US 10758652

Summary of U.S. Patent 10,758,652

A comprehensive analysis of U.S. Patent 10,758,652 reveals the following details:

Title: System and method for collecting plasma.

Assignee: Haemonetics Corporation.

Inventor: Michael Ragusa.

Filing Date: May 30, 2017.

Issue Date: September 1, 2020.

Abstract:
The patent describes a method for collecting plasma from a donor. The process involves determining the donor's weight and hematocrit, then using a venous-access device to withdraw blood. This blood is directed to a blood component separation device where an anticoagulant is introduced. The device separates the blood into a plasma component and a second blood component. The plasma component is collected in a container. The method includes calculating the percentage of anticoagulant in the collected plasma and, based on this, determining the volume of pure plasma. This process continues until a target volume of pure plasma is collected.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

U.S. Patent 10,758,652 has two independent claims: claim 1 (a method) and claim 11 (a system).

Claim 1 (Method): This claim outlines a specific process for collecting plasma from a donor. The key steps are:

1. Initial Assessment: Determining the donor's weight and hematocrit (the proportion of red blood cells in their blood).
2. Blood Withdrawal and Separation: Drawing whole blood from the donor and separating it into plasma and other blood components using a separation device.
3. Anticoagulant Use: Introducing an anticoagulant to prevent clotting.
4. Calculating Pure Plasma: As the plasma is being collected, the system continuously calculates the volume of anticoagulant that is mixed in with the plasma. This allows for a precise calculation of the volume of "pure plasma" that has been collected.
5. Targeted Collection: The process of drawing, separating, and calculating continues until a predetermined target volume of pure plasma is reached.

In essence, this method aims to collect a more precise and standardized amount of pure plasma from each donor by accounting for the variable amount of anticoagulant in the collected fluid, which is influenced by the donor's specific hematocrit level.

Claim 11 (System): This claim describes the physical system designed to carry out the method of claim 1. The essential components of the system are:

1. Blood Access and Transport: A venous-access device (like a needle) and tubing to draw blood and return other components to the donor, controlled by a pump.
2. Separation Device: A device to separate the whole blood into plasma and other components.
3. Anticoagulant Delivery: A line to introduce anticoagulant into the drawn blood.
4. Controller (the "brain"): A controller that manages the system's operations. This controller is configured to calculate the volume of anticoagulant in the collected plasma in real-time. Based on this, it determines the volume of pure plasma. The controller is programmed to stop the blood collection process once a specific target volume of pure plasma has been collected.

This system is designed to automate the process of collecting a specific, targeted volume of pure plasma, making the collection process more efficient and personalized to the donor's physiological characteristics.

Litigation

As of late 2025, Haemonetics Corp. has filed a complaint against Fresenius Kabi USA LLC, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent 10,758,652. The lawsuit contends that the accused products utilize a system with a controller that determines a target plasma volume based on donor-specific parameters like weight, height, and hematocrit before collection begins. A search for related dockets at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) for 2026 did not yield any specific results for this patent at this time.