Shaped diaphragm for a centrifuge system rotor

Abstract

A shaped diaphragm as a part of a fluid processing disposable set acting as a centrifuge system rotor. The fluid processing disposable set has a variable-volume chamber and a fluid port. The shaped diaphragm defines a wall of the variable-volume chamber. The chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid port and is defined by a fixed wall and an elastic wall. The elastic wall is formed by the shaped diaphragm. The disposable set may also have a rotary seal coupled to the fluid port and fluidly coupled to the variable-volume chamber. The shaped diaphragm may be convoluted. The convolution may be a single fold and may have a plurality of folds located symmetrically about an axis. The shaped diaphragm may, alternatively, be essentially planar in an unstretched position while varying in thickness along a diaphragm dimension. Centrifuge rotors, systems, and methods for selective harvest of fluid constituents from a whole fluid are detailed.

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       8 . A rotor for use in a centrifuge system, the system having means for spinning the rotor about an axis, the rotor comprising: 
 a fixed portion including a conduit assembly;    a rigid mounting member, rotatably mounted around the fixed portion and the axis of rotation of the rotor, the mounting member capable of being held and spun by the spinning means; and    a shaped diaphragm mounted to the rigid mounting member, the diaphragm adapted to rotate with the rigid mounting member, the diaphragm defining a variable-volume chamber.    
   
   
       9 . A rotor according to  claim 8  further comprising: 
 a rotary seal located around the axis, the rotary seal providing a seal between the rigid mounting member and the fixed portion.    
   
   
       10 . A rotor according to  claim 8 , wherein the rigid mounting member includes a boundary wall which, together with the shaped diaphragm, defines the variable-volume chamber.  
   
   
       11 . A rotor according to  claim 8 , wherein the shaped diaphragm is convoluted.  
   
   
       12 . A rotor for use in a centrifuge system, the system having means for spinning the rotor, the rotor comprising: 
 a rigid mounting member for being held and spun by the spinning means;    a shaped, elastic diaphragm mounted on the rigid mounting member so as to spin with the rigid mounting member, the diaphragm defining a chamber of varying volume; and    a conduit in fluid communication with the chamber, the conduit defined by the rigid mounting member.    
   
   
       13 . A centrifuge system comprising: 
 a rotor comprising: 
 a fixed portion including a conduit assembly;  
 a rigid mounting member, rotatably mounted around the fixed portion and an axis of rotation of the rotor, the mounting member capable of being held and spun by a chuck; and  
 a shaped, convoluted diaphragm mounted to the rigid mounting member, the diaphragm adapted to rotate with the rigid mounting member, the diaphragm defining a chamber of varying volume; and  
   a chuck having a surface, the surface having chuck features disposed upon it;    wherein the surface and the diaphragm define a plurality of chamber segments.    
   
   
       14 . A method for selective harvest of fluid constituents from a whole fluid comprising: 
 providing a centrifuge system according to  claim 13;     introducing whole fluid to the rotor of the centrifuge system;    spinning the chuck and the rotor about the axis;    collecting fluid constituents within chamber segments defined by the rotor; and    harvesting a constituent from within a chamber segment.    
   
   
       15 . A method for selective harvest of fluid constituents from a whole fluid comprising: 
 providing a fluid processing disposable set according to  claim 1;     introducing whole fluid to the variable-volume chamber;    spinning the chamber to separate fluid constituents; and    harvesting a constituent from the chamber.