Bradley, Palatine, IL (US);
Timothy J. Patno, Mundelein, IL (US);
Baxter International Inc., Deerfield, IL (US);
Abstract
A centrifuge for continuously separating the various constituents of blood or other biological fluids includes a rotating bowl having high-G and low-G walls. An inwardly directed ramped surface on the high-G wall interacts with an interface region between the separated fluid constituents to provide an optically detectable indication of the position of the interface between the high-G and low-G walls. An optical sensor sensing each passage of the ramped surface past a point develops a changing signal indicative of the interface position. Signal processing circuitry responsive to the signal measures such signal parameters as peak amplitude, signal area and signal shape. By so monitoring these signal parameters, a better indication of actual interface position between the high-G and low-G walls can be obtained. This, in turn, results in better control over centrifuge operation and improved separation of the desired fluid components.