System And Method For Plasma Purification Prior To Mononuclear Cell Collection

Abstract

A method of collecting mononuclear cells includes separating whole blood into plasma and cellular components, purifying the plasma through a plasma adsorption column to create purified plasma, combining the cellular components with the purified plasma to form a first mixture, and separating the first mixture into mononuclear cells and at least one component. Alternatively, whole blood may be flowed through an adsorption column to create purified whole blood, with the purified whole blood then being separated into mononuclear cells and at least one component.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of collecting mononuclear cells, comprising:
 separating whole blood into plasma and cellular components;   purifying the plasma through a plasma adsorption column to create purified plasma;   combining the cellular components with the purified plasma to form a first mixture; and   separating the first mixture into mononuclear cells and at least one component.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of performing extracorporeal photopheresis on the mononuclear cells, and wherein the purified plasma contains fewer proteins, lipids, and/or bilirubin than does the plasma. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of separating whole blood into plasma and cellular components is performed by a centrifugal separator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein step of separating whole blood into plasma and cellular components is performed by a spinning membrane separator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the mononuclear cells comprise at least one of lymphocytes, monocytes, and stem cells. 
     
     
         17 . A method of collecting mononuclear cells, comprising:
 providing an adsorption column through which whole blood is flowed to create purified whole blood; and   separating the purified whole blood into mononuclear cells and at least one component.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the purified whole blood is separated by a centrifugal separator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mononuclear cells comprise at least one of lymphocytes, monocytes, and stem cells. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the purified whole blood contains fewer proteins, lipids, and/or bilirubin than does the whole blood. 
     
     
         21 . A blood separation system comprising:
 a processing kit including an adsorption column, a first separation chamber, and a second separation chamber; and   a separation component including a pump system and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the pump system to
 convey whole blood into the first separation chamber to separate the whole blood into plasma and cellular components, 
 convey the plasma through the adsorption column to create purified plasma, 
 combine the cellular components with the purified plasma to form a first mixture, and 
 convey the first mixture into the second separation chamber to separate the first mixture into mononuclear cells and at least one component. 
   
     
     
         22 . The blood separation system of  claim 21 , further comprising a photopheresis device configured to perform extracorporeal photopheresis on the mononuclear cells, wherein the purified plasma contains fewer proteins, lipids, and/or bilirubin than does the plasma. 
     
     
         23 . The blood separation system of  claim 21 , wherein the first separation chamber is defined by a centrifugal separation container. 
     
     
         24 . The blood separation system of  claim 21 , wherein the first separation chamber is defined by a spinning membrane separator. 
     
     
         25 . The blood separation system of  claim 21 , wherein the mononuclear cells comprise at least one of lymphocytes, monocytes, and stem cells. 
     
     
         26 . A blood separation system comprising:
 a processing kit including an adsorption column and a blood processing container; and   a separation component including a pump system and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the pump system to
 convey whole blood through the adsorption column to create purified whole blood, and 
 convey the purified whole blood into the blood processing container to separate the purified whole blood into mononuclear cells and at least one component. 
   
     
     
         27 . The blood separation system of  claim 26 , wherein the blood processing container comprises a centrifugal separation container. 
     
     
         28 . The blood separation system of  claim 26 , wherein the mononuclear cells comprise at least one of lymphocytes, monocytes, and stem cells. 
     
     
         29 . The blood separation system of  claim 26 , wherein the purified whole blood contains fewer proteins, lipids, and/or bilirubin than does the whole blood.