Priming anticoagulant alignment for blood extraction

1. A method of reducing anticoagulant dilution of collected blood components in a blood processing equipment, wherein the blood processing equipment comprises an anticoagulant reservoir ( 1 ) having an anticoagulant solution, a Y-connector and venous access device ( 5 ) having a cap ( 6 ), a blood component separation device ( 12 ), a line of anticoagulant ( 4 ) fluidly connecting the anticoagulant reservoir ( 1 ) to the Y-connector and venous access device ( 5 ), a blood withdraw/return line ( 7 ) fluidly connecting the Y-connector and venous access device ( 5 ) to the blood component separation device ( 12 ), an anticoagulant pump ( 2 ) fluidly connected to the line of anticoagulant ( 4 ), a liquid/air detector ( 3 ) fluidly connected to the line of anticoagulant ( 4 ), a withdraw/return pump ( 11 ) fluidly connected to the blood withdraw/return line ( 7 ), a pressure senor ( 9 ) fluidly connected to the blood withdraw/return line ( 7 ), and a liquid/air detector ( 8 ) fluidly connected to the blood withdraw/return line ( 7 ), the method comprising:

(a) priming and aligning the blood processing equipment with the anticoagulant solution comprising:

(i)synchronously pumping with pumps ( 2 , 11 ) to advance the anticoagulant solution from the anticoagulant reservoir ( 1 ) until the anticoagulant is detected by the air/fluid sensor ( 8 ); and

(ii) synchronously reverse pumping with pumps ( 2 , 11 ) to clear the line of anticoagulant ( 4 ) until an air/anticoagulant interface boundary is present in a priming anticoagulant alignment point ( 100 );

(b) connecting the venous-access device ( 5 ) to a donor;

(c) withdrawing whole blood from the donor such that the withdrawn whole blood is collected in the blood component separation device ( 12 ) for processing;

(d) separating the withdrawn whole blood into a first blood component and a second blood component in the blood component separation device ( 12 );

(e) extracting the first blood component from the blood component separation device ( 12 ); and

(f)returning the second blood component to the donor through the draw/return line ( 7 ).

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the following steps between step (i) and step (ii):

(1) confirming pump operation and tubing geometry by comparing the number of pump revolutions required to progress the anticoagulant between the liquid/air sensors ( 3 , 8 ) to pre-established expectations derived from understanding of pump displacement and tubing length; and

(2) confirming proper function of the pumps ( 2 , 11 ) and the cap ( 6 ) on the venous access device ( 5 ) by holding one pump fixed, and moving the other, while comparing the observed pressure change at the pressure sensor ( 9 ), to an expected change given the volume of fluid vs air expected in the lines; and

(3) annunciating any discrepancies to operator such that they can take appropriate action.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blood processing equipment further comprises a first liquid/air detector and a second liquid/air detector, wherein the first fluid/air detector is fluidly connected to the withdraw/return line ( 7 ) and immediately adjacent to the venous-access device ( 5 ), and wherein the second liquid/air detector is fluidly connected to the withdraw/return line ( 7 ) and between the first liquid/air detector and the withdraw/return pump ( 11 ).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second component comprises plasma.