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 concentrated blood cell suspension having a reduced residual leukocyte population
 (1) establishing on line communication between a container and a source of blood having a first population of leukocytes,   (2) creating, while maintaining 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 concentrated blood cell suspension and a second concentrated blood cell suspension having an initial population of leukocytes less than the first population of leukocytes and greater than the reduced residual population of leukocytes,   (3) pumping, while maintaining the on line communication between the container and the source, substantially all of the second concentrated blood cell suspension outside the centrifugal field through a finishing device outside the centrifugal field, the finishing device operating to reduce the initial leukocyte population in the second concentrated blood cell suspension, thereby creating a finished concentrated blood cell suspension having a reduced residual leukocyte population less than the initial population of leukocytes and suited for long term storage and transfusion without further processing, and   (4) conveying, while maintaining the on line communication between the container and the source, substantially all of the finished concentrated blood cell suspension from the finishing device directly into the container and not a separation device.   
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the finishing device comprises a filter media. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 2  further including providing a pump outside of the centrifugal field for pumping substantially all of the second concentrated blood cell suspension from the centrifugal field through the finishing device, and wherein the pumping is carried out by said pump.