Blood component collection system with optimizer

• US 5,496,265 A
• Filed: 10/21/1993
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc. (Terumo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cobe Cardiovascular Incorporated (LivaNova Plc)
• Inventors: Urdahl, Steven G., Langley, Robert W., Keller, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARKE, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US08/140,254
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4-6, 604/29, 128/DIG. 13, 128/713, 364/413, 364/413.07
• US Class Current: 604/6.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/02 Blood transfusion apparatus blood infusion by syringes A61M5/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/30 Single needle dialysis ; Reciprocating systems, alternately withdrawing blood from and returning it to the patient, e.g. single-lumen-needle dialysis or single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/303 having a reservoir for treated blood to be returned
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/307 Time control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3603 in the same direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3609 Physical characteristics of the blood, e.g. haematocrit, urea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3622 with a cassette forming partially or totally the blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3643 Priming, rinsing before or after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3672 Means preventing coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3693 using separation based on different densities of components, e.g. centrifuging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3696 with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/38 Removing constituents from donor blood and storing or returning remainder to body , e.g. for transfusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/385 taking into account of the patient characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/387 taking into account of the needs or inventory
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0415 Plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0427 Platelets; Thrombocytes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers

Abstract

A blood component collection system with optimization capabilities. In one embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input/configured predetermined blood component yield and which is based upon the maximization of at least one process parameter. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived process control parameters. In another embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input total procedure time from a maximized value for at least one of the other process control parameters so as to maximize blood component yield in this fixed time. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived parameters.

Claims

1. A method for collecting at least one predetermined type of blood component from a source of whole blood using a blood component collection system comprising a blood component collection device and collection procedure, said collection procedure having a plurality of parameters associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of:

providing biological data relating to a source of whole blood, said source being a human donor and said data comprising at least one of said donor'"'"'s hematocrit, height, weight, and sex;

identifying a desired yield of at least one predetermined type of blood component;

associating a magnitude with each of a plurality of parameters associated with a collection procedure to be performed on said whole blood using a blood component collection system comprising a blood component collection device and said collection procedure, said associating step comprising performing a first deriving step comprising deriving a magnitude for at least one of said parameters from said providing and identifying steps;

inputting said magnitude of each said parameter into said blood component collection system after said associating step; and

performing said collection procedure on said blood component collection device using said inputting step to collect said desired yield of said at least one predetermined type of blood component from said source of whole blood.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said biological data comprises said donor'"'"'s hematocrit, height, weight, and sex.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

one of said parameters is an inlet flow to said blood collection device and another of said parameters is a flow of anticoagulant into said blood component collection system, wherein said inlet flow comprises a flow of whole blood from said source and said flow of anticoagulant, wherein said source of said blood has a volume, wherein an AC ratio is a ratio of said inlet flow to said flow of anticoagulant, and wherein an AC infusion rate is a flow of said anticoagulant provided to said source per said volume of said source.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said performing a first deriving step further comprises:

deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow associated with a predetermined magnitude of said AC infusion rate.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow step comprises:

using said predetermined magnitude of said AC infusion rate and a current magnitude for a total procedure time, said total procedure time being another of said parameters.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow step further comprises:

