| abstract |
An apparatus (60) for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into components, comprising a valve design that facilitates loading and unloading of sets (10) of blood bags (14, 44, 16, 38). The valves (128, 130, 132) comprise a jaw (138) mounted on a shaft (180), the jaw (138) being adapted to apply radio frequency energy to seal a tube, a stepper motor section(174), and at least two position sensors (234, 236) The valve sections (172) are mounted on an upper plate (176), and the stepper motor sections (174) are mounted on a lower plate (222). A main radio frequency coil (254) is selectively electrically coupled to each of the valves (128, 130, 132) through a multiplexing switch (252). |