Apheresis machine

A method for the fractionation of plasma, allowing albumin, y-globulin, and fibrinogen to become available for clinical use, was developed during World War II (see also Fractionation, blood-plasma fractionation). A stainless steel blood cell separation bowl, developed in the early 1950s, was the earhest blood cell separator. A disposable polycarbonate version of the separation device, now known as the Haemonetics Latham bowl for its inventor, was first used to collect platelets from a blood donor in 1971. Another cell separation rotor was developed to faciUtate white cell collections. This donut-shaped rotor has evolved to the advanced separation chamber of the COBE Spectra apheresis machine. 

Favorable results of exchange transfusion in a variety of diseases in adults, for example sickle cell disease, severe clotting disorders, hepatic failure, and acute hemolytic transfusion reactions, have been published (1). Today, however, machine apheresis procedures are more effective and safer for patients requiring exchange of cellular elements or plasma. Exchange transfusion is the most effective therapeutic procedure in the treatment of hemolytic disease of the newborn. Bilirubin removal prevents damage to the central nervous system caused by hyperbilirubinemia. In addition, sensitized erythrocytes are replaced by normally surviving cells and anemia is corrected. 

A DCS-72 (Nikkiso Corporation, Tokyo) as the dialyser machine and a Pulasort iQ21 (Asahi Chemical Industry Kuraray medical company, Tokyo) as the apheresis device were used. 

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