Numerical Aanalysis of a Leuko-Reducing Bowl for Intermittent Plateletpheresis System

Platelet therapy remains one of the most effective treatments. The use of WBC-depleted platelet is now mandatory to prevent a variety of adverse effects caused by transfused WBC (white blood cell) contaminating platelet. One of the current centrifuge bowls, which has most advantage for donors, has to use a WBC-depletion filter to meet the standards of WBC contamination. Development of new centrifuge bowls is intended here with the aid of CFD to guide the design of better performances. The simulation is in two stages; the first is to elucidate the mechanism of WBC-contamination of the current bowl (trajectory of WBC, based on velocity field established), and the second is to simulate the performance of new bowls on reducing remaining WBC in platelet concentrate. Evaluation of new bowls with human blood is reported.