CA1331873C - Liquid separator - Google Patents
Liquid separatorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1331873C CA1331873C CA000601382A CA601382A CA1331873C CA 1331873 C CA1331873 C CA 1331873C CA 000601382 A CA000601382 A CA 000601382A CA 601382 A CA601382 A CA 601382A CA 1331873 C CA1331873 C CA 1331873C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- container
- blood
- bag
- holder
- presser
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M1/00—Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems
- A61M1/02—Blood transfusion apparatus
- A61M1/029—Separating blood components present in distinct layers in a container, not otherwise provided for
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M1/00—Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems
- A61M1/02—Blood transfusion apparatus
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
- A61M2205/33—Controlling, regulating or measuring
- A61M2205/3306—Optical measuring means
- A61M2205/331—Optical measuring means used as turbidity change detectors, e.g. for priming-blood or plasma-hemoglubine-interface detection
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Vascular Medicine (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Anesthesiology (AREA)
- Hematology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- External Artificial Organs (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A liquid separator for use as a blood component separator separates a blood component such as blood plasma from centrifugally separated component layers in a flexible blood bag. The blood bag has a liquid discharge tube on its upper end. The liquid separator includes a a container holder for holding the blood bag with the liquid discharge tube directed substantially upwardly, and a container presser for pressing the blood bag progressively from the upper end toward a lower end thereof in coaction with the container holder to force the blood component out of the blood bag through the liquid discharge tube. While the blood bag is pressed, a certain thickness is provided at its upper end to allow the blood component to flow out of the blood back through the blood discharge tube.
A liquid separator for use as a blood component separator separates a blood component such as blood plasma from centrifugally separated component layers in a flexible blood bag. The blood bag has a liquid discharge tube on its upper end. The liquid separator includes a a container holder for holding the blood bag with the liquid discharge tube directed substantially upwardly, and a container presser for pressing the blood bag progressively from the upper end toward a lower end thereof in coaction with the container holder to force the blood component out of the blood bag through the liquid discharge tube. While the blood bag is pressed, a certain thickness is provided at its upper end to allow the blood component to flow out of the blood back through the blood discharge tube.
Description
LIQUID SEPARATOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present lnventlon relates to a liquld separator, and more particularly to an apparatus for sepa-ratlng varlous blood portions or components such as blood plasma, red cells, etc. from blood stored ln a flexlble con-talner such as a blood bag or the like.
It ls known that conventlonal whole blood transfu-slon causes various problems partlcularly wlth respect to patlents to whom blood ls transfused. To avoid physlcal stralns on the body of patlents and reduce harmful lmmunity-related slde effects, there has generally been employed com-ponent transfuslon by which only a blood component requlred by a patlent ls transfused to the patlent. Component prepa-ratlons can be produced by separatlng, wlth a centrlfugal separator, various blood components from blood stored ln a blood bag, and storlng the separated blood components ln respectlve component bags.
Varlous devlces are known for separatlng blood ln a blood bag lnto blood components. These separatlng devlces are roùghly dlvlded lnto two groups. Accordlng to a sepa-ratlng devlce of one group, the blood bag ls locally pressed ln lts lower portlon. A separating devlce of the other type presses the blood bag unlformly over its entlre area.
The former blood separator 18 disclosed ln Japanese Patent Publlcatlons Nos. 55-1?585, 57-30507, and 62-502594, .
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for example. soth this prior art and the present invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. 1( al and I(b) are slde elevatlonal vlews of conventlonal liquld separators, showlng the manner ln whlch blood bags are pressed;
FIG. 2 ls a front elevatlonal vlew of a llquld sep-arator accordlng to a flrst embodlment of the present lnventlon, wlth a trlple-bag type blood bag set connected thereto;
FIG. 3 ls a slde elevatlonal vlew of the llquld separator shown ln FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 ls a slde elevatlonal vlew of the liquld separator, showlng the manner a blood bag ls pressed;
FIG. 5 ls a perspectlve vlew of an automatlc llquld separator accordlng to a second embodiment of the present lnventlon;
FIG. 6 ls a block dlagram of the automatlc llquld separator shown ln FIG. 5;
FIGS. 7(a), 7(b), and 7(c) are schematlc vlews lllustrating the manner ln whlch the automatlc llquld sepa-rator operates;
FIG. B ls a flowchart of an operatlon sequence of the automatlc llquld separator wlth a quadruple-bag type blood bag set for removlng leukocytes from blood that has been sub~ected to a flrst centrlfugal separatlon process;
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` ` 1331873 FIG. 9 ls a flowchart of an operatlon sequence of the automatic llquld separator after a second centrlfugal separatlon process;
FIG. 10 ls a perspectlve vlew of an automatlc llq-uld separator ln accordance with a thlrd embodlment of the present lnvention and FIGS. ll(a) and ll(b) are schematlc vlews showlng operatlon of the automatlc llquld separator of FIG. 10.
The previously known blood separator includes a separating stand 2a as shown in FIG. l(a) of the accompanying drawings. slood contained in a blood bag 4a is separated into blood components by a centrlfugal separator. One of the separated components, l.e., blood plasma, ls then separated lnto a component bag (not shown) by the separatlng stand 2a, and thereafter, a tube 6a extendlng between the blood bag 4a and the component bag ls sealed off by a tube sealer (not shown).
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- 1 3~ 1 873 More speclflcally, the blood bag 4a ls hung from a hook 7a on the separatlng stand 2a such that red cells ln the blood bag 4a wlll not be agltated and mlxed wlth the other separated blood components. Then, the blood bag 4a i8 pressed by a presser plate ga that ls angularly moved about a plvot shaft B ln the dlrectlon lndlcated by the arrow A.
Slnce the presser plate 9a ls rotatably mounted on the sepa-rating stand 2a by the pivot shaft ~ that ls posltloned below the blood bag 4a, the lower portlon of the blood bag 4a is compressed to force blood plasma out of the blood bag 4a upwardly lnto the component bag through the tube 6a ~oined to the upper end of the blood bag 4a. The blood bag 4a is continuously pressed untll the lnterface between the blood plasma and the red cells reaches the upper end of the blood bag 4a. After the blood plasma has entlrely been separated from the blood bag 4a, the tube 6a ls sealed off by the tube sealer.
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The latter blood separatlng devlce ls known from Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publlcatlons Nos. 55-155652 and 61-29363, for example. The blood separatlng devlce employs a separatlng stand 2b as lllustrated ln FIG. l(b) of the accompanylng drawlngs. In operatlon, a blood bag 4b ls hung from a hook 7b on the separatlng stand 2b wlth care exer-clsed not to dlsturb separated red cells ln the blood bag 4b. Then, the blood bag 4b ls unlformly compressed by a presser plate 9b whlch ls horlzontally dlsplaced toward the separatlng stand 2b ln the dlrectlon lndlcated by the arrow B. Blood plasma ls forced out of the blood bag 2b lnto a component bag (not shown) through a tube 6b.
, The blood separators of the above two type~ may be operated elther automatlcally or manually. If they are operated automatlcally, the lnterface between the blood plasma and the red cells ln the blood bag ls automatlcally detected by an optlcal lnterface sensor.
With the conventional blood separators, however, since the interfaclal areas S,, S, between the blood plasma and the red cells or a buffy coat layer ln the blood bags 2a, 2b are large, any error ln the detection of the lnterfaclal posltlon by vlsual lnspectlon or the optlcal - -lnterface sensor lnduces a large error ln the amount of the separated component. Accordlngly, the deslred blood compo-nent may not be separated with a good yleld.
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133187~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It 19 a ma~or ob~ect of the present lnventlon to provide a llquid separator whlch can preclsely detect the lnterfaces between components of a llquld for separatlng the llquld components wlth a good yleld.
Another ob~ect of the present lnventlon ls to pro-vlde a llquld separator for separatlng a llquld layer from a flexlble contalner storlng upper and lower llquld layers thereln and havlng a llquld dlscharge tube on an upper end thereof, sald llquid separator comprlslng: a contalner holder for holdlng the contalner wlth the llquld dlscharge tube dlrected substantlally upwardly; and a contalner presser for provldlng a predetermlned thlckness at the upper end of the contalner held by sald contalner holder and for presslng a portlon of the contalner which has a larger thlc~ness than said predetermlned thlc~ness, progressively from the upper end toward a lower end thereof ln coaction wlth sald contalner holder to force the upper llquld layer out of the contalner through the llquld dlscharge tube.
Stlll another ob~ect of the present lnventlon 18 to provlde a llquld separator whereln sald contalner presser comprises a presser plate swlngably supported at an upper end thereof on sald contalner holder, sald upper end of the presser plate and sald contalner holder belng spaced from each other by a dlstance whlch malntalns sald predetermlned thlc~nes8 at the upper end of the contalner.
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- ~: 1331873 Yet another ob~ect of the present lnventlon 1~ to provlde a llquld separator whereln sald presser plate ls made of a substantlally llght-transmlsslve materlal.
Yet still another ob~ect of the present lnventlon ls to provlde a llquld separator for separatlng a llquld layer from a flrst flexlble contalner storing upper and lower llquid layers thereln and havlng a llquld dlscharge tube on an upper end thereof, said llquld separator comprlslng: a flrst contalner holder for holdlng the flrst contalner wlth the liquld dlscharge tube dlrected substan-tlally upwardly: a contalner presser for presslng the con-talner progresslvely from the upper end toward a lower end , thereof to force the upper llquld layer out of the flrst contalner through the llquld dlscharge tube: a second con-talner holder for holdlng a second flexlble contalner for storlng the upper llquld layer dellvered from the llquid dlscharge tube through a passage: openlng/closlng means for selectlvely openlng and closlng sald passage: an lnterface ~: :
sensor for detectlng the lnterface separatlng the upper and lower llquld layers ln the flrst contalner: and a control unlt for generatlng control slgnals based on a detected slg-nal from sald lnterface sensor and a predetermlned control program stored ln sald control unlt, and for applylng sald control slgnals to sald contalner presser and sald openlng/closlng means to automatlcally separate the upper ~,,:' ~`- '' . :
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liquld layer from said flrst contalner and deliver the upper llquld layer lnto sald second contalner.
A further ob~ect of the present lnventlon ls to provlde a llquld separator whereln sald contalner presser comprlses a presser plate swlngably supported at an upper end thereof on said flrst contalner holder, sald upper end of the presser plate and sald flrst contalner holder belng spaced from each other by a dlstance whlch malntalns a pre-determlned thlckness at the upper end of the flrst contalner.
