IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,725,701
Granted Patent B2
US 12,725,701 · App. 18/401,354 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Network of cell processing systems and related method

Inventors: Steven Binninger (Evanston, IL); Christopher J. Wegener (Libertyville, IL); Alaina Schlinker (Chicago, IL); Bret M. Olson (Chicago, IL)
Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
G16H40/63A61M1/265A61M1/3692G05B13/024G16H10/40G16H40/67A61M2205/50A61M2205/502A61M2205/60G16H20/17
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,725,701
App. No.
18/401,354
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of processing blood includes receiving from a touch screen user input data for a protocol for a wash procedure. The user input data includes a numeric value. The method includes storing the protocol in a memory, receiving an identifier from a user, determining if the identifier permits the user to modify the protocol and receiving a modification of the protocol from the user. The method includes providing a plurality of authorizations, a second authorization being a default and an administrator authorization permitting the user to change a setting. The method includes comparing a password to a password stored in memory and, if there is a match, determining that the password is associated with an administrator. If a command to change the setting is received, the command is applied to change the setting. The blood is processed employing a wash procedure using the modified protocol and the changed setting.

Claims (33)

1 . A cell processing system comprising:

a network of cell processors including a processor to receive a biological fluid to be processed;

a controller coupled to the processor, the controller configured to operate the processor according to at least one modifiable process parameter, the controller configured to permit control of the cell processing system based on a hierarchy of authorizations comprising at least an administrator authorization and an operator authorization, the controller configured to assume as a default that a user has operator authorization unless the user attempts to enter an identifier, at which point it is determined if the user has the administrator authorization;

at least one input coupled to the controller, the at least one input configured to receive the identifier and at least one process parameter control associated with the at least one process parameter that limits modification of the at least one process parameter if applied, wherein the controller is configured to receive a protocol comprising a plurality of process parameter controls, and the controller applies the process parameter controls of the protocol if the identifier is associated with an administrator authorization, wherein the at least one input uses a transmitter/receiver device to receive the protocol from another processor in the network of cell processors;

the controller configured to determine if the identifier is associated with the administrator authorization and to apply the at least one process parameter control to the at least one process parameter if the identifier is associated with the administrator authorization, wherein the protocol comprising the at least one process parameter received from another processor in the network is modifiable by a user having the administrator authorization, wherein the transmitter/receiver device is configured to download the identifier from the network.

2 . The cell processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises a password.

3 . The cell processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one modifiable process parameter comprises a numeric value, and the at least one process parameter control comprises at least one of a minimum value and a maximum value.

4 . The cell processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one process parameter control prevents modification of the at least one process parameter without an identifier associated with an administrator authorization.

5 . The cell processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed to determine if the identifier is associated with an administrator authorization and to apply the processor parameter control to the at least one process parameter if the identifier is associated with an administrator authorization.

6 . The cell processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises a disposable fluid circuit and reusable hardware.

7 . The cell processing system according to claim 6 , wherein the disposable fluid circuit comprises a spinning membrane separation device, at least one container, and tubing connecting the spinning membrane and the one or more containers.

8 . The cell processing system according to claim 6 , wherein the reusable hardware includes at least one drive to spin the spinning membrane, at least one scale to weigh the at least container and contents thereof, and at least one pump.

9 . A method of operating a cell processing system, the cell processing system comprising a processor to receive a biological fluid to be processed and to be operated according to at least one modifiable process parameter, the method comprising:

receiving an identifier and at least one process parameter control associated with the at least one process parameter that limits modification of the at least one process parameter if applied, wherein the process parameter control is received from another processor in a network of cell processors, wherein a transmitter/receiver device is configured to download the identifier from the network;

determining if the identifier is associated with an administrator authorization;

applying the at least one processor control to the at least one process parameter if the identifier is associated with an administrator authorization, wherein receiving the at least one process parameter control comprises receiving a protocol comprising a plurality of process parameter controls from the another processor, and wherein applying the at least one process parameter control comprises applying the process parameter controls of the protocol if the identifier is associated with an administrator authorization;

receiving from a touch screen user input data for a plurality of protocols, each protocol including values for a set of process parameters for cell processing procedures;

storing each protocol in memory;

receiving a second identifier associated with a user;

applying one of the protocols based at least in part on the second identifier; and

processing the biological fluid employing a process that includes the at least one process parameter or the applied one of the protocols.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein receiving an identifier comprises receiving a password.

11 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one modifiable process parameter comprises a numeric value, and applying the at least one process parameter control comprises applying at least one of a minimum value and a maximum value.

12 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein applying the at least one process parameter control comprises preventing modification of the at least one process parameter without an identifier associated with an administrator authorization.

13 . A network of cell processing systems, comprising:

at least one cell processing system, the at least one cell processing system comprising:

a processor to receive a biological fluid to be processed;

a controller coupled to the processor, the controller configured to operate the processor according to at least one modifiable process parameter, the controller configured to permit control of the at least one cell processing system based on a hierarchy of authorizations comprising at least an administrator authorization and an operator authorization, the controller configured to assume as a default that a user has operator authorization unless the user attempts to enter an identifier, at which point it is determined if the user has the administrator authorization, wherein a transmitter/receiver device is configured to download the identifier from the network; and

at least one input coupled to the controller, the at least one input configured to receive at least one process parameter control associated with the at least one process parameter that limits modification of the at least one process parameter if applied,

a non-transitory computer-readable memory storage device coupled to the at least one cell processing system, the memory storage device including a plurality of process parameter controls stored therein and configured to transmit one or more process parameter controls to the at least one cell processing system,

wherein one of the controller and the memory storage device is configured to receive the identifier and to determine if the identifier is associated with the administrator authorization, and the controller is configured to apply the at least one process parameter control to the at least one process parameter if the identifier is associated with the administrator authorization;

wherein one or more protocols are stored in the memory storage device, each protocol comprising a plurality of process parameter controls, wherein the one or more protocols are transmitted from one or more of the cell processing systems to the memory storage device.

14 . The network of cell processing systems according to claim 13 , wherein the memory storage device is configured to receive the identifier and to determine if the identifier is associated with an administrator authorization, the memory storage device configured to transmit at least one process parameter control associated with the at least one process parameter to the at least one input only if the identifier is associated with an administrator authorization.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2023
From: BINNINGER, STEVEN; WEGENER, CHRISTOPHER J.; SCHLINKER, ALAINA; OLSON, BRET M.
To: FENWAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 065986/0287 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17464325 · Sep 1, 2021
Continuation 15456804 · Mar 13, 2017
Provisional Application 62308015 · Mar 14, 2016
Related Publication 20240266040A1 · Aug 8, 2024
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