ABSTRACT
The separation of blood components by centrifugation is based on the differential densities of the various components and has been used for years for in vitro laboratory work. Blood from the patient is pumped through an inlet tube which passes through a rotating seal and extends to the central bottom portion of the centrifuge bowl. It then passes centrifugally under an inner core and enters the peripherally located processing chamber where component separation occurs, the heavier red cells packing along the outer rim and plasma being displaced toward the center of the bowl. A variety of centrifugal cell separators is available for the performance of therapeutic apheresis procedures. A variety of centrifugal cell separators is available for the performance of therapeutic apheresis procedures. As a result, processing time is not interrupted, and apheresis procedures with these machines are, in general, accomplished more rapidly than with intermittent flow machines.
