System And Method For Collecting Plasma

What is this patent about?

’934 is related to the field of apheresis , specifically systems and methods for collecting plasma from a donor. Apheresis involves separating blood components, collecting the desired component (in this case, plasma), and returning the remaining components to the donor. Regulations limit the amount of blood components that can be removed, and prior systems struggle to accurately determine the volume of pure plasma collected, often relying on total collection volume (including anticoagulant) and not tailoring collection to the individual donor's characteristics.

The underlying idea behind ’934 is to precisely control plasma collection by calculating a target plasma volume based on the donor's individual characteristics. This involves determining the donor's weight, height, and hematocrit to estimate their plasma volume. Then, a target percentage of this plasma volume is calculated, and the system aims to collect only that amount of pure plasma, excluding the volume of anticoagulant added during the process.

The claims of ’934 focus on a method and system for collecting plasma that includes determining a donor's weight, height, and hematocrit, calculating a donor plasma volume based on these factors, and then calculating a target plasma volume to collect based on the calculated donor plasma volume and a target percentage of plasma. The system withdraws blood, introduces anticoagulant, separates the blood into components, collects the plasma, and continues until the target plasma volume is reached.

In practice, the system uses a blood component separation device, such as a centrifuge, to separate plasma from other blood components. A controller manages the pumps and valves to withdraw blood, introduce anticoagulant, and collect plasma. The system calculates the donor's plasma volume using their weight, height, and hematocrit. It then determines the target plasma volume to collect as a percentage of the donor's total plasma volume. The system monitors the collected plasma and stops the process when the target volume is reached, ensuring a consistent percentage of plasma is collected from each donor.

’934 differentiates itself from prior approaches by tailoring the plasma collection volume to the individual donor's characteristics, rather than relying on generic weight-based guidelines. By calculating the donor's plasma volume and collecting a specific percentage, the system ensures a more consistent and controlled collection process. Furthermore, the system can calculate and compensate for the intravascular deficit by returning saline to the donor, minimizing the risk of adverse reactions like fainting. This personalized approach optimizes plasma collection while prioritizing donor safety and well-being.