A stlll further ob~ect of the present lnventlon ls to provlde a llquld separator whereln æald upper end of the presser plate ls supported on sald flrst contalner holder by means of a support member, further lncludlng an actuator for movlng said support member toward and away from sald flrst contalner holder.
A yet further ob~ect of the present lnventlon ls to provlde a llquld separator whereln sald presser plate læ
ade of a substantlally llght-transmlsslve materlal.
A yet stlll further ob~ect of the present lnventlon to provlde a llquld separator whereln sald flrst con-talner presser comprlses a holder plate openable and clo-sable wlth respect to sald flrst contalner holder for holdlng the flrst contalner ln sald flrst contalner holder, an actuator, and a presser plate swlngably operable by sald ~ ' ~
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actuator for presslng the flrst container progresslvely frcm the upper end to a lower end thereof ln coaction wlth sald holder plate.
Another ob~ ect of the present lnvention ls to pro-vide a llquid separator wherein upper ends of said holder and presser plates are spaced from each other by a distance which malntalns a predetermined thickness at the upper end of said flrst container.
Still another ob~ect of the present invention ls to provide a liquid separator whereln said holder plate ls made of a substantially light-transmissive material.
A further ob~ect of the present inventlon ls to provlde a llquid separator whereln said passage com-prlses tubes connected respectively to the flrst and second -containers, said openlng/closing means comprising clamp means for selectively opening and closing said tubes, respectively, and solenolds for operatlng said clamp means, respectively, to open and close sald tubes.
The above and other ob~ects, features and advan-tages of the present invention wlll become more apparent from the following description when taken ln con~unctlon wlth the accompanylng drawlngs in which preferred embodi-ments of the present inventlon are shown by way of illustra-tlve example.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
AS shown ln FIGS. 2 through 4, a llquld separator 10 accordlng to a flrst embodlment of the present lnventlon ls baslcally constructed of a contalner holder 14 for hold-lng a blood bag set 12 lncludlng flexlble contalners or blood bags, and a contalner presser 16 for cooperatlng wlth the contalner holder 14 ln presslng the blood bag 12 held by the contalner holder 14. In the lllustrated embodlment, the blood bag set 12 ls of a trlple-bag type lncludlng a parent bag 12a, a flrst child bag 12b, and a second chlld bag 12c.
The container holder 14 has a rectangular horlzon-tal plate 18 and a rectangular vertical plate 20 mounted on the horlzontal plate 18. Two hooks 22 are attached to an upper portlon of the vertlcal plate 20 for hanglng the par-ent bag 12a. The contalner presser 16 has a horlzontal pivot shaft 24 angularly movably supported on the vertlcal plate 20 beneath the hooks 22 by means of support members 26 - 1 3~ 1 873 on opposite ends of the plvot shaft 24. The plvot shaft 24 ls posltloned near the upper end of the parent bag 12a whlch ls hung from the hooks 22. A presser plate 28 of a trans-parent materlal ls ~olned at lts upper end to the plvot shaft 24 and depends downwardly. The upper end of the presser plate 28 ls spaced a certaln dlstance from the upper end of the parent bag 12a hanglng from the hooks 22. The dlstance between the upper ends of the presser plate 28 and the parent bag 12a ls selected to allow the upper end of the parent bag 12a to have a certaln thlckness so that separated blood components stored ln the parent bag ~2a can pass through the upper end of the parent bag 12a.
A llquld dlscharge tube 30 havlng a rupturable and removable plug is ~olned to the upper end of the parent bag 12a. The llquld discharge tube 30 ls connected to the flrst chlld bag 12b through a tube 32, a T-branch tube 34, and a tube 36, and also to the second chlld bag 12c through the tube 32, the T-branch tube 34, and a tube 38. The parent bag 12a has on lts upper end a palr of dlscharge ports 40 and a tube 42 connected to a blood sampllng needle (not shown).
The llquld separator of the flrst embodiment is basically constructed~as descrlbed above. Operatlon and advantages of the liquid separator wlll be described below.
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-- ~3~1873 As shown ln FIG. 2, a trlple-bag type blood bag set 12 lncludlng parent and chlld bags 12a, 12b, 12c ls employed, and 400 m~ of blood ls sampled from a blood donor lnto the parent bag 12a through the blood sampllng needle ~olned to the parent bag 12a. Thereafter, the blood bag set 12 ls set ln a centrlfugal separator ~not shown) to separate the sampled blood ln the parent bag 12a lnto a plasma layer C, a buffy coat layer D, and a red cell layer E thereln.
Then, the parent bag 12a wlth the centrlfugally separated blood portion~ or components ls hung from the hooks 22 of the contalner holder 14. The presser plate 28 ls turned ln the dlrectlon lndlcated by the arrow (FIG. 3) to press the parent bag 12a. At thls tlme, a portlon of the parent bag 12a whlch has a thlckness larger than the thlckness of the upper end of the parent bag 12a ls pressed by the presser plate 28. The upper plasma layer C ln the parent bag 12a ls therefore forced out of the parent bag 12a through the llquld dlscharge tube 30 lnto the flrst chlld bag 12b. When the lnterface between the plasma layer C and the buffy coat layer D reaches the ~unctlon between the llq-uld dlscharge tube 30 and the parent bag 12a, the parent bag 12a ls depressurlzed, and the llquid discharge tube 30 ls closed off by a clamp (not shown).
At thls tlme, as shown ln FIG. 4, slnce the cross-sectlonal area S, of the parent bag 12a near the llquld dls-charge tube 30 ls smaller than those of the blood bags ln B
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r5, the conventional llquld separators shown in FIGS. l(a) and l~b) ~S, > S, > S,), the amount of blood plasma remainlng ln the parent bag 12a ls small, and hence the blood plasma can be separated wlth hlgh accuracy from the parent bag 12a.
Thereafter, the clamp on the llquid dlscharge tube 30 is released, and the parent bag 12a is further pressed to transfer the buffy coat layer D from the parent bag 12a lnto the second chlld bag 12c. When the lnterface between the buffy coat layer D and the red cell layer E reaches the ~unctlon between the llquld dlscharge tube 30 and the parent bag 12a, the pressurlzation of the parent bag 12a ls stopped, and the llquid discharge tube 30 ls closed off by the clamp. At thls tlme, the cross-sectlonal area of the parent bag 12a ln the vlclnlty of the llguld dlscharge tube 30 ls very small, and the pressure applled to the parent bag 12a near the llquld dlscharge tube 30 by the contalner presser 16 ls stronger than those applled ln the conven-tlonal liquid separators shown in FIGS. l~a) and l~b).
Therefore, the buffy coat layer D ls not led to the dis-charge ports 40 but forclbly dlscharged lnto the liguld dls-charge tube 30, so that the buffy coat layer D can be separated hlghly accurately from the parent bag 12a. As a result, the deslred blood portlons can be separated easlly and hlghly accurately.
A llquld separator accordlng to a second embodlment of the present lnventlon wlll be descrlbed below wlth refer-.., ~ .
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ence to FIGS. 5 thr~ugh 9. Those components of the llquld separator accordlng to the second embodlment whlch are lden-tlcal to those of the flrst embodlment are denoted by lden-tlcal reference numerals, and wlll not be descrlbed ln detall.
FIG. 5 shows an automatlc llquld separator 50 whlch ls used mainly for separatlng blood portlons or components.
A blood bag set 12 for use wlth the automatlc llquld separa-tor 50 may be of a double-bag type lncludlng a bag for stor-lng 200 m~ of a blood component and a bag for storlng 400 mb of a blood component, of a trlple-bag type, or of a quadruple-bag type ~wlth or wlthout an addltlve solutlon) for removlng leukocytes. In the lllustrated second embodlment, a 400 m~ quadruple-bag type blood bag set (wlth an addltlve solutlon) for removlng leukocytes ls used ln comblnatlon wlth the automatlc llquld separator 50.
The automatlc llquld separator 50 baslcally com-prlses a flrst contalner holder 52 for holdlng a parent bag 12a ~ith a llquld dlscharge tube 30 ~olned thereto, a con-talner presser 54 for presslng the parent bag 12a held by the flrst contalner holder 52 to push upper blood component layers out of the parent bag 12a, a second contalner holder ~-56 for holdlng flrst, second, and thlrd chlld bags 12b, 12c, -~
12d whlch are supplled wlth the upper blood component layers from the llquld dlscharge tube 30 through tubes 32, 36, 38a, 38b, a tube openlng~closlng assembly 5~ for selectlvely ;~;
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- . .. . - ~ . . ~ ......................... . -opening and closlng the tubes 32, 36, 38a, 38b, an lnterface sensor 60 for detectlng lnterfaclal boundarles between the component layers ln the parent bag 12a, and a control unlt 62 for generatlng control slgnals to operate the contalner presser 54 and the tube openlng/closlng assembly 58 based on a detected slgnal from the lnterface sensor 60 and a prede-termlned control program (see FIGS. 5 and 6).
The flrst contalner holder 52 ls posltloned on one slde wall 64a of a houslng 64 and has two hooks 22 for hang-lng the parent bag 12a.
The contalner presser 54 comprlses a plvot shaft 24, a presser plate 28 flxed to the plvot shaft 24, two sup-port members 66 mounted on an upper portlon of the slde wall 64a of the houslng 64 and supportlng the plvot shaft 24, the support members 66 belng spaced a certaln dlstance ftom the slde wall 64a, and a presser actuator 68 (FIGS. 7(a) through 7(c)) for angularly moving the presser plate 2~. As lllu9-; trated ln FIGS. 7(a) through 7~c), a palr of alr cyllnders 70~1s supported on an upper portlon of the slde wall 64a and - housed ln the houslng 64. The alr cyllnders 70 have respec-tlvo pl~ton rods 72 exposed out of the houslng 64 and con- ~ -nectod to the support members 66, respectlvely. As shown ln FIG. 6, the alr cyllnders 70 are electrlcally connected to the control unlt 62 through a cyllnder drlver 74 and an ~ ;
lnput/output port 76.
The presser actuator 68 18 dlsposed ln the houslng 64 and electrlcally connected to the control unlt 62 through ~,. .. .
