US 12186474

An analysis of U.S. Patent 12,186,474 reveals the following details regarding the invention, its ownership, and legal status.

Title: System and method for collecting plasma.

Assignee: Haemonetics Corp.

Inventor: Michael Ragusa.

Filing Date: March 18, 2021.

Issue Date: January 7, 2025.

Abstract: The patent describes a method for collecting plasma that involves determining a donor's weight, height, and hematocrit to calculate their total plasma volume and a specific target collection volume. This target is based on a set percentage of the donor's total plasma. The process involves withdrawing blood, adding an anticoagulant, separating the blood into plasma and other components, and collecting the plasma. The system calculates the volume of "pure plasma" (excluding the anticoagulant) and continues the collection until the target volume of pure plasma is reached.

Overview of Independent Claims

A review of the patent's claims section identifies the following independent claims, which define the core scope of the invention:

Independent Claim 1 (Method): This claim outlines a method for plasma collection that begins with determining a donor's weight and hematocrit. Whole blood is then drawn from the donor and mixed with an anticoagulant. This mixture is separated into a plasma component and at least one other blood component. The plasma component is collected in a container. A key step in this method is the real-time calculation of the percentage of anticoagulant in the collected fluid and the subsequent calculation of the volume of pure plasma. The collection process continues until a predetermined target volume of this pure plasma is achieved.

Independent Claim 9 (System): This claim describes a system for collecting plasma. The system includes a venous-access device for drawing blood, a blood component separation device (like a centrifuge), and lines for drawing blood and introducing an anticoagulant. A central controller is configured to calculate the percentage of anticoagulant in the collected plasma and the volume of pure plasma based on this calculation. The controller is programmed to stop the blood draw once a target volume of pure plasma, which is determined in part by the donor's weight, has been collected.

Independent Claim 15 (Method): This claim details a more personalized method for plasma collection. It starts by determining the donor's weight, height, and hematocrit to calculate the donor's total plasma volume. A target plasma collection volume is then calculated based on a specific percentage of the donor's total plasma volume. The method proceeds with withdrawing blood, adding anticoagulant, separating the components, and collecting the plasma. A processor continuously calculates the volume of pure plasma collected, and the procedure stops when this calculated volume matches the personalized target plasma collection volume.

Independent Claim 22 (System): This claim describes a system designed to execute the personalized collection method. It includes the standard hardware for drawing and separating blood. The system's controller is programmed to first calculate a donor's total plasma volume based on their weight, height, and hematocrit. It then calculates a target collection volume based on a percentage of that total plasma volume. The controller then calculates the volume of pure plasma being collected and stops the process when the personalized target volume is met.

A search of the CAFC 2026 dockets for litigation involving US patent 12,186,474 did not yield any specific results. It should be noted that the provided patent text from Google Patents indicates that the patent family has associated litigation, but specific details from the CAFC docket for the current year were not found in the search.