Patent ID: 11963931
Assignee: HAEMONETICS CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 9:
10. A method of storing plasma comprising:
introducing plasma into a blood component cooling container, wherein introducing the plasma into the blood component cooling container includes transferring plasma from a blood component separation device of a plasmapheresis system to the blood component cooling container, the blood component cooling container including:
a body portion having an axial length, a proximal end and a distal end and defining an interior volume, the body portion including,
a plurality of cooling vanes, each extending along a majority of the axial length of the body portion and radially outward from the body portion, the plurality of cooling vanes increasing the external surface area of the blood component cooling container and defining a vane internal volume, and
an opening within the body portion configured to receive the plasma, the opening being located at or near the proximal end;

wherein the blood component cooling container is tapered from the distal end to the proximal end, such that a diameter of the proximal end is greater than a diameter of the distal end; and
wherein the blood component cooling container has a generally frustum shape, wherein the blood component cooling container is configured to be opened with an automatic bottle opener; and

transferring the blood component cooling container to a freezer, the plurality of cooling vanes reducing the freezing time of the plasma within the blood component cooling container;
removing the blood component cooling container from the freezer;
defrosting, at least partially, the blood component cooling container, the plurality of cooling vanes reducing the defrosting time of the plasma within the blood component cooling container;
opening the blood component cooling container using the automatic bottle opener; and
removing the plasma from the blood component cooling container, the taper preventing frozen plasma from getting stuck inside the blood component cooling container.