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a pressurizlng circuit 78 and the input/output port 76. Thepresser actuator 68 comprises an air cylinder 80, for example, swingably mounted in the housing 64 and havlng a plston rod 82 connected to a lower end of the presser plate 28. The presser actuator 68 may comprise a spring motor, a hydraullc cyllnder, or the llke.
The second container holder 56 has a lid 84 ope-nably and closably hinged to the upper surface 64b of the houslng 64. The lld 84 can be flxed ln a vertical dlrection normal to the upper surface 64b. The lid 84 has hooks 86a, 86b for hanglng the chlld bags 12c, 12d. The houslng 64 has a slde chamber 90 for storing the child bag 12b thereln, the chamber 90 houslng a hanger-type welghing unlt 88. The welghlng unlt 88 is electrlcally connected to the control unlt 62 through a welght measurlng clrcult 92 and the lnput/output port 76 (FIG. 6).
The tube openlng/closlng assembly 58 comprlses a flrst tube clamp 94 mounted on a slanted surface 64c of the -~
houslng 64, and second, thlrd, and fourth tube clamps 96, -98, 100 mounted on the upper surface 64b. The tube clamps 94 through 100 can be selectlvely opened and closed by respectlve solenolds 94a, 96a, 98a, lOOa whlch are electrl- -cally connected to the control unlt 62 through respectlve -solenold drlvers 94b, 96b, 98b, lOOb and the lnput/output port 76.
The lnterface sensor 60 serves to detect the lnter-face between a plasma layer C and a buffy coat layer D and j: : : ., . . :
the interface between the buffy coat layer D and a red cell layer E ln the blood bag 12a. The lnterface sensor 60 gen-erally comprlses a photosensor. More speclflcally, the lnterface sensor 60 lncludes a llght-emlttlng element 102 mounted on an upper portlon of the slde wall 64a and a llght detector element 104 mounted on an upper portlon of the presser plate 2~. An lnterface between blood component lay-ers can be detected based on the dlfferent llght absorptlon coefflclents of the blood component layers when llght emlt-ted from the llght-emlttlng element 102 ls detected by the llght detector element 104. The posltlon of the lnterface sensor 60 can be vertlcally ad~usted. The lnterface sensor 60 ls electrlcally coupled to the control unlt 62 through the lnput/output port 76.
The control unlt 62 processes various slgnals sup-plled through the lnput/output port 76 and lnformatlon read from a memory unlt 110 lncludlng a ROM 110a and a RAN 110b to generate and apply control slgnals through the lnput/output port 76 and the drlvers and clrcults to the respectlve actuating elements. The ROM 110.a stores control programs representlng control sequences accordlng to the present lnventlon, and ls electrlcally connected to the con-trol unit 62. The control sequences represented by the con-trol programs are effectlve ln separatlng blood components from blood ln amounts of 400 m~, 200 m~, etc. The control programs can be selected by operatlng a selector swltch.
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:
:`: 1331873 Alternatlvely, program cassettes storlng respectlve control programs may be replaced to select deslred control programs.
To the control unlt 62, there are also electrically connected a power supply swltch 112, a flrst start swltch 114, a second start swltch 116, a stop swltch 118, and a llquld crystal dlsplay (LCD) 120 through the lnput/output port 76. These swltches are mounted on a panel on the slanted surface 64c of the houslng 64. The llquld crystal dlsplay 120 ls mounted on a control panel on the houslng 64.
The llquld crystal dlsplay 120 can dlsplay the tltle of a control program belng selected and executed, so that the operator can conflrm whether the presently selected control program ls proper. Any error message, e.g., lndlcatlng that the lnterface level ls abnormal or the welghlng unlt 88 ls malfunctlonlng (such as when a chlld bag ls not set ln -place)~ ls also displayed on the llquld crystal dlsplay 120.
operatlon and advantages of the automatlc llquld separator thus constructed wlll be descrlbed below.
FIG. 8 shows a control sequence of the automatlc llquid separator 50 at the tlme a quadruple-bag type blood bag set 12 for removlng leukocytes from centrlfugally sepa~
rated blood ls used ln comblnatlon wlth the automatlc llquld separator 50. -The power supply swltch 112 of the automatlc llquld separator 50 ls turned on to lnltlallze the control unlt 62 ln a step 1. A blood bag set 12 of the quadruple-bag type .
~, . ... .
~: . . -:, .
133~873 contalnlng ln lts parent bag 12a 400 m~ of blood donated from a blood donor ls sub~ected to centrlfugal separatlon for 5 mlnutes wlth centrlfugal forces ranglng from 3,000 G
to 4,000 G. The blood bag set 12 wlth lts blood centrlfu-gally separated lnto blood components ls then set ln the automatlc llquld separator 50, as shown ln FIG. 5. More speclflcally, as shown ln FIG. 7~a)~ the alr cyllnders 70 are operated to cause the plston rods 72 to pro~ect the sup-port members 66 and the presser plate 28 as lndlcated by the dotted llnes. Thereafter, the parent bag 12a storlng 400 m~
of centrlfugally separated whole blood ls hung from the hooks 22 of the flrst contalner holder 52. The alr cylln-ders 70 are operated agaln to dlsplace the presser plate 28 toward the side wall 64a to a posltlon where there ls a dls-tance or gap H remalnlng between the upper end of the presser plate 28 and the upper end of the slde wall 64a (see FIG. 7(b)). The flrst chlld bag 12b ls placed ln the cham-ber 90 of the second contalner holder 56, and the second and third chlld bags 12c, 12d are hung from the hooks 86a, 86b, respectlvely, on the lld 84.
The tube 32 of the blood bag set 12 ls set ln the flrst tube clamp 94, the tube 36 ln the second tube clamp 96, and the tubes 38a, 38b ln the thlrd and fourth tube clamps 98, 100, respectlvely.
After the blood bag set 12 has been set ln the automatlc llquld separator 50, a control program for the ....
" ~ -. ~
~ .
~ - , .
quadruple-bag type blood bag set ls selected and read out of the memory unlt 110 ln a step 2. The tltle of the selected and read control program ls now dlsplayed on the llquld crystal dlsplay 120. The operator looks at the dlsplayed program tltle, and determlnes whether the dlæplayed control program i3 correct for the type of the blood bag set ln a step 3. If the dlsplayed program ls incorrect, then the ætop swltch 118 ls turned on to cancel the selected control program, and control goes back to the step 2 where a correct control program 18 selected and read out agaln. If the dls-played control program ls correct, then control proceeds to -a step 4 ln whlch the flrst start switch 114 is turned on, and then control goes to a step 5.
The step 5 determines whether a lnterface level between blood component layers 18 ln a predetermlned -~
posltlon, l.e., whether the parent bag 12a læ æet ln place or not. Thls decision step 5 ls performed by the operator ~ho sees the lnterface level dlsplayed on the llquld cryætal dlsp1ay 120. If the lnterface level ls not ln the predeter-mlned posltlon, then the operator turns on the stop swltch , sets the parent bag 12a agaln, and then turns on the flrst start swltch 114 agaln. If the lnterface level ls ln the predetermlned posltion, then control goes to a step 6 -~
ln whlch the operator determlnes whether the welght measured by the welghing unlt 8~ ls a predetermlned welght, l.e., ~
whether the flrst child bag 12b 18 set ln place, by looking ~;
1 3;~ 1 873 at the welght dlsplayed on the ilquld crystal dlsplay 120.
If the dlsplayed welght ls wrong, then the flrst chlld bag 12b ls set ln posltlon, and the flrst start swltch 114 ls turned on agaln. If the dlsplayed welght ls correct, then the flrst and thlrd tube clamps 94, 9~ are opened and the second and fourth clamps 96, 100 are closed ln a step 7.
The step 7 ls followed by a step 8 ln whlch the alr cyllnder 80 ls operated to turn the presser plate 2B about the plvot shaft 24 to start presslng the parent bag 12a (see FIG. 7(c)). At thls tlme, the plug ln the llquld dlshcharge tube 30 of the parent bag 12a ls broken and removed to brlng the parent bag 12a and the tube 32 lnto fluld communl- .
catlon wlth each other. The plasma layer C ln the parent `
bag 12a now starts to be transferred lnto the second chlld bag 12c.
Then, the lnterface between the plasma layer C and the buffy coat layer D ln the parent bag 12a ls checked to see lf the lnterface has reached a predetermlned posltlon ln a step 9. If the lnterface has not yet reached the prede-termlned posltlon, then the parent bag 12a ls contlnuously pressed by the presser plate 28 to feed the plasma layer C
lnto the second chlld bag 12c. If the lnterface has reached the predetermlned posltlon, then control goes to a step 10 ln whlch the flrst and second tube clamps 94, 96 are opened, and the thlrd and fourth tube clamps 98, 100 are closed, to transfer a portlon of the plasma layer C and portlons of the _ 20 -B
. . ... . . .
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~ : . .
:` , :
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133187~
buffy coat layer D and the red cell layer E into the flrst chlld bag 12b.
Then, a step 11 determines whether the welght of the blood components ln the flrst chlld bag 12b has reached 30 g or not. If not, then control walts untll the welght of the blood components ln the flrst chlld bag 12b reaches 30 g. If the welght has reached 30 g, then control proceeds to a step 12 ln whlch the pressurlzatlon of the parent bag 12a ls stopped. In a next step 13, the second and thlrd tube clamps 96, 98 are opened, and the flrst and fourth tube clamps 94, 100 are closed. Therefore, the plasma layer C
stored ln the second chlld bag 12c flows by gravlty lnto the flrst chlld bag 12b. Then, a step 14 determlnes whether the ~ -welght of the blood components ln the flrst chlld bag 12b has roached 30 g ~ 40 g - 70 g or not. If not, control ~alts untll the welght reaches 70 g.
If the welght has reached 70 g, then the flrst and ~--fourth tube clamps 94, 100 are opened and the second and ;~
thlrd tube clamps 96, 98 are closed ln a step 15. These ;
tube clamps remaln opened and closed for a prescrlbed perlod ~-of tlme. A rupturable and separable plug ln the tube 38b connected to the thlrd chlld bag 12d ls broken and removed to allow an addltlve solutlon for preservlng red cellæ to be transferred from the thlrd chlld bag 12d lnto the parent bag 12a.
After the condltlon of the step 15 has contlnued for the prescrlbed perlod of tlme, control proceeds to a ~,. . .. . . . . . . .
