A centrifuge bowl for continuous separation of whole blood comprises an outer body rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the centrifuge bowl, the outer body having a main body defining an interior cavity, a neck portion extending proximal to the main body, and a shoulder connecting the main body and the neck portion. A top core is located within and rotatable with the outer body, the top core being coaxial with the outer body and including a chimney extending through the top core along the longitudinal axis of the centrifuge bowl. A separation region is located between the top core and the outer body, rotation of the centrifuge bowl separating the whole blood within the separation region into a first blood component and a second blood component. An inlet port is provided for introducing whole blood into the centrifuge bowl. An inlet tube is fluidly connected to and extends distally from the inlet port and through the chimney, the inlet tube configured to introduce the whole blood into an introduction region. A first blood component outlet port draws the first blood component out of the centrifuge bowl. A first blood component extraction tube extends from the first blood component outlet port to a first blood component extraction region. A second blood component outlet port fluidly connects to the separation region and draws a second blood component from the centrifuge bowl. A centrifuge bowl rotary seal is attached to the outer body and fluidly couples the inlet port, first blood component outlet port, and second blood component outlet port to the outer body. An optical sensor is located on the shoulder of the outer body, the optical sensor configured to monitor an interface between the first blood component and the second blood component within the separation region, the optical sensor configured to control the operation of a first blood component pump based upon a location of the interface.
