What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for separating components of a fluid (800) comprising:
an outer housing (100) with an upper housing end (110) and a lower housing end (190), wherein said outer housing (100) increases in diameter from said upper housing end (110) to said lower housing end (190), said lower housing end (190) having a housing floor (180) and said housing upper end (110) having a housing outlet (700), said outer housing (100) having an interior volume (710) and adapted for rotation about a center axis (11);
a core (200) connected with said outer housing (100) for rotation therewith; having an outer wall (210) having an upper core end (205) and a lower core end (295), said lower core end (295) having a core floor (290) and said upper core end (205) having a core outlet (720); occupying a coaxial volume of said interior volume (710) of said outer housing (100), and providing a separation volume (220) between said core (200) and said outer housing (100);
a lower plate (300) having a top surface (730), said lower plate (300) positioned within said separation volume (220), beneath said core floor (290) and above said housing floor (180);
a lumen (400) positioned inside said core (200), said lumen (400) extending axially through said core (200);
a first bowl channel (420) within said lumen (400) to said top surface (730) of said lower plate (300) for inflowing said fluid (800);
a second bowl channel (410) from within said separation volume (220) beneath said lower plate (300) for removing a first separated fluid component (810), and
a third bowl channel (740) from said separation volume (220) above said lower plate (300) for removing a second separated fluid component (820).
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outer wall (210) of said core (200) increases in diameter from said upper end (205) to said lower end (295).
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second bowl channel (410) is within said lumen (400).
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third bowl channel (740) is within said lumen (400).
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connection sleeve (500) adapted to be secured to said apparatus (10) near said housing outlet (700) of said outer housing (100) for rotation therewith, said connection sleeve (500) adapted to fluidly connect each of said first (420), second (410), and third (740) bowl channels to a corresponding conduit channel (760, 770, 780) of an external conduit (20).
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said connection sleeve (500) is secured to said lumen (400).
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said core (200) is adapted to secure said connection sleeve (500).
8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said connection sleeve (500) comprises a sleeve flange (790) and said housing outlet (700) is adapted to retain said sleeve flange (790).
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lumen (400) has an upper lumen end (480) and a lower lumen end (490), and said lumen (400) increases in outside diameter from said upper lumen end (480) to said lower lumen end (490).
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said core (200) comprises a neck (215) fitted around said lumen (400).
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said core floor (290) further comprises a floor flange (280) that extends into said separation volume (220).
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said floor flange (280) is adapted to guide flow of said second separated fluid component (820) upward.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said floor flange (280) is adapted to allow flow of said first separated fluid component (810) to said housing floor (180).
14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outer housing (100) comprises a locking mechanism adapted to secure said outer housing (100) to a means (900) for rotating said apparatus (10).
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said locking mechanism comprises protrusions (150).
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said locking mechanism comprises a key slot (160).
17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lower plate (300) is circular.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus (10) is adapted for use without a rotatable seal.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus (10) is closed to undesired contagions.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus (10) is adapted to allow rotation of said core (200), said lower plate (300), and said outer housing (100) about said lumen (400).
21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lumen (400) and said core floor (290) are a single structure.
22. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means (900) for rotating said outer housing (100) about said axis (11).
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said means (900) for rotating comprises a bracket (910).
24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said bracket (910) is adapted to engage and rotate an external conduit (20) that is fluidly connected to said first bowl channel (420), said second bowl channel (410), and said third bowl channel (740).
25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said rotation means (900) is adapted to rotate said outer housing (100) and said external conduit (20) using 1-omega2-omega spin technology.
26 The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:
means (605) to remove said fluid (800) from a source (600), said means (605) to remove said fluid (800) fluidly connected to said first bowl channel (420);
means (607) to remove said first separated fluid component (810) via said second bowl channel (410);
means (608) to remove said second separated fluid component (820) via said third bowl channel (740); and
means (609) to treat said second separated fluid component (820) subsequent to being removed via said third bowl channel (740).
27. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising means (606) to reinfuse treated second separated fluid component (820) and said first separated fluid component (810) back into said source (600), wherein said apparatus is a closed-loop apparatus when connected to said source (600).
28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said reinfusion means (606) comprises a needle or catheter.
29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said source (600) is a patient and said fluid (800) is blood.
30. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising an anticoagulant source (615) fluidly connected between said means (605) to remove said fluid (800) from said source (600) and said first bowl channel (420).
31. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said means (605) to remove said fluid (800) from said source (600) comprises a needle or catheter (605).
32. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said means (607) to remove said first separated fluid component (810) comprises a pump (617).
33. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said treatment means (609) comprises a chamber and a source of ultraviolet radiation.
34. A connection sleeve (500) for fluidly connecting an external conduit (20) having a first conduit channel (780) to a lumen (400) of a centrifuge bowl (10) having a first bowl channel (420), said connection sleeve (500) comprising;
a body (830) having an upper sleeve end (831) and a lower sleeve end (832), said lower sleeve end (832) adapted to be secured to said centrifuge bowl (10);
a stub (836) having a first stub channel (840) extending therethrough, wherein said first stub channel (840) is adapted to form a first passageway from said first conduit channel (780) to said first bowl channel (420);
a wall (835) surrounding said stub (836) near said upper sleeve end (831); and
a trench (837) between said wall (835) and said stub (836), said trench (837) adapted to receive and hold said external conduit (20).
35. The connection sleeve (500) of claim 34 further comprising a sleeve flange (790) on said lower sleeve end (832) of said body (830), said sleeve flange (790) adapted to engage said centrifuge bowl (10).
36. The connection sleeve (500) of claim 34 wherein said trench (837) is tapered.
37. The connection sleeve (500) of claim 34 wherein said body (830) increases in diameter from said upper sleeve end (831) to said lower sleeve end (832).
38. The connection sleeve (500) of claim 34 wherein said wall (835) is raised above said stub (836).
39. The connection sleeve (500) of claim 34 wherein said stub (836) further comprises a second stub channel (841) extending therethrough, said second stub channel (841) adapted to form a second passageway from a second conduit channel (760) to a second bowl channel (410).
40. The connection sleeve (500) of claim 34 wherein said stub (836) further comprises a third stub channel (842) extending therethrough, said third stub channel (842) adapted to form a third passageway from a third conduit channel (770) to a third bowl channel (740).
41. The connection sleeve (500) of claim 34 wherein said connection sleeve (500) is adapted to be overmolded to said external conduit (20).
42. A method for separating components of a fluid (800) comprising a higher density component (810) and a lower density component (820), the method comprising:
providing a centrifuge bowl (10) comprising a first bowl channel (420), a second bowl channel (410), and a third bowl channel (740);
flowing said fluid (800) from a source (600) into said centrifuge bowl (10) through said first bowl channel (420);
rotating said centrifuge bowl (10) about an axis (11);
removing said higher density component (810) from said bowl (10) via said second bowl channel (410); and
removing said lower density component (820) from said bowl (10) via said third bowl channel (740) concurrently with said removing of said higher density component (810).
43. The method of claim 42 wherein said centrifuge bowl (10) further comprises:
an outer housing (100) with an upper housing end (110) and a lower housing end (190), wherein said outer housing (100) increases in diameter from said upper housing end (110) to said lower housing end (190), said lower housing end (190) having a housing floor (180) and said housing upper end (110) having a housing outlet (700), said outer housing (100) having an interior volume (710) and adapted for rotation about a center axis (11);
a core (200) connected with said outer housing (100) for rotation therewith; having an outer wall (210) having an upper core end (205) and a lower core end (295), said lower core end (295) having a core floor (290) and said upper core end (205) having a core outlet (720); occupying a coaxial volume of said interior volume (710) of said outer housing (100), and providing a separation volume (220) between said core (200) and said outer housing (100);
a lower plate (300) having a top surface (730), said lower plate (300) positioned within said separation volume (220), beneath said core floor (290) and above said housing floor (180);
a lumen (400) positioned inside said core (200), said lumen (400) extending axially through said core (200);
wherein said first bowl channel (420) is within said lumen (400) and provides a passageway to said top surface (730) of said lower plate (300);
wherein said second bowl channel (410) provides a passageway from within said separation volume (220) beneath said lower plate (300); and
wherein said third bowl channel (740) provides a passageway from said separation volume (220) above said lower plate (300).