133187~
step 16 ln whlch the stop swltch 118 19 turned on and the power supply swltch 112 ls turned off to complete the cycle of separatlng the blood components from blood whlch has been sub~ected to a flrst centrlfugal separatlon process. Thereafter, the tubes 32, 38a are sealed off by a tube sealer (not shown)~ and the parent bag 12a and the sec-ond chlld bag 12c are cut off from the other bags, and stored ln a glven place. ;
FIG. 9 shows an operatlon sequence for separatlng blood components from the flrst and thlrd chlld bags 12b, 12d whlch have been sub~ected to a second centrlfugal sepa-ratlon process, e.g., for 5 mlnutes wlth centrlfugal forces ranglng from 150 G to 200 G.
The power supply swltch 112 ls turned on to lnl-tlallze the control unlt 62 ln a step la. Then, the flrst and thlrd chlld bags 12b, 12d are set ln the automatlc llq-uid separator 50. More speclflcally, the flrst chlld bag 12b 18 hung from the hooks 22 of the flrst contalner holder 52, and the thlrd chlld bag 12d 19 placed ln the chamber 90 of the second contalner holder 56 and hung from the hanger of the welghlng unlt a8. The tube 32 of the blood bag set ls set ln the flrst tube clamp 94, and the tube 38b ln the second tube clamp 96.
After the flrst and second chlld bags 12b, 13b have been set ln the automatlc llquld separator 50, a control program for the chlld bags havlng been sub~ected to the sec-~: -:,. . ...
, .
.. . .
- -~ 133187~
ond centrlfugal separation proces~ ls selected and read out of the memory unlt 110 ln a step 2a. The tltle of the selected and read control program ls now dlsplayed on the llquld crystal dlsplay 120. The operator look~ at the dls-played program tltle, and determlnes whether the dlsplayed control program ls correct for the chlld bags ln a step 3a.
If the dlsplayed program 18 lncorrect, then the stop swltch 118 ls turned on to cancel the selected control program, and control goes back to the step 2a where a correct control program ls selected and read out agaln. If the dlsplayed -control program ls correct, then control proceeds to a step 4a ln whlch the second start swltch 116 ls turned on, and then control goes to a step 5a.
The step 5a determlnes whether the welght measured by tho welghlng unlt 88 ls a predetermlned welght, l.e., whether the thlrd chlld bag 12d ls set ln place, by looklng ~-at the welght dlsplayed on the llquld crystal dlsplay 120.
If the dlsplayed welght 19 wrong, then the stop swltch 118 18 turned on, the thlrd chlld bag 12d ls set ln posltlon, and the second start swltch 116 18 turned on agaln. If the dlsplayed weight ls correct, then the flrst and second tube clamps 94, 96 are closed ln a step 6a.
Then, control proceed~ to a step 7a ln whlch the presser plate 28 ls turned to start presslng the flrst chlld bag 12b. A rupturable and separable plug ln the tube 36 connècted to the flrst chlld bag 12b 18 broken and removed -. .. .. . .. .. . . _ .. .. . . . ... _ . . _ .. , . . .... . . .. . _ .
to allow platelets to be transferred from the flrst chlld bag 12b lnto the third chlld bag 12d. Then, a step ~a determlnes whether the welght of platelets ln the thlrd chlld bag 12d has reached 40 9 or not. If not, control walts until the welght reaches 40 9. If the welght of platelets has reached 40 9, then the presser plate 28 stops presslng the flrst chlld bag 12b ln a step sa, and then the flrst and second tube clamps 94, 96 are closed ln a step lOa. The step lOa 18 followed by a step lla ln whlch the stop ~ltch 118 ls turned on and the power supply swltch 112 18 turned off to complete the cycle of separatlng the plate-lets from the blood components whlch have been sub~ected to the second centrlfugal separatlon process. Thereafter, the tube 36 or 38b 1s sealed off by a tube sealer (not shown)~
and the flrst and thlrd chlld bags 12b, 12d are cut off from each other.
The flrst chlld bag 12b ls dlscarded, and the thlrd chlld bag 12d iæ stored ln a glven place.
An automatlc llquld separator 50a accordlng to a thlrd embodlment wlll herelnafter be descrlbed wlth refer-ence to FIGS. 10, ll~a), and ll(b). Those parts of the automatlc llquld separator 50a whlch are ldentlcal to those of the automatlc llquid separator 50 lllustrated ln FIGS. 5 through 7 are deslgnated by ldentlcal reference numerals, and wlll not be descrlbed ln detall.
The automatlc llquld separator 50a has a holder plate 130 of a transparent materlal whlch 18 swlngably 8Up-~, . _ ., ..... . ..... ,._ _ .. __ ., . ~ : . : ~ ,. -. ~ . ,.. . -, ,:. - :
' .' `: "~ ' ~ ' ~` ` - "
.. _ - . . ~. ' ~ ` ' ' ' ~, : ~ . ` . . ' .. ..
; ' ~ ,'. ' `` ~'' , ' , ported at lts lower end on the slde wall 64a of the houslng 64. The holder plate 130 openably closes a recess 132 deflned ln the slde wall 64a. As lllustrated ln FIGS. ll(a) and ll(b), a contalner presser s4a ls dlsposed ln the hous-lng 64. The contalner presser 54a lncludes a presser plate 134 swlngably mounted at lts upper end on the upper panel of the houslng 64. A presser actuator 68a comprlses an alr cyllnder 136 mounted on the lower panel of the houslng 64 havlng a plston rod 138 ~olned at lts tlp end to the lower end of the presser ~late 134. An lnterface sensor 60a com-prlses a llght-emlttlng element 102a attached to an upper portlon of the presser plate 134 and a llght detector ele-ment 104a mounted on an upper portlon of the holder plate 130 ln gubstantlal horlzontal allgnment wlth the llght-emlttlng element 102a.
In operatlon, the holder plate 130 is flrst turned away from the recess 132 as shown ln FIG. 10, and a parent bag 12a of a blood bag set 12 ls placed ln the reces~ 132 and hung from hooks 22. Then, the holder plate 130 ls closed over the parent bag 12a as shown ln FIG. ll~a).
Then, a8 shown ln FIG. ll~b), the alr cyllnder 136 ls oper-ated to turn the presser plate 134 toward the holder plate 130 to press the parent bag 12a for forclng a deslred blood component or portlon out of the parent bag 12a.
Wlth the present lnventlon, as descrlbed above, the flexlble contalner held by the contalner holder wlth a cer-.
~;
` -` 1331873 s taln thickness left at lts upper end 19 pressed progres~
slvely downwardly by the container presser for forclbly dlscharglng an upper llquld layer, separated by an lnterface from a lower llquld layer ln the contalner, gradually through the llquld dlscharge tube ~olned to the upper end of the contalner. Slnce the contalner ls pressed progresslvely downwardly, the cross-sectlonal area of the container near the llquld dlscharge tube ls small, and the amount of the upper liquld layer ln the contalner near the llquld dls-charge tube 18 also small. Therefore, the upper llquld layer can be separated easlly and hlghly accurately from the contalner. Consequently, varlous components of a llquld ,contalned ln the contalner can be æeparated forclbly and hlghly accurately wlth a high yleld.
Accordlng to the automatlc llquld separator, the control unlt generates control slgnals based on a detected signal from the interface sensor which detects the lnterface between upper and lower llquld layers and also based on a predetermlned control program, and applles the control slg-nals to operate the contalner presser and the tube openlng/closlng assembly. The upper llquld layer, separated by the lnterface from the lower liquld layer in the contalner, ls automatlcally transferred through the llquld dlscharge tube lnto another contalner untll the lnterface ls detected by the lnterface sensor. Therefore, varlous compo-nents of a llquld can be separated forclbly and hlghly accu-., . . . ........ . , ~ ............ ...... ...
~ . .. , . . :
rately wlth a high yleld wlthout requlrlng much experlence and sklll on the part of the operator.
Although certaln preferred embodlments have been shown and descrlbed, lt should be understood that many changes and modlflcatlons may be made thereln wlthout departlng from the scope of the appended clalms.
. . .
- . .
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present lnventlon relates to a liquld separator, and more particularly to an apparatus for sepa-ratlng varlous blood portions or components such as blood plasma, red cells, etc. from blood stored ln a flexlble con-talner such as a blood bag or the like.
It ls known that conventlonal whole blood transfu-slon causes various problems partlcularly wlth respect to patlents to whom blood ls transfused. To avoid physlcal stralns on the body of patlents and reduce harmful lmmunity-related slde effects, there has generally been employed com-ponent transfuslon by which only a blood component requlred by a patlent ls transfused to the patlent. Component prepa-ratlons can be produced by separatlng, wlth a centrlfugal separator, various blood components from blood stored ln a blood bag, and storlng the separated blood components ln respectlve component bags.
Varlous devlces are known for separatlng blood ln a blood bag lnto blood components. These separatlng devlces are roùghly dlvlded lnto two groups. Accordlng to a sepa-ratlng devlce of one group, the blood bag ls locally pressed ln lts lower portlon. A separating devlce of the other type presses the blood bag unlformly over its entlre area.
The former blood separator 18 disclosed ln Japanese Patent Publlcatlons Nos. 55-1?585, 57-30507, and 62-502594, .
- 1 - ~p, ::
. :-.: . : .
for example. soth this prior art and the present invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. 1( al and I(b) are slde elevatlonal vlews of conventlonal liquld separators, showlng the manner ln whlch blood bags are pressed;
FIG. 2 ls a front elevatlonal vlew of a llquld sep-arator accordlng to a flrst embodlment of the present lnventlon, wlth a trlple-bag type blood bag set connected thereto;
FIG. 3 ls a slde elevatlonal vlew of the llquld separator shown ln FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 ls a slde elevatlonal vlew of the liquld separator, showlng the manner a blood bag ls pressed;
FIG. 5 ls a perspectlve vlew of an automatlc llquld separator accordlng to a second embodiment of the present lnventlon;
FIG. 6 ls a block dlagram of the automatlc llquld separator shown ln FIG. 5;
FIGS. 7(a), 7(b), and 7(c) are schematlc vlews lllustrating the manner ln whlch the automatlc llquld sepa-rator operates;
FIG. B ls a flowchart of an operatlon sequence of the automatlc llquld separator wlth a quadruple-bag type blood bag set for removlng leukocytes from blood that has been sub~ected to a flrst centrlfugal separatlon process;
~ ; _ 2 _ ,_ : ,- ;:
. .:
~' ' ' . ` ' .
