Blood product transfer system

Abstract

A system for transferring blood product between a blood storage bag and a processing bag. The system includes an airtight containment chamber for supporting therein one or more blood storage bags. A door is provided for access to the chamber and there is included an airtight fixture that allows tubing from the blood storage bag to exit the chamber. A fluid pump is coupled to the containment chamber for establishing either pressure or vacuum within the containment chamber. A controller controls the air pump to, in turn, control the transfer of a blood product.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of transferring blood product in either direction between a first and second set of multiple blood storage bags and processing bags, said method comprising the steps of:
 disposing a first set of multiple blood storage bags in a first airtight containment chamber with the first set of multiple blood storage bags hanging in an upright position;   disposing a second set of multiple blood storage bags in a second airtight containment chamber;   coupling a pump to the first and second airtight containment chamber;   providing pressure by means of the pump to the first airtight containment chamber to permit transfer of blood product between the first set of multiple blood storage bags and the processing bags; and   providing vacuum by means of the pump to the second airtight containment chamber to permit transfer of blood product between the processing bags and the second set of multiple storage bags.   
     
     
         30 . A method as in  claim 29  wherein the bags are disposed in a position that allows for blood product flow due to pressure or vacuum without allowing a blockage to occur via a collapsed tube or blood storage bag. 
     
     
         31 . A method as in  claim 29  including controlling the pump to select, in one state, pressure operation, and in another state, vacuum operation. 
     
     
         32 . A method as in  claim 31  wherein said one and another states are mutually exclusive. 
     
     
         33 . A method as in  claim 29  including providing a fluid control circuit that coupled only one at a time of either pressure or vacuum to the first and second chambers, respectively. 
     
     
         34 . A method as in  claim 33  wherein the bags in the second chamber are subjected to pressure during a first time interval and the bags in the first chamber are subjected to vacuum during a second time interval. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method as in  claim 29  including an air control circuit coupled between the pump and the first and second chambers for directing only pressure to one chamber and only vacuum to the other chamber. 
     
     
         37 . A method as in  claim 36  wherein said chambers are separated by a dividing wall. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled)