Apparatus and method for separating and concentrating fluids containing multiple components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9239276-B2
Application number	US-201314064859-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2013
Priority date	Apr 19, 2011
Publication date	Jan 19, 2016
Grant date	Jan 19, 2016

Abstract

An apparatus that allows for separating and collecting a fraction of a sample. The apparatus, when used with a centrifuge, allows for the creation of at various fractions in the apparatus. A buoy system that may include a first buoy portion and a second buoy member operably interconnected may be used to form at least three fractions from a sample during a substantially single centrifugation process. Therefore, the separation of various fractions may be substantially quick and efficient. Also selected fractions from the sample can be applied to a patient, either alone or as part of a mixture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the method comprising:
placing a first volume of a whole material into a container with a buoy separation system including a first buoy member spaced apart from a second buoy member and at least one of the first buoy member or the second buoy member fixed to a connection member;
applying a force to the container including the buoy separation system and the first volume of the whole material, wherein applying the force to the container further operates to:
cause a valve to open to allow moving at least a portion of the first volume of the whole material through a passage defined within at least one of the first buoy member or the second buoy member;
move at least a portion of a moveable sealing portion of the valve away from at least one of the first buoy member or the second buoy member during application of the force, wherein the moveable sealing portion moves towards a valve body that extends along the connection member and away from at least one of the first buoy member and the second buoy member to an unsealed position, wherein the sealing portion is angled relative to at least one of the first buoy member and the second buoy member in the unsealed position; and
separate at least a portion of one component of the multiple component material into a volume defined by the buoy separation system and the container after moving at least the portion of the first volume of the whole material through the passage;

ceasing applying the force to allow the valve to close the passage defined within at least one of the first buoy member and the second buoy member; and
withdrawing at least the portion through the connection member.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the valve has a specific gravity greater than a densest component of the multiple component material such that the moveable sealing portion of the valve moves away from at least one of the first buoy member or the second buoy member during application of the force.

3. The method of claim 2 the sealing portion moves away from at least one of the first buoy member and the second buoy member by overcoming a spring biasing force.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the sealing portion moves axially relative to the buoy separation system and along the connection member between the first buoy member and the second buoy member.

5. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the valve includes a first valve and a second valve;
wherein applying the force to the container further operates to cause the valve to open includes to cause the first valve to open and to cause the second valve to open;
wherein the first valve is caused to open relative to the first buoy member and the second valve is caused to open relative to the second buoy member.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein opening the first valve and the second valve includes moving a first valve sealing portion of the first valve and the second valve sealing portion of the second valve substantially axially relative to the buoy separation system.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the first volume of the whole material into the container includes placing a volume of bone marrow into the container.

8. A method for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the method comprising:
placing a first volume of a whole material into a container with a buoy separation system including a first buoy member spaced apart from a second buoy member and at least one of the first buoy member or the second buoy member fixed to a connection member;
applying a force to the container including the buoy separation system and the first volume of the whole material, wherein applying the force to the container further operates to:
cause a valve to open to allow moving at least a portion of the first volume of the whole material through a passage defined within at least one of the first buoy member or the second buoy member; and
separate at least a portion of one component of the multiple component material into a volume defined by the buoy separation system and the container after moving at least the portion of the first volume of the whole material through the passage;

ceasing applying the force to allow the valve to close the passage defined within at least one of the first buoy member and the second buoy member; and
withdrawing at least the portion through the connection member;
wherein the sealing portion moves away from at least one of the first buoy member and the second buoy member by overcoming a spring biasing force;
wherein overcoming the spring biasing force includes pushing against a substantially planar surface that extends transverse to an axis of a coil spring that provides the spring biasing force.

9. A method for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the method comprising:
placing a first volume of a whole material into a container with a buoy separation system including a first buoy member spaced apart from a second buoy member and at least one of the first buoy member or the second buoy member fixed to a connection member;
applying a force to the container including the buoy separation system and the first volume of the whole material, wherein applying the force to the container further operates to:
cause a valve to open to allow moving at least a portion of the first volume of the whole material through a passage defined within at least one of the first buoy member or the second buoy member; and
separate at least a portion of one component of the multiple component material into a volume defined by the buoy separation system and the container after moving at least the portion of the first volume of the whole material through the passage;

ceasing applying the force to allow the valve to close the passage defined within at least one of the first buoy member and the second buoy member; and
withdrawing at least the portion through the connection member;
wherein the sealing portion moves away from at least one of the first buoy member and the second buoy member by overcoming a spring biasing force;
wherein overcoming the spring biasing force includes pushing against a plug that pushes against a coil spring that provides the spring biasing force.

10. A method for separating at least one component of a multiple component material with a centrifugal force, the method comprising:
placing a first volume of a whole material into a container with a buoy separation system including a first buoy member spaced apart from a second buoy member and at least one of the first buoy member or the second buoy member fixed to a connection member;
applying a force to the container including the buoy separation system and the first volume of the whole material, wherein applying the force to the container further operates to cause a valve to open by moving a sealing portion away from one of the first buoy member or the second buoy member by overcoming a spring biasing force of a spring member biased against the other of the first buoy member or the second buoy member, wherein overcoming the spring biasing force occurs with moving at least a portion of the first volume of the whole material through a passage defined within at least one of the first buoy member or the second buoy member;
ceasing applying the force to allow the valve to close the passage defined within at least one of the first buoy member and the second buoy member; and
withdrawing at least the portion of one component of the multiple component material through the connection member.

11. The method of claim 10

Assignees

• Biomet Biologics Llc

Inventors

• Landrigan Matthew D
• Leach Michael D
• Higgins Joel C

Classifications

• B01D17/0217 Primary

  by centrifugal force · CPC title

• B01L9/54

  Supports specially adapted for pipettes and burettes · CPC title

• B01D2221/10

  Separation devices for use in medical, pharmaceutical or laboratory applications, e.g. separating amalgam from dental treatment residues · CPC title

• B01D21/262

  by using a centrifuge · CPC title

• B01L2400/0478

  pistons · CPC title