assuming a current magnitude for said inlet flow and performing a first iteration procedure comprising calculating a current magnitude for said AC infusion rate from at least said current magnitude of said inlet flow, evaluating convergence criteria relating to said current magnitude of said inlet flow, and adjusting said current magnitude of said inlet flow, repeating said first iteration procedure until at least one of first and second conditions is satisfied, said first condition being that said convergence criteria is established and said second condition being that said first iteration procedure has been performed a predetermined number of times.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow step comprises deriving a current magnitude for said AC infusion rate, said performing a first deriving step further comprising performing a second iteration procedure after said at least one of said first and second conditions is satisfied, said second iteration procedure step comprising calculating a current yield from said current magnitude of said inlet flow, said current magnitude of said AC infusion rate, and said current magnitude of said procedure time, comparing said current yield with said desired yield, performing said inputting step after said comparing step when said current yield is within a predetermined amount of said desired yield, adjusting said current magnitude of said total procedure time when said current yield differs from desired yield by more than said predetermined amount, repeating said deriving a magnitude of said inlet flow step after said adjusting said current magnitude of said total procedure time step, and repeating said second iteration procedure step after said repeating said deriving a magnitude of said inlet flow step until at least one of third and fourth conditions is satisfied, said third condition being that predetermined convergence criteria relating to said current total procedure time is established and said fourth condition being that said second iteration procedure step has been performed a predetermined number of times.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said performing a first deriving step further comprises performing a third iteration procedure after said second iteration procedure step and when said at least one of said third and fourth conditions is satisfied, said third iteration procedure step comprising adjusting said magnitude of said AC ratio, repeating said first and second iteration procedure steps, and repeating said third iteration procedure step until at least one of fifth and sixth conditions is satisfied, said fifth condition being that predetermined convergence criteria relating to said magnitude of said AC ratio is established and said sixth condition being that said third iteration procedure step has been performed a predetermined number of times.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said predetermined magnitude of said AC infusion rate is increased by a predetermined amount when at least one of said fifth and sixth conditions associated with said third iteration procedure step is satisfied, wherein said performing a first deriving step further comprises repeating said first, second, and third iteration procedure steps using said increased AC infusion rate.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow step comprises deriving a current magnitude for said AC infusion rate, said performing a first deriving step further comprising iteratively calculating a current blood component yield using at least said current magnitude of said inlet flow and said current magnitude of said AC infusion rate and by using said providing step and by iteratively adjusting said magnitude of said current total procedure time until achieving at least one of first and second conditions, said first condition being within a predetermined variance of said desired yield of blood components and said second condition being performing said iteratively adjusting step a predetermined number of times.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said performing a first deriving step further comprises deriving a total procedure time, after said deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow step, which provides a current yield within a predetermined amount of said desired yield.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said associating step comprises selecting a maximum magnitude for said AC infusion rate, and wherein said associating step further comprises generating a calculated magnitude of said inlet flow using at least said maximum magnitude of said AC infusion rate.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said performing a first deriving step further comprises:

calculating a theoretical magnitude of said inlet flow which provides a maximum yield of said at least one predetermined blood component and comparing said theoretical and calculated magnitudes of said inlet flow, and wherein said inputting step comprises inputting the lesser of said theoretical magnitude and said calculated magnitude of said inlet flow.

14. A method, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

another of said parameters is a total procedure time, wherein a current magnitude for said total procedure time is assumed, and wherein said performing a first deriving step further comprises performing a first iteration procedure, said performing a first iteration procedure step comprising calculating a current blood component yield using the lesser of said calculated and theoretical magnitudes of said inlet flow of whole blood, said current magnitude of said total procedure time, and said maximum AC infusion rate, comparing said current blood component yield with said desired blood component yield, and repeating said first iteration procedure step using an adjusted current total procedure time until at least one of first and second conditions is satisfied, said first condition being that said current magnitude of said blood component yield is within a predetermined amount of said desired blood component yield and said second condition being that said performing a first iteration procedure step has been performed a predetermined number of times.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

another of said parameters is a total procedure time and said performing a first deriving step further comprises assuming a current magnitude for said total procedure time and performing a first iteration procedure, said performing a first iteration procedure step comprising calculating a current yield from the lesser of said actual and theoretical magnitudes of said inlet flows, a maximum magnitude for said AC ratio, said maximum magnitude of said AC infusion rate, and said current magnitude of said procedure time, comparing said current yield with said desired yield, incrementally adjusting said current magnitude of said total procedure time when said current yield differs from desired yield by more than a predetermined amount, and repeating said first iteration procedure step until at least one of a first and second condition is satisfied, said first condition being that said current yield is within said first predetermined amount of said desired yield and said second condition being that said first iteration procedure step has been performed a predetermined number of times.

16. A method, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said at least one of said parameters is a total procedure time, said performing a first deriving step comprising maximizing said inlet flow and minimizing said total procedure time.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a magnitude for each of said parameters before said identifying step;

performing said collection procedure on said blood component collection device before said identifying step, using said providing a magnitude step, and for a first time period, wherein said associating step is performed after expiration of said first time period.

18. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

one of said parameters is a total procedure time, and wherein said performing a first deriving step comprises minimizing said magnitude of said total procedure time based upon said magnitude of at least one of said parameters other than said total procedure time.

19. A method, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

one of said parameters is an inlet flow to said blood collection device and another of said parameters is a flow of anticoagulant into said blood component collection system, wherein said inlet flow comprises a flow of whole blood from said source and said flow of anticoagulant, wherein said blood within from said source has a volume, wherein at least part of said flow of anticoagulant is provided to said source, wherein an AC ratio is a ratio of said inlet flow to said flow of anticoagulant, wherein an AC infusion rate is said at least part of said flow of anticoagulant per said volume, and wherein said at least one of said parameters associated with said minimizing step comprises said magnitude of said AC infusion rate and said magnitude of said inlet flow.

20. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said associating step comprises optimizing said magnitude of at least one of said parameters.

21. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selecting said predetermined type of blood component based upon at least one of an inventory of said predetermined type of blood component and a demand for said predetermined type of blood component.

22. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

maintaining data on said collection procedure for use in subsequent collection procedures performed using said donor.

23. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selecting a type of blood component to be collected from said donor based upon data maintained on said donor for a plurality of collection procedures previously performed on said donor.

24. A method, as claimed in claim 23, wherein:

said data provides an indication that said donor has a propensity to produce a higher yield for a type of blood component from said selecting step versus other types of blood components.

25. A method, as claimed in claim 23, wherein:

said optimizing step is for said first condition, said method further comprising the step of identifying a desired yield of said at least one type of blood component, said associating step comprising performing a first deriving step comprising deriving a magnitude for at least one of said parameters from said providing and identifying steps.

26. A method, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

one of said parameters is an inlet flow to said blood collection device and another of said parameters is a flow of anticoagulant into said blood component collection system, wherein said inlet flow comprises a flow of whole blood from said source and said flow of anticoagulant, wherein said source of said blood has a volume, wherein an AC ratio is a ratio of said inlet flow to said flow of anticoagulant, and wherein an AC infusion rate is a flow of said anticoagulant provided to said source per said volume of said source.

27. A method, as claimed in claim 26, wherein said performing a first deriving step further comprises:

deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow associated with a predetermined magnitude of said AC infusion rate.

28. A method, as claimed in claim 27, wherein said deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow step comprises:

using said predetermined magnitude of said AC infusion rate and a current magnitude for a total procedure time, said total procedure time being another of said parameters.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein said deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow step further comprises:

assuming a current magnitude for said inlet flow and performing a first iteration procedure comprising calculating a current magnitude for said AC infusion rate from at least said current magnitude of said inlet flow, evaluating convergence criteria relating to said current magnitude of said inlet flow, and adjusting said current magnitude of said inlet flow and repeating said first iteration procedure step until at least one of third and fourth conditions is satisfied, said third condition being that said convergence criteria is established and said fourth condition being that said first iteration procedure step has been performed a predetermined number of times.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein:

said deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow step comprises deriving a current magnitude for said AC infusion rate, said performing a first deriving step further comprising performing a second iteration procedure after said deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow step, said second iteration procedure step comprising calculating a current yield from said current magnitude of said inlet flow, said current magnitude of said AC infusion rate, and said current magnitude of said procedure time, comparing said current yield with said desired yield, performing said inputting step after said comparing step when said current yield is within a predetermined amount of said desired yield, adjusting said current magnitude of said total procedure time when said current yield differs from desired yield by more than said predetermined amount, repeating said deriving a magnitude of said inlet flow step after said adjusting said current magnitude of said total procedure time step, and repeating said second iteration procedure step after said repeating said deriving a magnitude of said inlet flow step until at least one of fifth and sixth conditions is satisfied, said fifth condition being that predetermined convergence criteria relating to said current total procedure time is established and said sixth condition being that said second iteration procedure step has been performed a predetermined number of times.

