Bottom blood bag separation system

摘要

Plastic blood bag system including a bag (3) having a generally longitudinal seal (3f) extending from the top of the bag (3) and between two blood bag ports (17a,27a) downwardly to at least the lower half of the bag (3) but not to the bottom of the bag (3), thereby leaving the sole passageway (3d) within the bag (3) and between two ports (17a,27a) located in the lower half of the bag (3). In one use, whole blood is introduced into the bag (3) and then centrifuged to form a lighter plasma portion (9) and a more dense red blood portion (11). The red blood cell portion (11) can then be removed from the lower part of the bag (3) by applying pressure to the bag (3) to push substantially all of the red blood cells through the passageway (3d) to one side of the longitudinal seal (3f) and out of the bag (3) through the port (17a) communicating with that side of the longitudinal seal (3f). In preferred embodiments, the longitudinal seal (3f) is generally parallel and close to one edge of the bag (3) and terminates at its lower portion within the lower 10% of the bag length. In very preferred embodiments, the volume of the side through which the more dense component exits the bag (3) is less than 10% of the total bag volume. The preferred system may be used as part of a closed multiple blood bag system with electronic monitoring means to provide semi-automated blood separation.