IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,741,074
Granted Patent B2
US 12,741,074 · App. 19/338,270 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

Methods and systems for high-throughput blood component collection

Inventors: Thomas J. Felt (Lakewood, CO); Dennis J. Hlavinka (Lakewood, CO); Brian M. Holmes (Lakewood, CO)
Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
A61M1/3696A61M1/024A61M1/0272A61M1/304A61M1/3496A61M1/3601A61M1/36224A61M1/362261A61M1/362262A61M1/362265A61M1/3627A61M1/3646A61M1/3693A61M1/382A61M1/30A61M1/3403A61M1/36222A61M1/3639A61M2202/0415A61M2205/12A61M2205/123A61M2205/331A61M2205/3334A61M2205/3379A61M2205/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,741,074
App. No.
19/338,270
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described are embodiments that include methods and devices for separating components from multi-component fluids. Embodiments may involve use of separation vessels and movement of components into and out of separation vessels through ports. Embodiments may involve the separation of plasma from whole blood. Also described are embodiments that include methods and devices for positioning portions, e.g., loops, of disposables in medical devices. Embodiments may involve use of surfaces for automatically guiding loops to position them into a predetermined position.

Claims (52)

1 . A method for collecting a blood component through apheresis, the method comprising:

determining a target volume of a first blood component;

verifying that an anticoagulant source has been connected or spiked via an interactive graphical user interface on a touch screen display;

drawing whole blood from a donor into a centrifuge;

adding an anticoagulant into the whole blood from the anticoagulant source;

spinning the centrifuge to separate the whole blood into the first blood component and a second blood component;

directing the first blood component into a container until a first sensor detects the second blood component in a first stream flowing from the centrifuge to the container;

returning a first portion of the first blood component from the container to the centrifuge in response to detecting the second blood component with the first sensor;

returning at least the second blood component directly from the centrifuge and back into the donor; and

detecting, with a second sensor, the first blood component in a second stream flowing from the centrifuge to the donor.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interactive graphical user interface is configured to provide workflow support.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the target volume is performed via one or more processors.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the target volume is based on characteristics of the donor, including hematocrit.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first blood component predominantly comprises plasma and the second blood component predominantly comprises at least one of red blood cells or platelets.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second blood component is returned to the donor until the second sensor detects the first blood component in the second stream flowing from the centrifuge to the donor.

7 . A method for collecting a blood component through apheresis, the method comprising:

determining, via one or more processors, a target volume of a first blood component;

drawing whole blood from a donor into a centrifuge;

adding an anticoagulant into the whole blood from an anticoagulant source;

spinning the centrifuge to separate the whole blood into the first blood component and a second blood component;

directing the first blood component into a container until a first sensor detects the second blood component in a first stream flowing from the centrifuge to the container;

returning a first portion of the first blood component from the container to the centrifuge in response to detecting the second blood component with the first sensor;

returning at least the second blood component directly from the centrifuge and back into the donor; and

detecting, with a second sensor, the first blood component in a second stream flowing from the centrifuge to the donor.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining the target volume is based on characteristics of the donor, including hematocrit.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors further determine that the anticoagulant source has been connected or spiked.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first blood component predominantly comprises plasma and the second blood component predominantly comprises at least one of red blood cells or platelets.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the second blood component is returned to the donor until the second sensor detects the first blood component in the second stream flowing from the centrifuge to the donor.

12 . An apheresis device, comprising:

one or more pumps configured to draw whole blood from a donor and add an anticoagulant into the whole blood from an anticoagulant source;

a centrifuge configured to receive the whole blood drawn from the donor and separate the whole blood into a first blood component and a second blood component;

a container configured to receive the first blood component;

a first sensor disposed between the centrifuge and the container;

a second sensor disposed between the centrifuge and the donor;

a controller configured to control the centrifuge and the one or more pumps to move the first blood component from the centrifuge to the container until the first sensor detects the second blood component in a first stream flowing from the centrifuge to the container, return a first portion of the first blood component from the container to the centrifuge in response to detecting the second blood component with the first sensor, and return the second blood component to the donor; and

a touch screen configured to display an interactive graphical user interface configured to signal that the anticoagulant source has been connected or spiked.

13 . The apheresis device of claim 12 , wherein the interactive graphical user interface is configured to provide workflow support.

14 . The apheresis device of claim 12 , further comprising one or more processors configured to determine a target volume of the first blood component.

15 . The apheresis device of claim 14 , wherein the target volume is determined based on characteristics of the donor, including hematocrit.

16 . The apheresis device of claim 12 , wherein the first blood component predominantly comprises plasma and the second blood component predominantly comprises at least one of red blood cells or platelets.

17 . The apheresis device of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to control the centrifuge and the one or more pumps to return the second blood component to the donor until the second sensor detects the first blood component in a second stream flowing from the centrifuge to the donor.

18 . An apheresis device, comprising:

one or more pumps configured to draw whole blood from a donor and add an anticoagulant into the whole blood from an anticoagulant source;

a centrifuge configured to receive the whole blood drawn from the donor and separate the whole blood into a first blood component and a second blood component;

a container configured to receive the first blood component;

a first sensor disposed between the centrifuge and the container;

a second sensor disposed between the centrifuge and the donor;

a controller configured to control the centrifuge and the one or more pumps to move the first blood component from the centrifuge to the container until the first sensor detects the second blood component in a first stream flowing from the centrifuge to the container, return a first portion of the first blood component from the container to the centrifuge in response to detecting the second blood component with the first sensor, and return the second blood component to the donor; and

one or more processors configured to determine a target volume of the first blood component.

19 . The apheresis device of claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine that the anticoagulant source has been connected or spiked.

20 . The apheresis device of claim 18 , wherein the first blood component predominantly comprises plasma and the second blood component predominantly comprises at least one of red blood cells or platelets.

21 . The apheresis device of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to control the centrifuge and the one or more pumps to return the second blood component to the donor until the second sensor detects the first blood component in a second stream flowing from the centrifuge to the donor.

Continuity (7)
Continuation 18407798 · Jan 9, 2024
Continuation 18103111 · Jan 30, 2023
Continuation 17392804 · Aug 3, 2021
Division 15958851 · Apr 20, 2018
Provisional Application 62539053 · Jul 31, 2017
Provisional Application 62488404 · Apr 21, 2017
Related Publication 20260014308A1 · Jan 15, 2026
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