31. A method, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said performing a first deriving step further comprises performing a third iteration procedure after said second iteration procedure step and when said at least one of said fifth and sixth conditions is satisfied, said third iteration procedure step comprising adjusting said magnitude of said AC ratio, repeating said first and second iteration procedure steps, and repeating said third iteration procedure step until at least one of seventh and eighth conditions is satisfied, said seventh condition being that predetermined convergence criteria relating to said magnitude of said AC ratio is established and said eighth condition being that said third iteration procedure has been performed a predetermined number of times.

32. A method, as claimed in claim 31, wherein:

said predetermined magnitude of said AC infusion rate is increased by a predetermined amount when at least one of said seventh and eighth conditions is satisfied, wherein said performing a first deriving step further comprises repeating said first, second, and third iteration procedure steps using said increased AC infusion rate.

33. A method, as claimed in claim 28, wherein:

said deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow step comprises deriving a current magnitude for said AC infusion rate, said performing a first deriving step further comprising iteratively calculating a current blood component yield using at least said current magnitude of said inlet flow and said current magnitude of said AC infusion rate and by using said providing step and by iteratively adjusting said magnitude of said current total procedure time until at least one of third and fourth conditions is satisfied, said third condition being achieving said desired yield of blood components and said fourth condition being performing said first iteration procedure step a predetermined number of times.

34. A method, as claimed in claim 28, wherein said performing a first deriving step further comprises deriving a total procedure time, after said deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow step, which provides a current yield.

35. A method, as claimed in claim 26, wherein:

said associating step comprises selecting a maximum magnitude for said AC infusion rate, and wherein said associating step further comprises generating a calculated magnitude of said inlet flow using at least said maximum magnitude of said AC infusion rate.

36. A method, as claimed in claim 35, wherein said performing a first deriving step further comprises:

calculating a theoretical magnitude of said inlet flow which provides a maximum yield of said at least one predetermined blood component and comparing said theoretical and calculated magnitudes of said inlet flow, and wherein said inputting step comprises inputting the lesser of said theoretical magnitude and said calculated magnitude of said inlet flow.

37. A method, as claimed in claim 36, wherein:

another of said parameters is a total procedure time, wherein a current magnitude for said total procedure time is assumed, and wherein said performing a first deriving step further comprises performing a first iteration procedure, said performing a first iteration procedure step comprising calculating a current blood component yield using the lesser of said calculated and theoretical magnitudes of said inlet flow of whole blood, said current magnitude of said total procedure time, and said maximum AC infusion rate, comparing said current blood component yield with said desired blood component yield, and repeating said first iteration procedure using an adjusted current total procedure time until at least one of said third and fourth conditions is satisfied, said third condition being that said current magnitude of said blood component yield is within a predetermined amount of said desired blood component yield and said fourth condition being that said first iteration procedure step has been performed a predetermined number of times.

38. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein:

another of said parameters is a total procedure time and said performing a first deriving step further comprises assuming a current magnitude for said total procedure time and performing a first iteration procedure, said performing a first iteration procedure step comprising calculating a current yield from the lesser of said actual and theoretical magnitudes of said inlet flows, a maximum magnitude for said AC ratio, and said maximum magnitude of said AC infusion rate, and said current magnitude of said procedure time, comparing said current yield with said desired yield, incrementally adjusting said current magnitude of said total procedure time when said current yield differs from desired yield by more than a predetermined amount, and repeating said first iteration procedure step until at least one of a third and fourth condition is satisfied, said third condition being that said current yield is within said amount of said desired yield and said fourth condition being that said first iteration procedure step has been performed a predetermined number of times.

39. A method, as claimed in claim 26, wherein:

said at least one of said parameters is a total procedure time, said performing a first deriving step comprising maximizing said inlet flow and minimizing said total procedure time.

40. A method, as claimed in claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

providing a magnitude for each of said parameters before said identifying step;

performing said collection procedure on said blood component collection device before said identifying step, using said providing a magnitude step, and for a first time period, wherein said associating step is performed after expiration of said first time period.

