Continuous‐flow Blood Cell Separation

The continuous‐flow blood cell separator is capable of continuously removing blood from a donor, separating this blood into its various components, retaining certain components, and returning the balance to the donor. The first part of this paper is concerned with studies made to determine the centrifuge bowl configuration. Results show the effect of two geometric parameters on the separation efficiency of the bowl using bank blood. The second part gives the results of an analysis of the ability of the bowl to separate plasma, white cells, and platelets at various g forces. From 60 to 85 per cent of the plasma, 5 to 60 per cent of both lymphocytes and granulocytes, and 5 to 50 per cent of the platelets are removed. The amount of red cell destruction as determined by measuring plasma hemoglobin levels is very low. Increases in plasma hemoglobin levels are less than 5 mg/100 cc.