.
.
` ` 1331873 FIG. 9 ls a flowchart of an operatlon sequence of the automatic llquld separator after a second centrlfugal separatlon process;
FIG. 10 ls a perspectlve vlew of an automatlc llq-uld separator ln accordance with a thlrd embodlment of the present lnvention and FIGS. ll(a) and ll(b) are schematlc vlews showlng operatlon of the automatlc llquld separator of FIG. 10.
The previously known blood separator includes a separating stand 2a as shown in FIG. l(a) of the accompanying drawings. slood contained in a blood bag 4a is separated into blood components by a centrlfugal separator. One of the separated components, l.e., blood plasma, ls then separated lnto a component bag (not shown) by the separatlng stand 2a, and thereafter, a tube 6a extendlng between the blood bag 4a and the component bag ls sealed off by a tube sealer (not shown).
- 2a -~
' , .
, - .~ . .:
- 1 3~ 1 873 More speclflcally, the blood bag 4a ls hung from a hook 7a on the separatlng stand 2a such that red cells ln the blood bag 4a wlll not be agltated and mlxed wlth the other separated blood components. Then, the blood bag 4a i8 pressed by a presser plate ga that ls angularly moved about a plvot shaft B ln the dlrectlon lndlcated by the arrow A.
Slnce the presser plate 9a ls rotatably mounted on the sepa-rating stand 2a by the pivot shaft ~ that ls posltloned below the blood bag 4a, the lower portlon of the blood bag 4a is compressed to force blood plasma out of the blood bag 4a upwardly lnto the component bag through the tube 6a ~oined to the upper end of the blood bag 4a. The blood bag 4a is continuously pressed untll the lnterface between the blood plasma and the red cells reaches the upper end of the blood bag 4a. After the blood plasma has entlrely been separated from the blood bag 4a, the tube 6a ls sealed off by the tube sealer.
_ 3 _ B~
.- ... . . - - ... ... , ...... ., ~ . .
..... ,.~ . . . .
.. ..
` ~ . . `. ~ . ~ . , . ~. ~ . .. .. . . .
.... ~ - . ~ . ~ .. . ' ,: .
.. .. . .
The latter blood separatlng devlce ls known from Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publlcatlons Nos. 55-155652 and 61-29363, for example. The blood separatlng devlce employs a separatlng stand 2b as lllustrated ln FIG. l(b) of the accompanylng drawlngs. In operatlon, a blood bag 4b ls hung from a hook 7b on the separatlng stand 2b wlth care exer-clsed not to dlsturb separated red cells ln the blood bag 4b. Then, the blood bag 4b ls unlformly compressed by a presser plate 9b whlch ls horlzontally dlsplaced toward the separatlng stand 2b ln the dlrectlon lndlcated by the arrow B. Blood plasma ls forced out of the blood bag 2b lnto a component bag (not shown) through a tube 6b.
, The blood separators of the above two type~ may be operated elther automatlcally or manually. If they are operated automatlcally, the lnterface between the blood plasma and the red cells ln the blood bag ls automatlcally detected by an optlcal lnterface sensor.
With the conventional blood separators, however, since the interfaclal areas S,, S, between the blood plasma and the red cells or a buffy coat layer ln the blood bags 2a, 2b are large, any error ln the detection of the lnterfaclal posltlon by vlsual lnspectlon or the optlcal - -lnterface sensor lnduces a large error ln the amount of the separated component. Accordlngly, the deslred blood compo-nent may not be separated with a good yleld.
A`
:
" ~ . ~ ,~ : , -` `: , . .` : - : `
133187~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It 19 a ma~or ob~ect of the present lnventlon to provide a llquid separator whlch can preclsely detect the lnterfaces between components of a llquld for separatlng the llquld components wlth a good yleld.
Another ob~ect of the present lnventlon ls to pro-vlde a llquld separator for separatlng a llquld layer from a flexlble contalner storlng upper and lower llquld layers thereln and havlng a llquld dlscharge tube on an upper end thereof, sald llquid separator comprlslng: a contalner holder for holdlng the contalner wlth the llquld dlscharge tube dlrected substantlally upwardly; and a contalner presser for provldlng a predetermlned thlckness at the upper end of the contalner held by sald contalner holder and for presslng a portlon of the contalner which has a larger thlc~ness than said predetermlned thlc~ness, progressively from the upper end toward a lower end thereof ln coaction wlth sald contalner holder to force the upper llquld layer out of the contalner through the llquld dlscharge tube.
Stlll another ob~ect of the present lnventlon 18 to provlde a llquld separator whereln sald contalner presser comprises a presser plate swlngably supported at an upper end thereof on sald contalner holder, sald upper end of the presser plate and sald contalner holder belng spaced from each other by a dlstance whlch malntalns sald predetermlned thlc~nes8 at the upper end of the contalner.
A
. ... .
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. , .
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' ! `: ~' ., ' ' ' ' ', :, ' , ~ : . ` . ' ' ' :
- ~: 1331873 Yet another ob~ect of the present lnventlon 1~ to provlde a llquld separator whereln sald presser plate ls made of a substantlally llght-transmlsslve materlal.
Yet still another ob~ect of the present lnventlon ls to provlde a llquld separator for separatlng a llquld layer from a flrst flexlble contalner storing upper and lower llquid layers thereln and havlng a llquld dlscharge tube on an upper end thereof, said llquld separator comprlslng: a flrst contalner holder for holdlng the flrst contalner wlth the liquld dlscharge tube dlrected substan-tlally upwardly: a contalner presser for presslng the con-talner progresslvely from the upper end toward a lower end , thereof to force the upper llquld layer out of the flrst contalner through the llquld dlscharge tube: a second con-talner holder for holdlng a second flexlble contalner for storlng the upper llquld layer dellvered from the llquid dlscharge tube through a passage: openlng/closlng means for selectlvely openlng and closlng sald passage: an lnterface ~: :
sensor for detectlng the lnterface separatlng the upper and lower llquld layers ln the flrst contalner: and a control unlt for generatlng control slgnals based on a detected slg-nal from sald lnterface sensor and a predetermlned control program stored ln sald control unlt, and for applylng sald control slgnals to sald contalner presser and sald openlng/closlng means to automatlcally separate the upper ~,,:' ~`- '' . :
. .
liquld layer from said flrst contalner and deliver the upper llquld layer lnto sald second contalner.
A further ob~ect of the present lnventlon ls to provlde a llquld separator whereln sald contalner presser comprlses a presser plate swlngably supported at an upper end thereof on said flrst contalner holder, sald upper end of the presser plate and sald flrst contalner holder belng spaced from each other by a dlstance whlch malntalns a pre-determlned thlckness at the upper end of the flrst contalner.
A stlll further ob~ect of the present lnventlon ls to provlde a llquld separator whereln æald upper end of the presser plate ls supported on sald flrst contalner holder by means of a support member, further lncludlng an actuator for movlng said support member toward and away from sald flrst contalner holder.
A yet further ob~ect of the present lnventlon ls to provlde a llquld separator whereln sald presser plate læ
ade of a substantlally llght-transmlsslve materlal.
A yet stlll further ob~ect of the present lnventlon to provlde a llquld separator whereln sald flrst con-talner presser comprlses a holder plate openable and clo-sable wlth respect to sald flrst contalner holder for holdlng the flrst contalner ln sald flrst contalner holder, an actuator, and a presser plate swlngably operable by sald ~ ' ~
F~t~
actuator for presslng the flrst container progresslvely frcm the upper end to a lower end thereof ln coaction wlth sald holder plate.
Another ob~ ect of the present lnvention ls to pro-vide a llquid separator wherein upper ends of said holder and presser plates are spaced from each other by a distance which malntalns a predetermined thickness at the upper end of said flrst container.
Still another ob~ect of the present invention ls to provide a liquid separator whereln said holder plate ls made of a substantially light-transmissive material.
A further ob~ect of the present inventlon ls to provlde a llquid separator whereln said passage com-prlses tubes connected respectively to the flrst and second -containers, said openlng/closing means comprising clamp means for selectively opening and closing said tubes, respectively, and solenolds for operatlng said clamp means, respectively, to open and close sald tubes.
The above and other ob~ects, features and advan-tages of the present invention wlll become more apparent from the following description when taken ln con~unctlon wlth the accompanylng drawlngs in which preferred embodi-ments of the present inventlon are shown by way of illustra-tlve example.
B~
~; "',, ` ~ ' '' , "'~'_'""' ``" . '`~`' ' `
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
AS shown ln FIGS. 2 through 4, a llquld separator 10 accordlng to a flrst embodlment of the present lnventlon ls baslcally constructed of a contalner holder 14 for hold-lng a blood bag set 12 lncludlng flexlble contalners or blood bags, and a contalner presser 16 for cooperatlng wlth the contalner holder 14 ln presslng the blood bag 12 held by the contalner holder 14. In the lllustrated embodlment, the blood bag set 12 ls of a trlple-bag type lncludlng a parent bag 12a, a flrst child bag 12b, and a second chlld bag 12c.
The container holder 14 has a rectangular horlzon-tal plate 18 and a rectangular vertical plate 20 mounted on the horlzontal plate 18. Two hooks 22 are attached to an upper portlon of the vertlcal plate 20 for hanglng the par-ent bag 12a. The contalner presser 16 has a horlzontal pivot shaft 24 angularly movably supported on the vertlcal plate 20 beneath the hooks 22 by means of support members 26 - 1 3~ 1 873 on opposite ends of the plvot shaft 24. The plvot shaft 24 ls posltloned near the upper end of the parent bag 12a whlch ls hung from the hooks 22. A presser plate 28 of a trans-parent materlal ls ~olned at lts upper end to the plvot shaft 24 and depends downwardly. The upper end of the presser plate 28 ls spaced a certaln dlstance from the upper end of the parent bag 12a hanglng from the hooks 22. The dlstance between the upper ends of the presser plate 28 and the parent bag 12a ls selected to allow the upper end of the parent bag 12a to have a certaln thlckness so that separated blood components stored ln the parent bag ~2a can pass through the upper end of the parent bag 12a.
A llquld dlscharge tube 30 havlng a rupturable and removable plug is ~olned to the upper end of the parent bag 12a. The llquld discharge tube 30 ls connected to the flrst chlld bag 12b through a tube 32, a T-branch tube 34, and a tube 36, and also to the second chlld bag 12c through the tube 32, the T-branch tube 34, and a tube 38. The parent bag 12a has on lts upper end a palr of dlscharge ports 40 and a tube 42 connected to a blood sampllng needle (not shown).
