Granted Patent B2

US 12,379,916 · App. 18/116,988 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Inventors: Stephanie Lynne St. George (Centennial, CO); John Pittinger (Evergreen, CO)

Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.

G06F8/65A61M1/3496A61M1/3693A61M60/205G16H40/67

Abstract

Claims (23)

1. A method comprising:

detecting, with a controller, a startup of an apheresis machine based on signals received by the controller;

in response to detecting start up, automatically transmitting, by the controller, data to a server;

automatically determining, by the server and based on the data, whether software of the apheresis machine is current;

automatically receiving, by the controller and in response to the data, a response from the server; and

automatically preventing, by the controller, usage of the apheresis machine if the response from the server indicates the software is not current.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data transmitted from the controller to the server comprises one or more of a data log, a firmware version identifier, and an error log.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the response comprises a lockout signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the response comprises a software update.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the software update includes a firmware update.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising automatically initiating, by the controller, installation of the software update.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising ceasing prevention of usage of the apheresis machine following installation of the software update.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising manually initiating installation of the software update.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, based on the response from the server, displaying a message on a graphical user interface.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the graphical user interface enables a user to begin a software installation.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after preventing usage of the apheresis machine, automatically determining, with the controller, an unlock requirement has been met; and

in response to determining the unlock requirement has been met, enabling, with the controller, use of the apheresis machine.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the unlock requirement is associated with an updated software.

13. The method if claim 1 , wherein the software includes one or more of firmware, applications, and operating systems.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising manually installing a software update.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the manually installing the software update includes connecting an external device including the software update to the apheresis machine and installing the software update.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically preventing, by the controller, usage of the apheresis machine includes receiving a lockout signal from the server, the lockout signal including instructions to prevent usage of the apheresis machine until the software is current.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (397)