41. A method, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

one of said parameters is a total procedure time, and wherein said performing a first deriving step comprises minimizing said magnitude of said total procedure time based upon said magnitude of at least one of said parameters other than said total procedure time.

42. A method, as claimed in claim 41, wherein:

one of said parameters is an inlet flow to said blood collection device and another of said parameters is a flow of anticoagulant into said blood component collection system, wherein said inlet flow comprises a flow of whole blood from said source and said flow of anticoagulant, wherein said blood within from said source has a volume, wherein at least part of said flow of anticoagulant is provided to said source, wherein an AC ratio is a ratio of said inlet flow to said flow of anticoagulant, wherein an AC infusion rate is said at least part of said flow of anticoagulant per said volume, and wherein said at least one of said parameters associated with said minimizing step comprises said magnitude of said AC infusion rate and said magnitude of said inlet flow.

43. A method, as claimed in claim 23, wherein:

said source is a human donor and said biological data comprises at least one of said donor'"'"'s hematocrit, height, weight, and sex.

44. A method for collecting a blood component from a source of whole blood using a blood component collection system comprising a blood component collection device and collection procedure, wherein an inlet flow to said blood component collection system comprises a flow of whole blood from said source and a flow of anticoagulant, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying a total procedure time for a collection procedure to be performed on a source of whole blood to obtain a plurality of at least one type of blood component therefrom using a blood component collection system comprising a blood component collection device and said collection procedure;

deriving a first inlet flow to said collection system which provides a maximum yield of said blood components;

deriving a second inlet flow to said collection system using at least said identifying a total procedure time step;

identifying a smallest magnitude of said first and second inlet flows as an actual inlet flow to said blood component collection system; and

performing said collection procedure with said blood component collection device, using said actual inlet flow, and for said total procedure time to collect said blood components from said source of whole blood.

45. A method, as claimed in claim 44, wherein:

wherein said blood within said source has a volume, wherein at least part of said flow of anticoagulant is provided to said volume, wherein an AC ratio is a ratio of said inlet flow to said flow of anticoagulant, wherein an AC infusion rate is said at least part of said flow of anticoagulant per said volume, and wherein said deriving a second inlet flow step further uses a maximum AC ratio and a maximum AC infusion rate.

46. A method, as claimed in claim 44, wherein:

said source is a human donor, wherein said method further comprises the step of providing biological data relating to said donor comprising at least one of said donor'"'"'s hematocrit, height, weight, and sex, and wherein at least one of said deriving steps further comprises using said providing biological data step.

47. A method, as claimed in claim 44, wherein:

said source of said blood has a volume, wherein an AC ratio is a ratio of said inlet flow to said flow of anticoagulant, and wherein an AC infusion rate is a flow of said anticoagulant provided to said source per said volume of said source.

48. A method, as claimed in claim 47, wherein said deriving a second inlet flow step comprises:

deriving a magnitude of said second inlet flow associated with a predetermined magnitude of said AC infusion rate.

49. A method, as claimed in claim 48, wherein said deriving a second inlet flow step further comprises:

using said predetermined magnitude of said AC infusion rate.

50. A method as claimed in claim 49, wherein said deriving a second inlet flow step further comprises:

assuming a current magnitude for said second inlet flow and performing a first iteration procedure comprising calculating a current magnitude for said AC infusion rate from at least said current magnitude of said second inlet flow, evaluating convergence criteria relating to said current magnitude of said inlet flow, and adjusting said current magnitude of said inlet flow and repeating said first iteration procedure until at least one of first and second conditions is established, said first condition being that said convergence criteria is established and said second condition being that said first iteration procedure step has been performed a predetermined number of times.

51. A method, as claimed in claim 47, further comprising the step of:

selecting a maximum magnitude for said AC infusion rate, wherein said deriving a second inlet flow step further comprises using at least said maximum magnitude of said AC infusion rate.