The llquld separator of the flrst embodiment is basically constructed~as descrlbed above. Operatlon and advantages of the liquid separator wlll be described below.
B~ `` .
~.. ~.............. ... .. ~ , ~` ~
~5~ :
.
.'' ~' ' ~ , . : ~ .
:
-- ~3~1873 As shown ln FIG. 2, a trlple-bag type blood bag set 12 lncludlng parent and chlld bags 12a, 12b, 12c ls employed, and 400 m~ of blood ls sampled from a blood donor lnto the parent bag 12a through the blood sampllng needle ~olned to the parent bag 12a. Thereafter, the blood bag set 12 ls set ln a centrlfugal separator ~not shown) to separate the sampled blood ln the parent bag 12a lnto a plasma layer C, a buffy coat layer D, and a red cell layer E thereln.
Then, the parent bag 12a wlth the centrlfugally separated blood portion~ or components ls hung from the hooks 22 of the contalner holder 14. The presser plate 28 ls turned ln the dlrectlon lndlcated by the arrow (FIG. 3) to press the parent bag 12a. At thls tlme, a portlon of the parent bag 12a whlch has a thlckness larger than the thlckness of the upper end of the parent bag 12a ls pressed by the presser plate 28. The upper plasma layer C ln the parent bag 12a ls therefore forced out of the parent bag 12a through the llquld dlscharge tube 30 lnto the flrst chlld bag 12b. When the lnterface between the plasma layer C and the buffy coat layer D reaches the ~unctlon between the llq-uld dlscharge tube 30 and the parent bag 12a, the parent bag 12a ls depressurlzed, and the llquid discharge tube 30 ls closed off by a clamp (not shown).
At thls tlme, as shown ln FIG. 4, slnce the cross-sectlonal area S, of the parent bag 12a near the llquld dls-charge tube 30 ls smaller than those of the blood bags ln B
.
r5, the conventional llquld separators shown in FIGS. l(a) and l~b) ~S, > S, > S,), the amount of blood plasma remainlng ln the parent bag 12a ls small, and hence the blood plasma can be separated wlth hlgh accuracy from the parent bag 12a.
Thereafter, the clamp on the llquid dlscharge tube 30 is released, and the parent bag 12a is further pressed to transfer the buffy coat layer D from the parent bag 12a lnto the second chlld bag 12c. When the lnterface between the buffy coat layer D and the red cell layer E reaches the ~unctlon between the llquld dlscharge tube 30 and the parent bag 12a, the pressurlzation of the parent bag 12a ls stopped, and the llquid discharge tube 30 ls closed off by the clamp. At thls tlme, the cross-sectlonal area of the parent bag 12a ln the vlclnlty of the llguld dlscharge tube 30 ls very small, and the pressure applled to the parent bag 12a near the llquld dlscharge tube 30 by the contalner presser 16 ls stronger than those applled ln the conven-tlonal liquid separators shown in FIGS. l~a) and l~b).
Therefore, the buffy coat layer D ls not led to the dis-charge ports 40 but forclbly dlscharged lnto the liguld dls-charge tube 30, so that the buffy coat layer D can be separated hlghly accurately from the parent bag 12a. As a result, the deslred blood portlons can be separated easlly and hlghly accurately.
A llquld separator accordlng to a second embodlment of the present lnventlon wlll be descrlbed below wlth refer-.., ~ .
~ 12 ~
~~ .. ~- . ~
ence to FIGS. 5 thr~ugh 9. Those components of the llquld separator accordlng to the second embodlment whlch are lden-tlcal to those of the flrst embodlment are denoted by lden-tlcal reference numerals, and wlll not be descrlbed ln detall.
FIG. 5 shows an automatlc llquld separator 50 whlch ls used mainly for separatlng blood portlons or components.
A blood bag set 12 for use wlth the automatlc llquld separa-tor 50 may be of a double-bag type lncludlng a bag for stor-lng 200 m~ of a blood component and a bag for storlng 400 mb of a blood component, of a trlple-bag type, or of a quadruple-bag type ~wlth or wlthout an addltlve solutlon) for removlng leukocytes. In the lllustrated second embodlment, a 400 m~ quadruple-bag type blood bag set (wlth an addltlve solutlon) for removlng leukocytes ls used ln comblnatlon wlth the automatlc llquld separator 50.
The automatlc llquld separator 50 baslcally com-prlses a flrst contalner holder 52 for holdlng a parent bag 12a ~ith a llquld dlscharge tube 30 ~olned thereto, a con-talner presser 54 for presslng the parent bag 12a held by the flrst contalner holder 52 to push upper blood component layers out of the parent bag 12a, a second contalner holder ~-56 for holdlng flrst, second, and thlrd chlld bags 12b, 12c, -~
12d whlch are supplled wlth the upper blood component layers from the llquld dlscharge tube 30 through tubes 32, 36, 38a, 38b, a tube openlng~closlng assembly 5~ for selectlvely ;~;
.. . . ,. . . ............... - .
- . .. . - ~ . . ~ ......................... . -opening and closlng the tubes 32, 36, 38a, 38b, an lnterface sensor 60 for detectlng lnterfaclal boundarles between the component layers ln the parent bag 12a, and a control unlt 62 for generatlng control slgnals to operate the contalner presser 54 and the tube openlng/closlng assembly 58 based on a detected slgnal from the lnterface sensor 60 and a prede-termlned control program (see FIGS. 5 and 6).
The flrst contalner holder 52 ls posltloned on one slde wall 64a of a houslng 64 and has two hooks 22 for hang-lng the parent bag 12a.
The contalner presser 54 comprlses a plvot shaft 24, a presser plate 28 flxed to the plvot shaft 24, two sup-port members 66 mounted on an upper portlon of the slde wall 64a of the houslng 64 and supportlng the plvot shaft 24, the support members 66 belng spaced a certaln dlstance ftom the slde wall 64a, and a presser actuator 68 (FIGS. 7(a) through 7(c)) for angularly moving the presser plate 2~. As lllu9-; trated ln FIGS. 7(a) through 7~c), a palr of alr cyllnders 70~1s supported on an upper portlon of the slde wall 64a and - housed ln the houslng 64. The alr cyllnders 70 have respec-tlvo pl~ton rods 72 exposed out of the houslng 64 and con- ~ -nectod to the support members 66, respectlvely. As shown ln FIG. 6, the alr cyllnders 70 are electrlcally connected to the control unlt 62 through a cyllnder drlver 74 and an ~ ;
lnput/output port 76.
The presser actuator 68 18 dlsposed ln the houslng 64 and electrlcally connected to the control unlt 62 through ~,. .. .
~: . ., - ., -~ ~ ' .
Ei: ~ .
a pressurizlng circuit 78 and the input/output port 76. Thepresser actuator 68 comprises an air cylinder 80, for example, swingably mounted in the housing 64 and havlng a plston rod 82 connected to a lower end of the presser plate 28. The presser actuator 68 may comprise a spring motor, a hydraullc cyllnder, or the llke.
The second container holder 56 has a lid 84 ope-nably and closably hinged to the upper surface 64b of the houslng 64. The lld 84 can be flxed ln a vertical dlrection normal to the upper surface 64b. The lid 84 has hooks 86a, 86b for hanglng the chlld bags 12c, 12d. The houslng 64 has a slde chamber 90 for storing the child bag 12b thereln, the chamber 90 houslng a hanger-type welghing unlt 88. The welghlng unlt 88 is electrlcally connected to the control unlt 62 through a welght measurlng clrcult 92 and the lnput/output port 76 (FIG. 6).
The tube openlng/closlng assembly 58 comprlses a flrst tube clamp 94 mounted on a slanted surface 64c of the -~
houslng 64, and second, thlrd, and fourth tube clamps 96, -98, 100 mounted on the upper surface 64b. The tube clamps 94 through 100 can be selectlvely opened and closed by respectlve solenolds 94a, 96a, 98a, lOOa whlch are electrl- -cally connected to the control unlt 62 through respectlve -solenold drlvers 94b, 96b, 98b, lOOb and the lnput/output port 76.
The lnterface sensor 60 serves to detect the lnter-face between a plasma layer C and a buffy coat layer D and j: : : ., . . :
the interface between the buffy coat layer D and a red cell layer E ln the blood bag 12a. The lnterface sensor 60 gen-erally comprlses a photosensor. More speclflcally, the lnterface sensor 60 lncludes a llght-emlttlng element 102 mounted on an upper portlon of the slde wall 64a and a llght detector element 104 mounted on an upper portlon of the presser plate 2~. An lnterface between blood component lay-ers can be detected based on the dlfferent llght absorptlon coefflclents of the blood component layers when llght emlt-ted from the llght-emlttlng element 102 ls detected by the llght detector element 104. The posltlon of the lnterface sensor 60 can be vertlcally ad~usted. The lnterface sensor 60 ls electrlcally coupled to the control unlt 62 through the lnput/output port 76.
The control unlt 62 processes various slgnals sup-plled through the lnput/output port 76 and lnformatlon read from a memory unlt 110 lncludlng a ROM 110a and a RAN 110b to generate and apply control slgnals through the lnput/output port 76 and the drlvers and clrcults to the respectlve actuating elements. The ROM 110.a stores control programs representlng control sequences accordlng to the present lnventlon, and ls electrlcally connected to the con-trol unit 62. The control sequences represented by the con-trol programs are effectlve ln separatlng blood components from blood ln amounts of 400 m~, 200 m~, etc. The control programs can be selected by operatlng a selector swltch.
.. . .
!` ' ~ '. '.';"`.' ':`
~`~" ' .
:
:`: 1331873 Alternatlvely, program cassettes storlng respectlve control programs may be replaced to select deslred control programs.
To the control unlt 62, there are also electrically connected a power supply swltch 112, a flrst start swltch 114, a second start swltch 116, a stop swltch 118, and a llquld crystal dlsplay (LCD) 120 through the lnput/output port 76. These swltches are mounted on a panel on the slanted surface 64c of the houslng 64. The llquld crystal dlsplay 120 ls mounted on a control panel on the houslng 64.
