AUTOMATED WASHING AND SALVAGE OF RED BLOOD CELLS FROM SURGICAL SWABS

摘要

Automated methods and apparatus for washing surgical swabs 14 to extract and salvage viable red blood cells include contacting the swabs 14 with a saline-based wash solution in a receptacle under sterile conditions and effecting automated compression and/or automated agitation of the receptacle. The saline-based wash solution containing viable red blood cells may be pumped 5 from the swabs 14 to a reservoir 7, the negative pressure created by a peristaltic pump 5 being one method of compressing swabs 14 in a flexible receptacle. Alternatively, compression may be by means of a pneumatically driven plate, a roller or pair of rollers or by increasing fluid pressure in a sealed space adjacent the receptacle.