52. A method, as claimed in claim 44, further comprising the step of:

selecting said predetermined type of blood component based upon at least one of an inventory of said predetermined type of blood component and a demand for said predetermined type of blood component.

53. A method, as claimed in claim 44, further comprising the step of:

selecting a type of blood component to be collected from said donor based upon data maintained on said donor for a plurality of collection procedures previously performed on said donor.

54. A method, as claimed in claim 53, wherein:

said data provides an indication that said donor has a propensity to produce higher yield for a type of blood component from said selecting step versus other types of blood components.

55. A method, as claimed in claim 44, further comprising the step of:

maintaining data on said collection procedure for use in subsequent collection procedures performed using said donor.

56. A method for collecting a blood component from a donor using a blood component collection system comprising a blood component collection device and a collection procedure, said collection procedure comprising a plurality of parameters, said method comprising the steps of:

providing biological data relating to a donor;

associating a magnitude with a plurality of control parameters associated with a collection procedure to be performed on blood from said donor to obtain a plurality of at least one type of blood component therefrom using a blood component collection system, said blood component collection system comprising a blood component collection device and said collection procedure, said associating step being based upon at least said providing step;

optimizing said magnitude of at least one of said control parameters in relation to both donor constraints and system constraints, said optimizing step allowing for achieving at least one of first and second conditions, said first condition being collecting a predetermined quantity of said blood components in a minimum amount of time and said second condition being collecting a maximum quantity of said blood components in a predetermined amount of time;

inputting said magnitudes of said parameters into said blood component collection device after said optimizing step; and

performing said collection procedure on said blood component collection device using said parameters to collect said blood components from said donor to achieve at least one of said first and second conditions.

57. A method, as claimed in claim 56, further comprising the step of:

selecting said predetermined type of blood component based upon at least one of an inventory of said predetermined type of blood component and a demand for said predetermined type of blood component.

58. A method, as claimed in claim 56, further comprising the step of:

selecting a type of blood component to be collected from said donor based upon data maintained on said donor for a plurality of collection procedures previously performed on said donor.

59. A method, as claimed in claim 58, wherein:

said data provides an indication that said donor has a propensity to produce higher yield for said selected type of blood component versus other types of blood components.

60. A method, as claimed in claim 56, further comprising the step of:

maintaining data on said collection procedure for use in subsequent collection procedures performed using said donor.

61. A blood component collection system, comprising:

means for providing biological data relating to a source of whole blood comprising a plurality of blood component types, said source comprising a human donor and said data comprising at least one of said donor'"'"'s hematocrit, height, weight and sex;

a blood component collection device;

means for identifying a desired yield for at least one predetermined blood component type;

a collection procedure having a plurality of parameters associated therewith;

means for associating a magnitude with each of said parameters, said means for associating comprising first means for deriving a magnitude for at least one of said parameters from said means for providing and said means for identifying; and

means for inputting said magnitude of each said parameter.

62. A system, as claimed in claim 61, wherein:

said biological data comprises said donor'"'"'s hematocrit, height, weight, and sex.

63. A system, as claimed in claim 61, wherein:

one of said parameters is an inlet flow to said blood collection device and another of said parameters is a flow of anticoagulant into said blood component collection system, wherein said inlet flow comprises a flow of whole blood from said source and said flow of anticoagulant, wherein said source of said blood has a volume, wherein at least part of said flow of anticoagulant is provided to said source, wherein an AC ratio is a ratio of said inlet flow to said flow of anticoagulant, and wherein an AC infusion rate is a flow of said anticoagulant provided to said source per said volume of said source.

64. A system, as claimed in claim 63, wherein:

said means for associating comprises means for selecting a maximum magnitude for said AC infusion rate, and wherein said means for associating further comprises means for generating a calculated magnitude of said inlet flow using at least said maximum magnitude of said AC infusion rate.

65. A system, as claimed in claim 64, wherein said first means for deriving further comprises:

means for calculating a theoretical magnitude of said inlet flow which provides a maximum yield of said at least one predetermined blood component and means for comparing said theoretical and calculated magnitudes of said inlet flow, wherein said means for inputting comprises means for inputting the lesser of said theoretical magnitude and said calculated magnitude of said inlet flow.

