# US 2013/0153047 A1 · Workstation and Method For Transfering Biological Fluid Between Containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153047 A1 - Document ID: US20130153047A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/806,388 - Filed: 2011-06-21 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-22 - Assignees: Terumo BCT, Inc. - Inventors: Roland Biset; Francois Bidet; Wilfried Mertens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153047A1 ## CPC - B65D 79/00: Kinds or details of packages, not otherwise provided for - A61J 1/10: Bag-type containers - A61M 1/02: Blood transfusion apparatus (blood infusion by syringes A61M5/14) - G16H 10/40: for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis - A61J 2205/60: using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags - A61M 1/0209: {Multiple bag systems for separating or storing blood components} - A61M 1/0281: {Apparatus for treatment of blood or blood constituents prior to transfusion, e.g. washing, filtering or thawing} - A61M 1/3693: {using separation based on different densities of components, e.g. centrifuging} - A61M 2205/6054: Magnetic identification systems - Y10T 137/0402: Cleaning, repairing, or assembling - Y10T 137/6851: With casing, support, protector or static constructional installations - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention pertains to a method of connecting at least two containers for enabling a transfer of liquid from one container to the other container, comprising the steps of: a) Depositing a first cassette including at least a first container on a first tray. The first container has a plurality of connecting means. b) Depositing a second cassette including a second container on a second tray. The cassettes or the containers include a data storage means. c) The data are read by respective data reading means. d) The data are processed and it is verified whether they match each other. e1) In case of a negative result, the second cassette is removed and the steps from step b) onwards are repeated. e2) In case of a positive verification result, the containers are connected. f) Removing the second cassette. g) Repeating steps b) to f) a plurality of times. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of connecting at least two containers for enabling a transfer of liquid from one container to the other container, comprising the steps of: a) depositing a first cassette (51) including at least a first container (55) on a first tray (1), wherein the first cassette (51) or the first container (55) includes a first data storage means (53), and the first container (55) is in connection with an outer container, the first container (55) having a plurality of connecting means (57); b) depositing a second cassette (61) including a second container (65) filled with a liquid on a second tray (3), wherein the second cassette (61) or the second container (65) includes a second data storage means (63); c) reading data from the first and second data storage means (53, 63) by first and second data reading means (5, 7) provided at the first and the second tray (1, 3), respectively; d) processing the data from the first and second data storage means (53, 63) by a controller and verifying whether the data from the first and second data storage means (53, 63) match each other; e1) in case of a negative verification result, informing the user, and then removing the second cassette (61) including the second container (65) and repeating the steps from step b) onwards; e2) in case of a positive verification result, connecting the first container (55) and the second container (65); f) removing the second cassette (61) including the second container (65) from the second tray (3); g) repeating steps b) to f) a plurality of times such that a plurality of second containers (65) is connected with the first container (55); h) transferring the liquids from the plurality of second containers (65) to the first container (55); i) separating the plurality of second containers (65) from the first container (55). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of connecting at least two containers according to claim 1, wherein the first and second data storage means are provided in the form of first and second RFID-tags (53, 63), and the data reading means are first and second RFID-readers (5, 7), respectively, and/or the data storage means are provided in the forms of first and/or second labels, the data being printed in the form of first and/or second bar codes and/or first and/or second texts, and/or the data reading means are provided in the form of first and/or second bar code readers and/or first and/or second text readers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of connecting at least two containers according to claim 1, wherein the liquid transferred is a buffy coat remaining from a blood cell gaining process. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of connecting at least two containers according to claim 1, wherein a data communication line (13) to a central server (15) is established and the controller is provided with the central server (15). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of connecting at least two containers according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means are provided in the form of tubes (57, 67) with the first and the second container (55, 65), and step e2) is performed by cutting and then hot melting a respective tube (57) of the first container (55) and the tube (67) of respective second container (65) together. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of connecting at least two containers according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second containers (65) is arranged above the first container (55) such that the liquid is transferred by gravity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of connecting at least two containers according to claim 1, wherein data concerning the method is written into the first and/or the second data storage (53, 63) means by respective RFID-writers (5, 7) and/or is printed onto respective labels by a printer. ### Claim 8 A workstation for connecting at least two containers for enabling a transfer of liquid from one container to the other container, comprising: a first tray (1) for depositing a first cassette (51) including a first data storage means (53) and at least a first container (55); a second tray (3) for depositing a second cassette (61) including a second data storage means (63) and a second container (65); first and second data reading means (5, 7) for reading the data of the first and second data storage means (53, 63), respectively; a connection device (10) for connecting connection means (57, 67) respectively provided with the first container (55) and the second container (65). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The workstation according to claim 8, further comprising a controller and/or a communication means (13) for communicating with a central server (15). ### Claim 10 (depends on 8, 9) The workstation according to claim 8 or 9, furthermore comprising first and second data writing means (5, 7) assigned to the first and second tray (1, 3), respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The workstation according to claim 8, wherein the connection device (10) comprises cutting means and hot melting means for cutting and hot melting tubes (57, 67) respectively forming the connecting means. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The workstation according to claim 8, wherein the first and second data reading means are provided in the form of respective RFID-readers (5, 7) and/or in the form of respective bar code readers and/or text readers and/or the first and second data writing means are provided in the form of RFID-writers and or printers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The workstation according to claim 8, further comprising verifying means for verifying whether data from the first (53) and second data storage means (53, 63) match each other.