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Abstract

The blood processing method, and the apparatus for performing the steps of the method are utilized in separating whole blood into its components and include the steps of, or component parts of the apparatus for carrying out these steps of: pumping whole blood from a donor; passing the whole blood through a first chamber in a centrifuge device: centrifuging the whole blood in the centrifuge device to cause sedimentation of red blood cells from the whole blood in, and separation of platelet rich plasma from the whole blood in, the first chamber; pumping the separated platelet rich plasma from the first chamber and out of the centrifuge device where it is monitored and then back into the centrifuge device and through a second chamber in the centrifuge device where the platelet rich plasma is centrifuged to cause sedimentation of the platelets therein while passing the remaining blood fluid though the first chamber and back to the donor; recombining the plasma passed through the second chamber with the blood fluid passed through the first chamber for return to the donor; monitoring the platelet rich plasma outisde of the centrifuge device and sensing the presence of red blood cells in the platelet rich plasma; stopping and then reversing movement of the platelet rich plasma mixed with red blood cells when a mixture is sensed to return the mixture of platelet rich plasma mixed with red blood cells to the first chamber for separation of the blood components; adjusting the difference in volumetric flow rates of the pump for the whole blood pump and the pump for platelet rich plasma in response to the sensing of red blood cells; repeating the above steps until a desired volume of whole blood has been processed, and stopping operation of the centrifuge device and removing the second chamber with platelets therein from the apparatus.

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