Blood separation chamber with preformed blood flow passages and centralized connection to external tubing

Abstract

A blood separation chamber comprises a base that includes formed walls that define a hub. A separation channel extends about the hub. A flow passage extends between the hub and the separation channel. The hub enables attachment of external tubing to convey blood to and from the separation channel through the hub.

1 . A blood separation chamber comprising 
 a formed body, which, in use, rotates about a rotational axis,    a first interior wall formed on the body, which extends circumferentially about the rotational axis to define a hub,    inside and outside walls formed on the body, which extend circumferentially about the hub in a spaced apart relationship to define between them a separation channel,    second interior walls formed on the body, which extend radially from the hub in a spaced apart relationship to define between them at least one passage that communicates with the separation channel to direct blood between the hub and the separation channel, and    a connector formed on the body to couple exterior tubing to the hub in communication with the passage to convey blood to or from the passage during rotation of the formed base.    
     
     
         2 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 1   wherein the second interior walls define an inlet passage to direct blood from the hub into the separation channel and an outlet passage to direct blood from the separation channel to the hub.    
     
     
         3 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 2   wherein the connector includes first and second couplers to couple exterior tubing in communication with, respectively, the inlet and outlet passages.    
     
     
         4 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 1   further including an interior wall formed on the body, which extends across the separation channel to define a terminus in the separation channel.    
     
     
         5 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 4   wherein the second interior walls define a first passage communicating with the separation channel on one side of the terminus and a second passage communicating with the separation channel on an opposite side of the terminus.    
     
     
         6 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 5   wherein the connector includes first and second couplers to couple exterior tubing in communication with, respectively, the first and second passages.    
     
     
         7 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 1   further including a interior wall formed on the body, which extends partially into the separation channel to define a dam in the separation channel.    
     
     
         8 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 7   wherein the formed second interior walls define a first passage communicating with the separation channel on one side of the dam and a second passage communicating with the separation channel on an opposite side of the dam.    
     
     
         9 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 8   wherein the connector includes first and second couplers to couple exterior tubing in communication with, respectively, the first and second passages.    
     
     
         10 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 7   wherein the dam projects from the inside wall toward the outside wall to form a constricted channel along the outside wall.    
     
     
         11 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 10   wherein the formed second interior walls define a first passage communicating with the separation channel on one side of the constricted channel and a second passage communicating with the separation channel on another side of the constricted channel.    
     
     
         12 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 11   wherein the connector includes first and second couplers to couple exterior tubing in communication with, respectively, the first and second passages.    
     
     
         13 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 11   wherein the constricted channel includes a recess in the outside wall radially spaced from the rotational axis further than adjacent regions of the formed outside wall.    
     
     
         14 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 13   wherein the second interior walls define a first passage communicating with the separation channel on one side of the recess and a second passage communicating with the separation channel on another side of the recess.    
     
     
         15 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 14   wherein the connector includes first and second couplers to couple exterior tubing in communication with, respectively, the first and second passages.    
     
     
         16 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 1   wherein, during rotation of the formed body, blood separates in the separation channel into a blood component,    wherein the second interior walls define an inlet passage to direct blood from the hub into the separation channel and an outlet passage to direct the blood component from the separation channel to the hub.    
     
     
         17 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 16   wherein the connector includes first and second couplers to couple exterior tubing in communication with, respectively, the inlet and outlet passages.    
     
     
         18 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 1   wherein, during rotation of the formed body, blood separates in the separation channel into first and second blood components,    wherein the second interior walls define an inlet passage to direct blood from the hub into the separation channel, a first outlet passage to direct the first blood component from the separation channel to the hub, and a second outlet passage to direct the second blood component from the separation channel to the hub.    
     
     
         19 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 18   wherein the connector includes first, second, and third couplers to couple exterior tubing in communication with, respectively, the inlet and first and second outlet passages.    
     
     
         20 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 1   further including an umbilicus that forms a part of the exterior tubing coupled to the connector.    
     
     
         21 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 20   wherein the umbilicus carries a connector that mates with the connector formed on the body to establish communication between the exterior tubing and the passage.    
     
     
         22 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 1   wherein the inside and outside walls extend circumferentially about the hub in a spaced apart relationship to define between them inner and outer separation channels, and    wherein the second interior walls extend radially from the hub in a spaced apart relationship to define between them at least one passage that communicates with the inner separation channel and at least one passage that communicates with the outer separation channel to direct blood between the hub and the inner and outer separation channels, and    wherein the connector couples exterior tubing to the hub in communication with the passages to convey blood to or from the passage during rotation of the formed body.    
     
