Method and apparatus for administration of anticoagulant to red cell suspension output of a blood separator

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG.
1, there is illustrated a separation set, generally designated 10, such as described in aforementioned U.
S.
Pat.
No.
4,851,126.
The set 10 includes tubing 11 and separators 46, 62 defining flow path means.
The set 10 may be applied to a microprocessor controlled hemapheresis instrument, such as the instrument H illustrated in FIGS.
2 and 3, in a manner to effect collection of whole blood from a donor through a single needle; separation of the whole blood into packed blood cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP); reinfusion of the packed blood cells to the donor, (or alternatively, transfer of some of the packed red cells to a red blood cell collection container); and subsequent separation of platelets from the platelet-rich plasma to provide platelet concentrate and cell depleted, platelet-poor plasma (PPP).
While in the preferred embodiments the set 10 is described in conjunction with a single needle with its attendant features and advantages, it will be appreciated that the invention is also applicable to two-needle systems.
Set 10 is provided with a single phlebotomy needle 12 for alternately receiving whole blood from a donor and reinfusing one or more blood fractions such as packed red cells back into the donor.
The needle 12 communicates with a blood line 14.
An anticoagulant line 16 has an anticoagulant spike 18 at one end for reception in an anticoagulant supply container 20, illustrated in FIG.
2.
At the opposite end, anticoagulant line 16 joins blood line 14 in a Y-connection 13 closely adjacent the single phlebotomy needle 12.
The set 10 also includes a reservoir 22.
The reservoir 22 is divided into a pair of side-by-side compartments 24, 26.
Ports 28 and 30 are provided at the lower ends of the compartments 24, 26, respectively.
Mesh screen/filter tubes 32, 34 are disposed in compartments 24, 26, respectively, in communication with respective inlet ports 36 and 38 at the upper end of the reservoir 22