Blood separation systems and methods using a multiple function pump station

Abstract

A multiple function pump station performs different on-line processing tasks. The pump station can be operated in one mode to draw blood from a donor and, in another mode, be operated to return blood to the donor. The pump station used to draw blood from a donor can also be used to perform subsequent blood processing tasks, such as mixing or processing additive fluids with the blood, or transfering a harvested blood component to a storage container, or finishing the processing of a harvested blood component.

1 . A blood processing system comprising 
 a donor flow channel to convey fluid to and from a donor,    a blood processing flow channel including a blood separation chamber to separate a blood component from donor blood,    a blood component collection flow channel including a blood component collection container,    a pump station communicating with the donor flow channel, the blood processing flow channel, and the blood component collection flow channel, and    a controller to operate the pump station in multiple modes, including a processing mode, during which the pump station is operated to convey blood in the donor flow channel into the blood processing flow channel for separation of the blood component in the blood separation chamber, and a collection mode, during which the pump station is operated to convey at least some of the blood component in the blood processing flow channel into the blood component collection flow channel for collection in the blood component collection container.    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the controller can operate the pump station in a blood component return mode, during which the pump station is operated to convey at least some of the blood component in the blood processing flow channel into the donor flow channel for return to the donor.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1  further including a utility flow channel including a processing fluid container, wherein the pump station communicates with the utility flow channel, and wherein the controller operates the pump station during the blood component return mode to convey processing fluid in the utility flow channel into the donor flow channel for mixing with the blood component returned to the donor.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 1  further including a utility flow channel including a processing fluid container, wherein the pump station communicates with the utility flow channel, and wherein the controller can operate the pump station in a processing fluid transfer mode, during which the pump station is operated to convey processing fluid in the utility flow channel into the blood processing flow channel or the blood component collection flow channel for mixing with the blood component.  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 4  wherein the processing fluid includes a blood component additive.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the blood component comprises red blood cells.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the blood component comprises plasma.  
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 3  wherein the processing fluid includes saline.  
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the pump station includes a fluid pressure actuated pump and an actuator to apply fluid pressure to the pump, and wherein the controller is coupled to the actuator.  
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the pump station, the donor flow channel, the blood processing flow channel, and the blood component collection flow channel communicate within a cassette.  
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 1  p 1  wherein the pump station comprises first and second fluid pressure actuated pump stations, and 
 a fluid pressure actuator operating to selectively apply fluid pressure pump strokes in tandem to the first and second pump stations to convey fluid from a source to a destination,    wherein, during at least one of the multiple modes, the controller switches between a first flow state, in which the pump strokes draw a fluid volume into the first pump station from the source and expel a fluid volume from the second pump station to the destination, and a second flow state, in which the pump strokes draw a fluid volume into the second pump station from the source and expel a fluid volume from the first pump station to the destination, the control function operating to synchronize the pump strokes so that fluid flow from the source is essentially continuous while fluid flow to the destination is pulsatile.    
   
   
       12 . A blood processing system comprising 
 a donor flow channel to convey fluid to and from a donor,    a blood processing flow channel including a blood separation chamber to separate red blood cells from donor blood,    a blood component collection flow channel including a red blood cell collection container,    a pump station communicating with the donor flow channel, the blood processing flow channel, and the blood component collection flow channel,    a controller to operate the pump station in multiple modes, including a processing mode, during which the pump station is operated to convey blood in the donor flow channel into the blood processing flow channel for separation of the red blood cells in the blood separation chamber, and a collection mode during which the pump station is operated to convey at least some of the red blood cells in the blood processing flow channel into the blood component collection flow channel for collection in the red blood cell collection container.    
   
   
       13 . A blood processing method comprising the steps of: 
 coupling a multi-function pump station to a donor flow channel for conveying fluid to and from a donor, a blood processing flow channel including a blood separation chamber to separate a blood component from donor blood, and a blood component collection flow channel including a blood component collection container, and    operating the pump station in multiple modes, including a processing mode, during which the pump station is operated to convey blood in the donor flow channel into the blood processing flow channel for separation of the blood component in the blood separation chamber, and a collection mode, during which the pump station is operated to convey at least some of the blood component in the blood processing flow channel into the blood component collection flow channel for collection in the blood component collection container.    
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13  further including coupling the pump station to a utility flow channel including a processing fluid container, and operating the pump station during a blood component return mode to convey processing fluid in the utility flow channel into the donor flow channel for mixing with the blood component that is to be returned to the donor.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 13  further including coupling the pump station to a utility flow channel including a processing fluid container, and operating the pump station in a processing fluid transfer mode, during which the pump station is operated to convey processing fluid in the utility flow channel into the blood processing flow channel for mixing with the blood component.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the processing fluid includes a blood component additive.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the blood component comprises red blood cells.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the blood component comprises plasma.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the processing fluid includes saline.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 13   wherein the pump station comprises first and second fluid pressure actuated pump stations, and    a fluid pressure actuator operating to selectively apply fluid pressure pump strokes in tandem to the first and second pump stations to convey fluid from a source to a destination, and    wherein, during at least one of the multiple modes, operation of the pump station is switched between a first flow state, in which the pump strokes draw a fluid volume into the first pump station from the source and expel a fluid volume from the second pump station to the destination, and a second flow state, in which the pump strokes draw a fluid volume into the second pump station from the source and expel a fluid volume from the first pump station to the destination, the control function operating to synchronize the pump strokes so that fluid flow from the source is essentially continuous while fluid flow to the destination is pulsatile.