Patent ID: 9498567
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: A61M

Claim Text:
1. In a blood separation procedure having at least a first and a second draw phase in which blood is drawn through a donor line, is separated and a fluid is flowed into a reservoir and a first return phase after the first draw phase in which fluid is flowed from the reservoir through the donor line, a method for controlling the first return phase of the procedure comprising: a) flowing fluid from the reservoir through the donor line; b) monitoring the donor line for the presence of air; and c) upon detecting air in the donor line, determining whether the amount of fluid remaining in the reservoir exceeds a predetermined amount and i) if the amount of fluid remaining in the reservoir exceeds a predetermined amount, purging the donor line and resuming flowing fluid from the reservoir through the donor line until the reservoir is substantially empty, or ii) if the amount of fluid in the reservoir does not exceed the predetermined amount, ending the first return phase by terminating flowing fluid from the reservoir through the donor line and commencing the second draw phase.