Systems and methods for on line finishing of cellular blood products like platelets harvested for therapeutic purposes

Abstract

Blood processing systems and methods establish on line communication between a container and a source of blood containing leukocytes and platelets, such as a human donor. The systems and methods create a centrifugal field between the source of blood and the container that separates from the blood an unfinished suspension of platelets having a first physiologic characteristic different than the desired physiologic characteristic. The systems and methods pump the unfinished platelet suspension outside the centrifugal field through a finishing device. The finishing device changes the first physiologic characteristic to the desired physiological characteristic, thereby creating the finished platelet suspension. The systems and methods convey the finished platelet suspension from the finishing device directly into the container. The systems and methods function without interrupting the on line communication between the container and the source of blood.

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 . An on line blood processing method for obtaining a finished blood suspension having a desired physiologic characteristic comprising the steps of 
 (1) establishing on line communication between a container and a source of blood,    (2) creating, without interrupting the on line communication between the container and the source, a centrifugal field between the source and the container that separates from the blood a first blood suspension having a physiologic characteristic different than the desired physiologic characteristic,    (3) pumping, without interrupting the on line communication between the container and the source, the first blood suspension having a physiologic characteristic different than the desired physiologic characteristic outside the centrifugal field through a finishing device outside the centrifugal field under pressure from the centrifugal field, thereby creating a second blood suspension having a desired physiologic characteristic thereby creating the finished blood suspension, and    (4) conveying, without interrupting the on line communication between the container and the source, the second blood suspension from the finishing device directly into the container without exposure to the separation forces of the centrifugal field,    (5) the preceding steps (2) to (4) being conducted without interrupting the on line communication between the container and the source.    
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the finishing device comprises a filter media.