Centrifuge

Abstract

Centrifuges are useful to, among other things, remove red blood cells from whole blood and retain platelets and other factors in a reduced volume of plasma. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) and or platelet poor plasma (PPP) can be obtained rapidly and is ready for immediate injection into the host. Embodiments may include valves, operated manually or automatically, to open ports that discharge the excess red blood cells and the excess plasma into separate receivers while retaining the platelets and other factors in the centrifuge chamber. High speeds used allow simple and small embodiments to be used at the patient's side during surgical procedures. The embodiments can also be used for the separation of liquids or slurries in other fields such as, for example, the separation of pigments or lubricants.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A centrifuge comprising:
 a) a rotatable member comprising a chamber having a longitudinal axis;
 (i) a first discharge port provided in said chamber at a first radial distance from said longitudinal axis, and in fluid communication with a first valve, said first discharge port serving as an outlet for said rotatable member; 
 (ii) a second discharge port provided in said chamber at a second radial distance from said longitudinal axis, and in fluid communication with a second valve, said second discharge port serving as an outlet for said rotatable member, and with said second radial distance being less than said first radial distance; 
 (iii) at least a portion of said chamber being transparent; and 
 (iv) wherein said chamber comprises a first region and a second region, with a side wall extending therebetween, at least a portion of said sidewall tapering with respect to said longitudinal axis; 
   b) a motor to rotate said rotatable member about said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The centrifuge of  claim 1 , wherein said at least a portion of said side wall of said chamber comprises a continuous taper. 
     
     
         3 . The centrifuge of  claim 1 , further comprising a biologic liquid mixture of at least two constituents having different specific gravities, said chamber containing said biologic liquid mixture, and where each of said first and second valves are independently selectively openable, such that while said first discharge port is opened, at least a portion of said first constituent is automatically ejected out said first discharge port as a result of pressure built up by said centrifugal field, and while said second discharge port is opened, at least a portion of a second constituent is automatically ejected out said second discharge port as a result of pressure built up by said centrifugal field. 
     
     
         4 . The centrifuge of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said first and second valves are selectively closable in response to a signal. 
     
     
         5 . The centrifuge of  claim 4 , wherein said signal is derived from one of: observing an interface occurring between separated constituents of said biologic liquid mixture; detecting an interface occurring between separated constituents of said biologic liquid mixture by at least one automatic detector; and an automatic response after passage of a defined period of time. 
     
     
         6 . The centrifuge of  claim 1 , further comprising a reusable component and a disposable component, said disposable component being releasably securable to said reusable component, and wherein said reusable component comprises said motor and said disposable component comprises said rotatable member. 
     
     
         7 . The centrifuge of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet for the addition of a biologic liquid mixture into said chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The centrifuge of  claim 1 , further comprising a vent to permit air to enter said chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A centrifuge comprising:
 a) a rotatable member comprising a chamber having a cross-section and a longitudinal axis;
 (i) a first discharge port provided in said chamber at a first radial distance from said longitudinal axis, and in fluid communication with a first valve, said first discharge port serving as an outlet for said rotatable member; 
 (ii) a second discharge port provided in said chamber at a second radial distance from said longitudinal axis, and in fluid communication with a second valve, said second discharge port serving as an outlet for said rotatable member, and with said second radial distance being less than said first radial distance; 
 (iii) at least a portion of said chamber being transparent; and 
 (iv) wherein said cross-section of said chamber comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a cone, an oval, triangle, square, and octagon, and frustums thereof; 
   b) a motor to rotate said rotatable member about said longitudinal axis to produce a centrifugal field.   
     
     
         10 . The centrifuge of  claim 9 , wherein said centrifuge is configured to operate on a biologic liquid mixture of at least two constituents having different specific gravities, said chamber containing said biologic liquid mixture, and wherein each of said first and second valves are independently selectively openable, such that while said first discharge port is opened, at least a portion of said first constituent is automatically ejected out said first discharge port as a result of pressure built up by said centrifugal field, and while said second discharge port is opened, at least a portion of a second constituent is automatically ejected out said second discharge port as a result of pressure built up by said centrifugal field. 
     
     
         11 . The centrifuge of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said first and second valves are selectively closable in response to a signal. 
     
     
         12 . The centrifuge of  claim 11 , wherein said signal is derived from one of: observing an interface occurring between separated constituents of said biologic liquid mixture; detecting an interface occurring between separated constituents of said biologic liquid mixture by at least one automatic detector; and an automatic response after passage of a defined period of time. 
     
     
         13 . The centrifuge of  claim 9 , further comprising a reusable component and a disposable component, said disposable component being releasably securable to said reusable component, and wherein said reusable component comprises said motor and said disposable component comprises said rotatable member. 
     
     
         14 . The centrifuge of  claim 9 , further comprising an inlet for the addition of a biologic liquid mixture into said chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The centrifuge of  claim 9 , further comprising a vent to permit air to enter said chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A composition comprising a concentrated fraction of a biological liquid mixture comprising blood, wherein the concentrated fraction has been rotatably processed for less than about 3 minutes in a processing unit, wherein the concentrated fraction comprises at least one of: at least 93% of the red blood cells have been removed relative to the original blood material; and an enrichment factor of at least 8:1. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the concentrated fraction comprises buffy coat. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein said processing unit comprises a rotatable member comprising a chamber having a longitudinal axis, a first discharge port provided in said chamber at a first radial distance from said longitudinal axis, and in fluid communication with a first valve, said first discharge port serving as an outlet for said rotatable member; a second discharge port provided in said chamber at a second radial distance from said longitudinal axis, and in fluid communication with a second valve, said second discharge port serving as an outlet for said rotatable member, and with said second radial distance being less than said first radial distance; and wherein said chamber comprises a first region and a second region, with a side wall extending therebetween, at least a portion of said sidewall tapering with respect to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein said at least a portion of said chamber is transparent.