66. A system, as claimed in claim 65, wherein:

another of said parameters is a total procedure time, wherein a current magnitude for said total procedure time is assumed, and wherein said first means for deriving further comprises means for performing a first iteration procedure, said means for performing a first iteration procedure comprising means for calculating a current blood component yield using the lesser of said calculated and theoretical magnitudes of said inlet flow of whole blood, said current magnitude of said total procedure time, and said maximum AC infusion rate, means for comparing said current blood component yield with said desired blood component yield, and means for repeating said means for performing a first iteration procedure using an adjusted current total procedure time until at least one of first and second conditions is satisfied, said first condition being that until said current magnitude of said blood component yield is within a predetermined amount of said desired blood component yield, said second condition being that said means for performing a first iteration procedure has been performed a predetermined number of times.

67. A system, as claimed in claim 65, wherein:

another of said parameters is a total procedure time and said first means for deriving further comprises means for assuming a current magnitude for said total procedure time and means for performing a first iteration procedure, said means for performing a first iteration procedure comprising means for calculating a current yield from the lesser of said actual and theoretical magnitudes of said inlet flows, a maximum magnitude for said AC ratio, and said maximum magnitude of said AC infusion rate, and said current magnitude of said procedure time, means for comparing said current yield with said desired yield, means for incrementally adjusting said current magnitude of said total procedure time when said current yield differs from desired yield by more than a predetermined amount, and means for repeating said means for performing a first iteration procedure until at least one of a first and second condition is satisfied, said first condition being that said current yield is within said first predetermined amount of said desired yield and said second condition being that said first iteration procedure has been performed a predetermined number of times.

68. A system, as claimed in claim 63, wherein said first means for deriving comprises:

means deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow associated with a predetermined magnitude of said AC infusion rate.

69. A system, as claimed in claim 68, wherein said means for deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow uses said predetermined magnitude of said AC infusion rate and a current magnitude for a total procedure time, said total procedure time being another of said parameters.

70. A system, as claimed in claim 69, wherein said means for deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow further comprises:

means for performing a first iteration procedure comprising means for calculating a current magnitude for said AC infusion rate from at least said current magnitude of said inlet flow, wherein a first said current magnitude of said inlet flow is initially assumed, said means for performing a first iteration procedure further comprising means for evaluating convergence criteria relating to said current magnitude of said inlet flow, and means for adjusting said current magnitude of said inlet flow, and means for repeating said means for performing a first iteration procedure until at least one of first and second conditions is established, said first condition being that said convergence criteria is established and said second condition being that said means for performing a first iteration procedure has been performed a predetermined number of times.

71. A system, as claimed in claim 70, wherein:

said means for deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow comprises means for deriving a current magnitude for said AC infusion rate, said first means for deriving further comprising means for performing a second iteration procedure after said means for deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow, said means for performing a second iteration procedure comprising means for calculating a current yield from said current magnitude of said inlet flow, said current magnitude of said AC infusion rate, and said current magnitude of said procedure time, means for comparing said current yield with said desired yield, means for performing said means for inputting after said means for comparing when said current yield is within a predetermined amount of said desired yield, means for adjusting said current magnitude of said total procedure time when said current yield differs from desired yield by more than said predetermined amount, means for repeating said means for deriving a magnitude of said inlet flow after said means for adjusting said current magnitude of said total procedure time, and means for repeating said means for performing a second iteration procedure until at least one of third and fourth conditions is satisfied, said third condition being that predetermined convergence criteria relating to said current total procedure time is established, said fourth condition being that said means for performing a second iteration procedure has been performed a predetermined number of times.

72. A system, as claimed in claim 71, wherein:

said first means for deriving further comprises means for performing a third iteration procedure after said means for performing a second iteration procedure and when at least one of said third and fourth conditions associated with said means for performing a second iteration procedure is satisfied, said means for performing a third iteration procedure comprising means for adjusting said magnitude of said AC ratio, means for repeating said means for performing said first and second iteration procedures, and means for repeating said means for performing a third iteration procedure until at least one of fifth and sixth conditions is satisfied, said fifth condition being that predetermined convergence criteria relating to said magnitude of said AC ratio is established and said sixth condition being that said means for performing a third iteration procedure has been performed a predetermined number of times.

