US 12324873

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 12324873:

Title: System and method for collecting plasma
Assignee: Haemonetics Corp
Inventor: Michael Ragusa
Filing Date: 2024-11-21
Issue Date: 2025-06-10
Abstract: A method for collecting plasma includes determining the weight and hematocrit of a donor, and inserting a venous-access device into the donor. The method then withdraws blood from the donor through a draw line connected to a blood component separation device, and introduces anticoagulant into the withdrawn blood. The blood component separation device separates the blood into a plasma component and a second blood component, and the plasma component is collected from the blood component separation device and into a plasma collection container. The method may then calculate (1) a percentage of anticoagulant in the collected plasma component, and (2) a volume of pure plasma collected within the plasma collection container. The volume of pure plasma may be based, at least in part, on the calculated percentage of anticoagulant. The method may continue until a target volume of pure plasma is collected within the plasma collection container.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a method for collecting plasma from a donor. The steps include inserting a needle into the donor, drawing whole blood into a separation device, adding anticoagulant to the blood, separating the blood into plasma and other components, collecting the plasma into a container, and then calculating the precise volume of "pure" plasma (without anticoagulant) that has been collected. This calculation is based on the total collected plasma component volume, the amount of anticoagulant added, and the donor's hematocrit (red blood cell percentage).

• Claim 13 (System): This claim defines a system for collecting plasma. It includes the equipment necessary for the process: a venous-access device (like a needle), a blood separation device, a line with a pump to draw blood, a separate line to introduce anticoagulant, and a controller. The key feature of the controller is its ability to calculate the volume of "pure" plasma that has been collected, using the total volume of collected plasma, the amount of anticoagulant added, and the subject's hematocrit.

• Claim 24 (System): This claim also describes a system for collecting plasma, similar to Claim 13 in its components (venous-access device, blood separation device, blood draw line with pump, anticoagulant line, and a controller). However, the crucial distinction is that the controller in this system is configured to calculate the target volume of pure plasma to be collected (a prospective calculation) within the plasma collection container, based on the volume of plasma component to be collected, the ratio of anticoagulant to be added, and the subject's hematocrit. This implies a function for planning or predicting the pure plasma yield.

Litigation Information:
The patent family of US12324873 has documented litigation. A case has been filed in the Colorado District Court (case number 1:25-cv-01409). Additionally, a PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, PGR2026-00009, was filed but was not instituted on procedural grounds.