Systems and methods for managing blood donations
Methods and apparatus collecting blood from patients and managing blood donations are provided, which may include any number of features. One feature is a blood collection device configured to collect blood from a patient and periodically transmit blood collection data from the device to a control system. Another feature is a system and method for updating firmware on a plurality of blood collection devices. In one embodiment, a software interface with a blood collection control can be used to specify a blood collection protocol, and the blood collection protocol can be then transmitted to one or more blood collection devices.
1. A method of specifying a collection protocol for a blood collection device, the method comprising:
specifying in a blood collection control system, a first input to be scanned, the first input being selected from the group consisting of a donation ID barcode on a blood collection bag, a donor ID, a technician ID that identifies the user at a start of the blood collection event, a blood product code, a first sample tube, a second sample tube, a biometric input, and a technician ID that identifies the user at an end of the blood collection event;
specifying in the blood collection control system, a first time during a blood collection event for the blood collection device to prompt a user to scan the first input;
specifying in the blood collection control system, a second input to be scanned, the second input being selected from the group consisting of a donation ID barcode on a blood collection bag, a donor ID, a technician ID that identifies the user at a start of the blood collection event, a blood product code, a first sample tube, a second sample tube, a biometric input, and a technician ID that identifies the user at an end of the blood collection event;
specifying in the blood collection control system, a second time during the blood collection event for the blood collection device to prompt the user to scan the second input;
compiling in the blood collection control system a customized blood collection protocol operable on a blood collection device and configured to prompt the user for the first input at the first time and the second input at the second time;
transmitting the customized blood collection protocol from the blood collection control system to one or more blood collection devices;
initiating a blood draw from a patient with one of the blood collection devices running the customized blood collection protocol;
prompting the user for the first input at the first time during the blood draw;
prompting the user for the second input at the second time during the blood draw; and
completing the blood draw from the patient.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the specifying input steps comprise specifying length and character type requirements for the first and second inputs.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first time is at the beginning of a blood collection process.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second time is at the end of a blood collection process.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the biometric input comprises a fingerprint.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting blood collection data regarding the collected blood from one or more of the blood collection device to the blood collection control system.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
turning on a transmit function for each of to one or more blood collection devices and transmitting blood collection data from the blood collection devices to the blood collection control system;
turning off the transmit function of the blood collection devices after the blood collection data is received by the blood collection control system; and
waiting for a time interval before again turning on the transmit function of the blood collection devices.