73. A system, as claimed in claim 72, wherein:

said predetermined magnitude of said AC infusion rate is increased by a predetermined amount when at least one of said fifth and sixth conditions associated with said means for performing a third iteration procedure is satisfied, wherein said first means for deriving further comprises means for repeating said means for performing first, second, and third iteration procedures using said increased AC infusion rate.

74. A system, as claimed in claim 69, wherein:

said means for deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow comprises means for deriving a current magnitude for said AC infusion rate, said first means for deriving further comprising means for iteratively calculating a current blood component yield using at least said current magnitude of said inlet flow and said current magnitude of said AC infusion rate and by using said means for providing and by iteratively adjusting said magnitude of said current total procedure time until at least one of first and second conditions is established, said first condition being within a predetermined variance of said desired yield of blood components and said second condition being when said magnitude of said current total procedure time has been adjusted a predetermined number of times.

75. A system, as claimed in claim 69, wherein said first means for deriving further comprises means for deriving said total procedure time, after said means deriving said magnitude of said inlet flow, which provides a current yield within a predetermined amount of said desired yield.

76. A system, as claimed in claim 63, wherein:

said at least one of said parameters is a total procedure time, said first means for deriving comprising means for maximizing said inlet flow and means for minimizing said total procedure time.

77. A system, as claimed in claim 61, wherein:

one of said parameters is a total procedure time, and wherein said first means for deriving comprises means for minimizing said magnitude of said total procedure time based upon said magnitude of at least one of said parameters other than said total procedure time.

78. A system, as claimed in claim 77, wherein:

one of said parameters is an inlet flow to said blood collection device and another of said parameters is a flow of anticoagulant into said blood component collection system, wherein said inlet flow comprises a flow of whole blood from said source and said flow of anticoagulant, wherein said blood within from said source has a volume, wherein at least part of said flow of anticoagulant is provided to said source, wherein an AC ratio is a ratio of said inlet flow to said flow of anticoagulant, wherein an AC infusion rate is said at least part of said flow of anticoagulant per said volume, and wherein said at least one of said parameters associated with said means for minimizing comprises said magnitude of said AC infusion rate and said magnitude of said inlet flow.

79. A method, as claimed in claim 61, wherein:

said means for associating comprises means for optimizing said magnitude of at least one of said parameters.

80. A blood component collection system, comprising:

a blood component collection system comprising a blood component collection device;

a collection procedure, wherein an inlet flow to said blood component collection system comprises a flow of whole blood from a source and a flow of anticoagulant;

means for identifying a total procedure time for said collection procedure;

means for deriving a first inlet flow to said collection system which provides a maximum yield of said blood components;

means for deriving a second inlet flow to said collection system using at least said means for identifying a total procedure time;

means for identifying a smallest magnitude of said first and second inlet flows as an actual inlet flow to said blood component collection system; and

means for performing said collection procedure with said blood component collection device, using said actual inlet flow, and for said total procedure time to collect said blood components from said source of whole blood.

81. A blood component collection system, comprising:

a blood component collection device;

a collection procedure comprising a plurality of parameters;

means for providing biological data relating to a donor;

means for associating a magnitude with each said control parameter based upon at least said means for providing;

means optimizing said magnitude of at least one of said control parameters in relation to both donor constraints and system constraints, said means for optimizing allowing for achieving at least one of first and second conditions, said first condition being collecting a predetermined quantity of said blood components in a minimum amount of time and said second condition being collecting a maximum quantity of said blood components in a predetermined amount of time;

means for inputting said magnitudes of said parameters into said blood component collection device after said means for optimizing; and

means for performing said collection procedure on said blood component collection device using said parameters to collect said blood components from said donor to achieve at least one of said first and second conditions.