44. The method of claim 42 wherein said step of removing said first separated fluid component (810) comprises applying negative pressure to said second bowl channel (410).
45. The method of claim 42 wherein said negative pressure is applied by a pump (617).
46. The method of claim 45 wherein said pump (617) provides substantially stable flow.
47. The method of claim 42 wherein said step of removing said first separated fluid component (810) comprises applying positive pressure to said centrifuge bowl (10).
48. The method of claim 42 wherein said fluid (800) comprises a biological fluid.
49. The method of claim 48 wherein said biological fluid comprises blood.
50. The method of claim 49 wherein said higher density component (810) comprises red blood cells and said lower density component (820) comprises a buffy coat.
51. The method of claim 50 further comprising the step of collecting platelets from said lower density component (820).
52. The method of claim 50 further comprising the step of reinfusing said higher density component (810) into said source (600).
53. The method of claim 50 further comprising:
treating said lower density component (820); and
reinfusing said treated lower density component (820) into said source (600) to treat, ameliorate, prevent, or delay the onset of white blood cell or T-cell mediated diseases.
54. The method of claim 53 wherein said method is completed in less than 70 minutes.
55. The method of claim 53 wherein said white blood cell and T-cell mediated diseases are selected from the group consisting of cancer, T-cell lymphoma, Graft-versus-Host disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Progressive Systematic Sclerosis, Juvenile Onset Diabetes, Inflamatory Bowel Disease, Alopecia Areata, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Antiphospholipid Syndrome, Autoimmune Addison’s Disease, Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia, Autoimmune Hepatitis, Behcet’s Disease, Bullous Pemphigoid, Cardiomyopathy, Celiac Sprue-Dermatitis, Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, Cicatricial Pemphigoid, CREST Syndrome, Cold Agglutinin Disease, Crohn’s Disease, Discoid Lupus, Essential Mixed Cryoglobulinemia, Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis, Graves’ Disease, Guillain-Barr Syndrome, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura, IgA Nephropathy, Insulin Dependent Diabetes, Juvenile Arthritis, Lichen Planus, Meniere’s Disease, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis, Pemphigus Vulgaris, Pernicious Anemia, Polyarteritis Nodosa, Polychondritis, Polyglandular Syndromes, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis, Primary Agammaglobulinemia, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Psoriasis, Raynaud’s Phenomenon, Reiter’s Syndrome, Rheumatic Fever, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sarcoidosis, Scleroderma, Sjgren’s Syndrome, Stiff-Man Syndrome, Systematic Lupus Erythematosus, Takayasu Arteritis, Temporal ArteritisGiant Cell Arteritis, Ulcerative Colitis, Uveitis, Vasculitis, Vitiligo, and Wegener’s Granulomatosis.
56. The method of claim 53 further comprising ameliorating or preventing organ or tissue transplant rejection.
57. The system of claim 53 wherein said treatment step comprises irradiating said lower density component (820)
58. The method of claim 53 wherein said treatment step is performed so as to induce apoptosis within said lower density component (820).
59. The method of claim 53 wherein said method is performed continuously without the need to batch process said fluid (800).