     
         23 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 22   wherein an interior passage outside the hub provides communication between the inner and outer separation channels.    
     
     
         24 . A blood separation chamber according to  claim 1   wherein the formed body includes a component to releasably attach the blood separation chamber as a unit to a rotor mechanism for rotation about the rotational axis.    
     
     
         25 . A blood separation assembly comprising 
 a body comprising a hub, an annular separation channel circumferentially extending about the hub, at least one radial passage that directs fluid between the hub and the separation channel, and a hub connector formed on the body that communicates with the passage,    an umbilicus comprising a body enclosing at least one fluid-conveying lumen, and an umbilicus connector carried by the body that communicates with the fluid-conveying lumen, and    the umbilicus connector and the hub connector being mutually shaped to releasably mate to couple the fluid-conveying lumen in communication with the passage.    
     
     
         26 . A blood separation assembly according to  claim 25   wherein the umbilicus connector and the hub connector mate in a press fit.    
     
     
         27 . A blood separation assembly according to  claim 25   wherein one of the umbilicus connector and the hub connector includes a socket, and    wherein the other one of the umbilicus connector and the hub connector includes a projecting nipple sized to nest within the socket.    
     
     
         28 . A blood separation assembly according to  claim 25   wherein the umbilicus connector and the hub connector nest in a press fit.    
     
     
         29 . A blood separation assembly according to  claim 25   further including a connecting part to secure the mating umbilicus and hub connectors together.    
     
     
         30 . A blood separation assembly according to  claim 29   wherein the connecting part comprises a collar carried by the umbilicus body, which includes an inside region abutting against the umbilicus connector and a outside region sized for securing to the hub connector, to thereby resist separation of the umbilicus and hub connectors.    
     
     
         31 . A blood separation assembly according to  claim 30   wherein the outside region of the collar and the hub connector are made from compatible materials.    
     
     
         32 . A blood separation assembly according to  claim 30   wherein the umbilicus connector is made from a material that is incompatible with the inside region of the collar.    
     
     
         33 . A blood separation assembly according to  claim 25   wherein the hub, the annular separation channel, the at least one radial passage, and the hub connector comprise parts of a unitary formed body.    
     
     
         34 . A blood separation assembly according to  claim 25   wherein the body includes a component to releasably attach the body to a rotor mechanism for rotation about a rotational axis.    
     
     
         35 . A blood separation apparatus comprising 
 a molded base assembly defining a hub, an annular separation channel circumferentially extending about the hub, at least one radial passage that directs fluid between the hub and the separation channel, and a hub connector formed on the body that communicates with the passage, and    an umbilicus assembly comprising a body enclosing at least one fluid-conveying lumen, and an umbilicus connector carried by the body that communicates with the fluid-conveying lumen, the umbilicus connector and the hub connector being mutually shaped to mate in a press fit, to thereby couple the fluid-conveying lumen in communication with the passage.    
     
     
         36 . A blood separation apparatus according to  claim 35   wherein one of the umbilicus connector and the hub connector includes an inward projecting part, and    wherein the other one of the umbilicus connector and the hub connector includes an outward projecting part sized to nest within the inward projecting part to create the press fit.    
     
     
         37 . A blood separation apparatus according to  claim 35   further including a capturing piece to resist separation of the press fit between the umbilicus and hub connectors.    
     
     
         38 . A blood separation assembly according to  claim 37   wherein the capturing piece is carried by the umbilicus body and includes a surface sized for attachment to the hub connector while another surface abuts against the umbilicus mount, to resist separation of the press fit between the umbilicus and hub connectors.    
     
     
         39 . A blood separation apparatus according to  claim 37   wherein the capturing piece and the molded base assembly are made from compatible materials.    
     
     
         40 . A blood separation apparatus according to  claim 35   wherein the umbilicus assembly is made from a material that is incompatible with the material from which the molded base assembly is made.    
     
     
         41 . A blood separation chamber for use in a blood centrifuge of the type that rotates an umbilicus in concert with a centrifuge rotor to prevent twisting of the umbilicus, the blood separation chamber comprising 
 a unitary base including formed walls that define a hub, a separation channel that extends about the hub, and a flow passage that extends between the hub and the separation channel, the hub being further formed to enable attachment of the umbilicus to convey blood to and from the separation channel through the hub, and    a lid covering the base and closing the separation channel on a side opposite to the hub, the lid being formed to enable releasable attachment of the blood processing chamber as a unit to the centrifuge rotor for rotation to separate blood in the separation channel.    
     
     
         42 . A blood separation chamber according to claim  41   wherein the base comprises an molded body.