Biological/pharmaceutical fluid collection and mixing system and method

摘要

Blood collection apparatus, systems and methods for minimizing the lesion of collection caused by initial high volume ratios of anticoagulant fluid to blood at the beginning of known collection processes in which blood is passed into a collection bag containing the total amount of anticoagulant fluid for the entire amount of blood to be collected. A collection bag system has a bag containing the anticoagulant fluid which is passed to a blood collection bag at a rate determined by the flow rate of the blood into the collection bag to maintain the ratio of anticoagulant to blood at a level to minimize the lesion of collection throughout the collection process. The blood collection bag is suspended by a spring from a blood bag stand and the anticoagulant bag is supported by the stand in a fixed position. The bags are arranged on the stand and interconnected so that flow rate of anticoagulant is dependent upon the difference in levels of the blood and anticoagulant mixture in the collection bag and the anticoagulant in the anticoagulant bag. The collection bag is suspended from the stand by a spring to gradually lower the collection bag during the collection process and thereby maintain the difference between the levels at a desired value. In one embodiment, provision is made for mixing the blood and anticoagulant in a tube immediately prior to passing the mixture into the collection bag.