60. A conduit assembly (860) for fluidly connecting a source (600) of fluid (800) to a centrifuge bowl (10) comprising:
an external conduit (20)of approximately constant diameter having a first conduit end (861) and a second conduit end (862);
a connection sleeve (500) secured to said first conduit end (861), said connection sleeve (500) adapted to fluidly connect to said centrifuge bowl (10);
an anchor sleeve (870) secured to said second conduit end (862);
a first bearing ring (871) surrounding said external conduit (20) and positioned between said connection sleeve (500) and said anchor sleeve (870), said first bearing ring (871) adapted to engage a means (900) for rotating said centrifuge bowl (10); and
a first assembly channel (990) extending through said conduit assembly (860).
61. The conduit assembly (860) of claim 60 wherein said connection sleeve (500) and said anchor sleeve (870) are overmolded to said external conduit (20).
62. The conduit assembly (860) of claim 60 wherein said anchor sleeve (870) has a first anchor end (873) and a second anchor end (874), said first anchor end (873) being secured to said external conduit (20), said anchor sleeve (870) increasing in diameter from said first anchor end (873) to said second anchor end (874).
63. The conduit assembly (860) of claim 60 wherein said connection sleeve (500) has an upper sleeve end (831) and a lower sleeve end (832), said upper sleeve end (831) being secured to said external conduit (20), said connection sleeve (500) increasing in diameter from said upper sleeve end (831) to said lower sleeve end (832).
64. The conduit assembly (860) of claim 60 wherein said connection sleeve (500) has a wall (835) surrounding a stub (836) near said upper sleeve end (831), said connection sleeve (500) further having a trench (837) between said wall (835) and said stub (836), said trench (837) adapted to receive and secure said external conduit (20).
65. The conduit assembly (860) of claim 64 wherein said trench (837) is tapered.
66. The conduit assembly (860) of claim 64 wherein said wall (835) is raised above said stub (836).
67. The conduit assembly (860) of claim 60 wherein said connection sleeve (500) comprises a sleeve flange (790).
68. The conduit assembly (860) of claim 60 further comprising a second assembly channel (991) and a third assembly channel (992) through said conduit assembly (860).
69. The conduit assembly (860) of claim 60 further comprising a second bearing ring (872) surrounding said conduit (20) and positioned between said first bearing ring (871) and said anchor sleeve (870), said second bearing ring (872) adapted to engage a means (900) for rotating said centrifuge bowl (10).
70. The conduit assembly (860) of claim 60 wherein said first and second bearing rings (871, 872) are 7.5 to 9.5 inches apart.
71. The conduit assembly (860) of claim 70 wherein said first bearing ring (871) is 5.0 to 5.5 inches from a lower end (832) of said connection sleeve (500).
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for transmitting traffic announcements via Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), characterized in that the data of the message from the digital traffic information warning system are assigned to the announcement data of the digital radio by way of the transmitter’s data frame structure.
2. The method for transmitting traffic announcements as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the digital signals are preferably transmitted in a direct time correlation with the digital announcement data.
3. The method for transmitting announcements as defined in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that messages of the traffic message channel that comply with the alert C protocol are used as digital signals.
4. The method as defined in claims 1 through 3, characterized in that the digital signals and the announcements are concatenated by means of multimedia objects.
5. The method as defined by claims 1 through 4, characterized in that the digital data are comprised of headers and of a data area (body).
6. The method as defined by claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the beginning and the end of the traffic announcement are indicated by a link object having a special header.
7. The method as defined by claims I through 6, characterized in that the link object contains a reference to a digital message in the optional header, and marks the beginning of the traffic announcement in the audio stream in the header plus body.
8. The method as defined by claims 1 through 7, characterized in that the multimedia object itself transmits the digital message in the header.
9. The method as defined by claims 1 through 8, characterized in that the multimedia object itself contains the digital information, as well as the traffic announcement as an audio segment.
10. A receiver for receiving and for selectively reproducing announcements, which are received in connection with digital information, characterized in that the receiver contains a special decoder for the digital messages and the traffic announcements.
11. The receiver as defined by the preceding claim, characterized in that provision is made for a management system which coordinates the incoming audio and digital information.