The llquld crystal dlsplay 120 can dlsplay the tltle of a control program belng selected and executed, so that the operator can conflrm whether the presently selected control program ls proper. Any error message, e.g., lndlcatlng that the lnterface level ls abnormal or the welghlng unlt 88 ls malfunctlonlng (such as when a chlld bag ls not set ln -place)~ ls also displayed on the llquld crystal dlsplay 120.
operatlon and advantages of the automatlc llquld separator thus constructed wlll be descrlbed below.
FIG. 8 shows a control sequence of the automatlc llquid separator 50 at the tlme a quadruple-bag type blood bag set 12 for removlng leukocytes from centrlfugally sepa~
rated blood ls used ln comblnatlon wlth the automatlc llquld separator 50. -The power supply swltch 112 of the automatlc llquld separator 50 ls turned on to lnltlallze the control unlt 62 ln a step 1. A blood bag set 12 of the quadruple-bag type .
~, . ... .
~: . . -:, .
133~873 contalnlng ln lts parent bag 12a 400 m~ of blood donated from a blood donor ls sub~ected to centrlfugal separatlon for 5 mlnutes wlth centrlfugal forces ranglng from 3,000 G
to 4,000 G. The blood bag set 12 wlth lts blood centrlfu-gally separated lnto blood components ls then set ln the automatlc llquld separator 50, as shown ln FIG. 5. More speclflcally, as shown ln FIG. 7~a)~ the alr cyllnders 70 are operated to cause the plston rods 72 to pro~ect the sup-port members 66 and the presser plate 28 as lndlcated by the dotted llnes. Thereafter, the parent bag 12a storlng 400 m~
of centrlfugally separated whole blood ls hung from the hooks 22 of the flrst contalner holder 52. The alr cylln-ders 70 are operated agaln to dlsplace the presser plate 28 toward the side wall 64a to a posltlon where there ls a dls-tance or gap H remalnlng between the upper end of the presser plate 28 and the upper end of the slde wall 64a (see FIG. 7(b)). The flrst chlld bag 12b ls placed ln the cham-ber 90 of the second contalner holder 56, and the second and third chlld bags 12c, 12d are hung from the hooks 86a, 86b, respectlvely, on the lld 84.
The tube 32 of the blood bag set 12 ls set ln the flrst tube clamp 94, the tube 36 ln the second tube clamp 96, and the tubes 38a, 38b ln the thlrd and fourth tube clamps 98, 100, respectlvely.
After the blood bag set 12 has been set ln the automatlc llquld separator 50, a control program for the ....
" ~ -. ~
~ .
~ - , .
quadruple-bag type blood bag set ls selected and read out of the memory unlt 110 ln a step 2. The tltle of the selected and read control program ls now dlsplayed on the llquld crystal dlsplay 120. The operator looks at the dlsplayed program tltle, and determlnes whether the dlæplayed control program i3 correct for the type of the blood bag set ln a step 3. If the dlsplayed program ls incorrect, then the ætop swltch 118 ls turned on to cancel the selected control program, and control goes back to the step 2 where a correct control program 18 selected and read out agaln. If the dls-played control program ls correct, then control proceeds to -a step 4 ln whlch the flrst start switch 114 is turned on, and then control goes to a step 5.
The step 5 determines whether a lnterface level between blood component layers 18 ln a predetermlned -~
posltlon, l.e., whether the parent bag 12a læ æet ln place or not. Thls decision step 5 ls performed by the operator ~ho sees the lnterface level dlsplayed on the llquld cryætal dlsp1ay 120. If the lnterface level ls not ln the predeter-mlned posltlon, then the operator turns on the stop swltch , sets the parent bag 12a agaln, and then turns on the flrst start swltch 114 agaln. If the lnterface level ls ln the predetermlned posltion, then control goes to a step 6 -~
ln whlch the operator determlnes whether the welght measured by the welghing unlt 8~ ls a predetermlned welght, l.e., ~
whether the flrst child bag 12b 18 set ln place, by looking ~;
1 3;~ 1 873 at the welght dlsplayed on the ilquld crystal dlsplay 120.
If the dlsplayed welght ls wrong, then the flrst chlld bag 12b ls set ln posltlon, and the flrst start swltch 114 ls turned on agaln. If the dlsplayed welght ls correct, then the flrst and thlrd tube clamps 94, 9~ are opened and the second and fourth clamps 96, 100 are closed ln a step 7.
The step 7 ls followed by a step 8 ln whlch the alr cyllnder 80 ls operated to turn the presser plate 2B about the plvot shaft 24 to start presslng the parent bag 12a (see FIG. 7(c)). At thls tlme, the plug ln the llquld dlshcharge tube 30 of the parent bag 12a ls broken and removed to brlng the parent bag 12a and the tube 32 lnto fluld communl- .
catlon wlth each other. The plasma layer C ln the parent `
bag 12a now starts to be transferred lnto the second chlld bag 12c.
Then, the lnterface between the plasma layer C and the buffy coat layer D ln the parent bag 12a ls checked to see lf the lnterface has reached a predetermlned posltlon ln a step 9. If the lnterface has not yet reached the prede-termlned posltlon, then the parent bag 12a ls contlnuously pressed by the presser plate 28 to feed the plasma layer C
lnto the second chlld bag 12c. If the lnterface has reached the predetermlned posltlon, then control goes to a step 10 ln whlch the flrst and second tube clamps 94, 96 are opened, and the thlrd and fourth tube clamps 98, 100 are closed, to transfer a portlon of the plasma layer C and portlons of the _ 20 -B
. . ... . . .
F~
~ : . .
:` , :
C'~`.' , ~
~-',...... . .
133187~
buffy coat layer D and the red cell layer E into the flrst chlld bag 12b.
Then, a step 11 determines whether the welght of the blood components ln the flrst chlld bag 12b has reached 30 g or not. If not, then control walts untll the welght of the blood components ln the flrst chlld bag 12b reaches 30 g. If the welght has reached 30 g, then control proceeds to a step 12 ln whlch the pressurlzatlon of the parent bag 12a ls stopped. In a next step 13, the second and thlrd tube clamps 96, 98 are opened, and the flrst and fourth tube clamps 94, 100 are closed. Therefore, the plasma layer C
stored ln the second chlld bag 12c flows by gravlty lnto the flrst chlld bag 12b. Then, a step 14 determlnes whether the ~ -welght of the blood components ln the flrst chlld bag 12b has roached 30 g ~ 40 g - 70 g or not. If not, control ~alts untll the welght reaches 70 g.
If the welght has reached 70 g, then the flrst and ~--fourth tube clamps 94, 100 are opened and the second and ;~
thlrd tube clamps 96, 98 are closed ln a step 15. These ;
tube clamps remaln opened and closed for a prescrlbed perlod ~-of tlme. A rupturable and separable plug ln the tube 38b connected to the thlrd chlld bag 12d ls broken and removed to allow an addltlve solutlon for preservlng red cellæ to be transferred from the thlrd chlld bag 12d lnto the parent bag 12a.
After the condltlon of the step 15 has contlnued for the prescrlbed perlod of tlme, control proceeds to a ~,. . .. . . . . . . .
133187~
step 16 ln whlch the stop swltch 118 19 turned on and the power supply swltch 112 ls turned off to complete the cycle of separatlng the blood components from blood whlch has been sub~ected to a flrst centrlfugal separatlon process. Thereafter, the tubes 32, 38a are sealed off by a tube sealer (not shown)~ and the parent bag 12a and the sec-ond chlld bag 12c are cut off from the other bags, and stored ln a glven place. ;
FIG. 9 shows an operatlon sequence for separatlng blood components from the flrst and thlrd chlld bags 12b, 12d whlch have been sub~ected to a second centrlfugal sepa-ratlon process, e.g., for 5 mlnutes wlth centrlfugal forces ranglng from 150 G to 200 G.
The power supply swltch 112 ls turned on to lnl-tlallze the control unlt 62 ln a step la. Then, the flrst and thlrd chlld bags 12b, 12d are set ln the automatlc llq-uid separator 50. More speclflcally, the flrst chlld bag 12b 18 hung from the hooks 22 of the flrst contalner holder 52, and the thlrd chlld bag 12d 19 placed ln the chamber 90 of the second contalner holder 56 and hung from the hanger of the welghlng unlt a8. The tube 32 of the blood bag set ls set ln the flrst tube clamp 94, and the tube 38b ln the second tube clamp 96.
After the flrst and second chlld bags 12b, 13b have been set ln the automatlc llquld separator 50, a control program for the chlld bags havlng been sub~ected to the sec-~: -:,. . ...
, .
.. . .
- -~ 133187~
ond centrlfugal separation proces~ ls selected and read out of the memory unlt 110 ln a step 2a. The tltle of the selected and read control program ls now dlsplayed on the llquld crystal dlsplay 120. The operator look~ at the dls-played program tltle, and determlnes whether the dlsplayed control program ls correct for the chlld bags ln a step 3a.
If the dlsplayed program 18 lncorrect, then the stop swltch 118 ls turned on to cancel the selected control program, and control goes back to the step 2a where a correct control program ls selected and read out agaln. If the dlsplayed -control program ls correct, then control proceeds to a step 4a ln whlch the second start swltch 116 ls turned on, and then control goes to a step 5a.
The step 5a determlnes whether the welght measured by tho welghlng unlt 88 ls a predetermlned welght, l.e., whether the thlrd chlld bag 12d ls set ln place, by looklng ~-at the welght dlsplayed on the llquld crystal dlsplay 120.
If the dlsplayed welght 19 wrong, then the stop swltch 118 18 turned on, the thlrd chlld bag 12d ls set ln posltlon, and the second start swltch 116 18 turned on agaln. If the dlsplayed weight ls correct, then the flrst and second tube clamps 94, 96 are closed ln a step 6a.
Then, control proceed~ to a step 7a ln whlch the presser plate 28 ls turned to start presslng the flrst chlld bag 12b. A rupturable and separable plug ln the tube 36 connècted to the flrst chlld bag 12b 18 broken and removed -. .. .. . .. .. . . _ .. .. . . . ... _ . . _ .. , . . .... . . .. . _ .
to allow platelets to be transferred from the flrst chlld bag 12b lnto the third chlld bag 12d. Then, a step ~a determlnes whether the welght of platelets ln the thlrd chlld bag 12d has reached 40 9 or not. If not, control walts until the welght reaches 40 9. If the welght of platelets has reached 40 9, then the presser plate 28 stops presslng the flrst chlld bag 12b ln a step sa, and then the flrst and second tube clamps 94, 96 are closed ln a step lOa. The step lOa 18 followed by a step lla ln whlch the stop ~ltch 118 ls turned on and the power supply swltch 112 18 turned off to complete the cycle of separatlng the plate-lets from the blood components whlch have been sub~ected to the second centrlfugal separatlon process. Thereafter, the tube 36 or 38b 1s sealed off by a tube sealer (not shown)~
and the flrst and thlrd chlld bags 12b, 12d are cut off from each other.
The flrst chlld bag 12b ls dlscarded, and the thlrd chlld bag 12d iæ stored ln a glven place.
An automatlc llquld separator 50a accordlng to a thlrd embodlment wlll herelnafter be descrlbed wlth refer-ence to FIGS. 10, ll~a), and ll(b). Those parts of the automatlc llquld separator 50a whlch are ldentlcal to those of the automatlc llquid separator 50 lllustrated ln FIGS. 5 through 7 are deslgnated by ldentlcal reference numerals, and wlll not be descrlbed ln detall.
The automatlc llquld separator 50a has a holder plate 130 of a transparent materlal whlch 18 swlngably 8Up-~, . _ ., ..... . ..... ,._ _ .. __ ., . ~ : . : ~ ,. -. ~ . ,.. . -, ,:. - :
' .' `: "~ ' ~ ' ~` ` - "
.. _ - . . ~. ' ~ ` ' ' ' ~, : ~ . ` . . ' .. ..
; ' ~ ,'. ' `` ~'' , ' , ported at lts lower end on the slde wall 64a of the houslng 64. The holder plate 130 openably closes a recess 132 deflned ln the slde wall 64a. As lllustrated ln FIGS. ll(a) and ll(b), a contalner presser s4a ls dlsposed ln the hous-lng 64. The contalner presser 54a lncludes a presser plate 134 swlngably mounted at lts upper end on the upper panel of the houslng 64. A presser actuator 68a comprlses an alr cyllnder 136 mounted on the lower panel of the houslng 64 havlng a plston rod 138 ~olned at lts tlp end to the lower end of the presser ~late 134. An lnterface sensor 60a com-prlses a llght-emlttlng element 102a attached to an upper portlon of the presser plate 134 and a llght detector ele-ment 104a mounted on an upper portlon of the holder plate 130 ln gubstantlal horlzontal allgnment wlth the llght-emlttlng element 102a.
In operatlon, the holder plate 130 is flrst turned away from the recess 132 as shown ln FIG. 10, and a parent bag 12a of a blood bag set 12 ls placed ln the reces~ 132 and hung from hooks 22. Then, the holder plate 130 ls closed over the parent bag 12a as shown ln FIG. ll~a).
Then, a8 shown ln FIG. ll~b), the alr cyllnder 136 ls oper-ated to turn the presser plate 134 toward the holder plate 130 to press the parent bag 12a for forclng a deslred blood component or portlon out of the parent bag 12a.
Wlth the present lnventlon, as descrlbed above, the flexlble contalner held by the contalner holder wlth a cer-.
~;
` -` 1331873 s taln thickness left at lts upper end 19 pressed progres~
slvely downwardly by the container presser for forclbly dlscharglng an upper llquld layer, separated by an lnterface from a lower llquld layer ln the contalner, gradually through the llquld dlscharge tube ~olned to the upper end of the contalner. Slnce the contalner ls pressed progresslvely downwardly, the cross-sectlonal area of the container near the llquld dlscharge tube ls small, and the amount of the upper liquld layer ln the contalner near the llquld dls-charge tube 18 also small. Therefore, the upper llquld layer can be separated easlly and hlghly accurately from the contalner. Consequently, varlous components of a llquld ,contalned ln the contalner can be æeparated forclbly and hlghly accurately wlth a high yleld.
Accordlng to the automatlc llquld separator, the control unlt generates control slgnals based on a detected signal from the interface sensor which detects the lnterface between upper and lower llquld layers and also based on a predetermlned control program, and applles the control slg-nals to operate the contalner presser and the tube openlng/closlng assembly. The upper llquld layer, separated by the lnterface from the lower liquld layer in the contalner, ls automatlcally transferred through the llquld dlscharge tube lnto another contalner untll the lnterface ls detected by the lnterface sensor. Therefore, varlous compo-nents of a llquld can be separated forclbly and hlghly accu-., . . . ........ . , ~ ............ ...... ...
~ . .. , . . :
rately wlth a high yleld wlthout requlrlng much experlence and sklll on the part of the operator.
Although certaln preferred embodlments have been shown and descrlbed, lt should be understood that many changes and modlflcatlons may be made thereln wlthout departlng from the scope of the appended clalms.
. . .
- . .
Claims (11)
1. A liquid separator for separating a liquid layer from a flexible container storing upper and lower liquid layers therein and having a liquid discharge tube on an upper end thereof, said liquid separator comprising:
a container holder for holding the container with the liquid discharge tube directed substantially upwardly;
and a container presser for providing a predetermined thickness at the upper end of the container held by said container holder and for pressing a portion of the container which has a larger thickness than said predetermined thick-ness, progressively from the upper end toward a lower end thereof in coaction with said container holder to force the upper liquid layer out of the container through the liquid discharge tube.
a container holder for holding the container with the liquid discharge tube directed substantially upwardly;
and a container presser for providing a predetermined thickness at the upper end of the container held by said container holder and for pressing a portion of the container which has a larger thickness than said predetermined thick-ness, progressively from the upper end toward a lower end thereof in coaction with said container holder to force the upper liquid layer out of the container through the liquid discharge tube.
2. A liquid separator according to claim 1, wherein said container presser comprises a presser plate swingably supported at an upper end thereof on said container holder, said upper end of the presser plate and said container holder being spaced from each other by a distance which maintains said predetermined thickness at the upper end of the container.
3. A liquid separator according to claim 2, wherein said presser plate is made of a substantially light-transmissive material.
4. A liquid separator for separating a liquid layer from a first flexible container storing upper and lower liq-uid layers therein and having a liquid discharge tube on an upper end thereof, said liquid separator comprising:
a first container holder for holding the first con-tainer with the liquid discharge tube directed substantially upwardly;
a container presser for pressing the container pro-gressively from the upper end toward a lower end thereof to force the upper liquid layer out of the first container through the liquid discharge tube:
a second container holder for holding a second flexible container for storing the upper liquid layer deliv-ered from the liquid discharge tube through a passage;
opening/closing means for selectively opening and closing said passage;
an interface sensor for detecting the interface separating the upper and lower liquid layers in the first container; and a control unit for generating control signals based on a detected signal from said interface sensor and a prede-termined control program stored in said control unit, and for applying said control signals to said container presser and said opening/closing means to automatically separate the upper liquid layer from said first container and deliver the upper liquid layer into said second container.
a first container holder for holding the first con-tainer with the liquid discharge tube directed substantially upwardly;
a container presser for pressing the container pro-gressively from the upper end toward a lower end thereof to force the upper liquid layer out of the first container through the liquid discharge tube:
a second container holder for holding a second flexible container for storing the upper liquid layer deliv-ered from the liquid discharge tube through a passage;
opening/closing means for selectively opening and closing said passage;
an interface sensor for detecting the interface separating the upper and lower liquid layers in the first container; and a control unit for generating control signals based on a detected signal from said interface sensor and a prede-termined control program stored in said control unit, and for applying said control signals to said container presser and said opening/closing means to automatically separate the upper liquid layer from said first container and deliver the upper liquid layer into said second container.
5. A liquid separator according to claim 4, wherein said container presser comprises a presser plate swingably supported at an upper end thereof on said first container holder, said upper end of the presser plate and said first container holder being spaced from each other by a distance which maintains a predetermined thickness at the upper end of the first container.
6. A liquid separator according to claim 5, wherein said upper end of the presser plate is supported on said first container holder by means of a support member, further including an actuator for moving said support member toward and away from said first container holder.
7. A liquid separator according to claim 5 or 6, said presser plate is made of a substantially light-transmissive material.
8. A liquid separator according to claim 4, wherein said first container presser comprises a holder plate opena-ble and closable with respect to said first container holder for holding the first container in said first container holder, an actuator, and a presser plate swingably operable by said actuator for pressing the first container progres-sively from the upper end to a lower end thereof in coaction with said holder plate.
9. A liquid separator according to claim 8, wherein upper ends of said holder and presser plates are spaced from each other by a distance which maintains a predetermined thickness at the upper end of said first container.
10. A liquid separator according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said holder plate is made of a substantially light-transmissive material.
11. A liquid separator according to claim 4, wherien said passage comprises tubes connected respectively to the first and second containers, said opening/closing means comprising clamp means for selectively opening and closing said tubes, respectively, and solenoids for operat-ing said clamp means, respectively, to open and close said tubes.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP13862588 | 1988-06-06 | ||
| JP63-138625 | 1988-06-06 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1331873C true CA1331873C (en) | 1994-09-06 |
Family
ID=15226439
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000601382A Expired - Lifetime CA1331873C (en) | 1988-06-06 | 1989-06-01 | Liquid separator |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4976851A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0348682B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH0622601B2 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR910004327B1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU619012B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1331873C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE68902601T2 (en) |
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-
1989
- 1989-05-31 US US07/359,490 patent/US4976851A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-06-01 EP EP89109916A patent/EP0348682B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-06-01 DE DE8989109916T patent/DE68902601T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-06-01 CA CA000601382A patent/CA1331873C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-06-05 AU AU36057/89A patent/AU619012B2/en not_active Expired
- 1989-06-06 JP JP1142198A patent/JPH0622601B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1989-06-07 KR KR1019890007808A patent/KR910004327B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE68902601T2 (en) | 1993-04-08 |
| AU619012B2 (en) | 1992-01-16 |
| US4976851A (en) | 1990-12-11 |
| KR900000108A (en) | 1990-01-30 |
| JPH0622601B2 (en) | 1994-03-30 |
| AU3605789A (en) | 1989-12-07 |
| KR910004327B1 (en) | 1991-06-26 |
| DE68902601D1 (en) | 1992-10-01 |
| EP0348682B1 (en) | 1992-08-26 |
| EP0348682A1 (en) | 1990-01-03 |
| JPH0298362A (en) | 1990-04-10 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed | ||
| MKEC | Expiry (correction) |
Effective date: 20121205 |