System and Method for Washing Shed Blood

A method for collecting and washing shed blood comprising:

• providing a first blood salvage reservoir having an inlet port, an outlet port and a vacuum inlet port;
• providing a blood salvage system having a vacuum connection port and a vacuum outlet port;
• fluidly connecting the vacuum inlet port on the first blood salvage reservoir to the vacuum outlet port on the blood salvage system;
• fluidly connecting the inlet port of the first blood salvage reservoir to a surgical field of a patient, the inlet port configured to allow blood lost during a surgical procedure to be collected within the first blood salvage reservoir;
• fluidly connecting the vacuum connection port on the blood salvage system to a vacuum source;
• drawing a vacuum on the first blood salvage reservoir and the blood salvage system to draw blood from the surgical field and into the blood salvage reservoir;
• collecting a volume of shed blood within the first blood salvage reservoir;
• disconnecting the first blood salvage reservoir from the surgical field and from the blood salvage system;
• fluidly connecting a second blood salvage reservoir to the surgical field and blood salvage system to continue drawing blood from the surgical field;
• fluidly connecting the outlet port of the first blood salvage reservoir to an automated blood processing system;
• introducing the collected blood into the automated blood processing system;
• washing, using the automated blood processing system, the blood introduced into the automated blood processing system;
• and
• returning at least a portion of the washed blood to the patient.

A method of blood salvage collection, processing and autologous reinfusion comprising:

• providing a first blood salvage reservoir having an inlet port and at least one outlet port and connecting the inlet port to the surgical field of a patient to collect blood lost during a surgical procedure;
• providing a rigid reservoir having an inlet and outlet and connecting the inlet to the outlet of the first blood salvage reservoir and connecting the outlet to a source of suction;
• operating the source of suction to draw blood from the surgical field into the first blood salvage reservoir;
• disconnecting the first blood salvage reservoir from the surgical field and from the rigid reservoir;
• connecting a second blood salvage reservoir to the surgical field and rigid reservoir to continue suctioning blood from the surgical field;
• connecting an outlet of the first blood salvage reservoir to a fluid pathway inlet of an automated blood processing system;
• and
• operating the automated blood processing system to clean the salvaged blood and return it autologously to the patient.

A system for collecting and washing shed blood comprising

• a first blood salvage reservoir for collecting shed blood, the first blood salvage reservoir including:
• a flexible housing defining the first blood salvage reservoir,
• an inlet port configured to be fluidly connected to a surgical field of a patient, such that shed blood may be collected within the flexible housing,
• a vacuum inlet port configured to allow a vacuum to be drawn on the first blood salvage reservoir to draw fluid from the surgical site and into the first blood salvage reservoir, and
• an outlet located on a bottom surface of the flexible housing;
• a blood salvage system including:
• a rigid housing defining the blood salvage system,
• a vacuum connection port configured to be fluidly connected to a vacuum source, and
• a vacuum outlet port configured to be fluidly connected the vacuum inlet port on the first blood salvage reservoir, thereby allowing a vacuum to be drawn on the first blood salvage reservoir;
• and
• a fluid connection set including:
• a first connector configured to connect to the outlet port on the first blood salvage reservoir,
• a second connector configured to connect to an inlet on an automated blood processing system, and
• a tube extending between the first and second connectors, the fluid connection set configured to fluidly connect the outlet of the first blood salvage reservoir and the automated blood processing system,
• the first blood salvage reservoir having a collection mode in which the inlet port is fluidly connected to the surgical site and the vacuum inlet port is fluidly connected to the vacuum outlet port on the blood salvage system, the first blood salvage reservoir configured to collect shed blood from the surgical site when in the collection mode,
• the first blood salvage reservoir also having a processing mode in which the inlet port is fluidly disconnected from the surgical site, the vacuum inlet port is fluidly disconnected from the vacuum outlet port on the blood salvage system, and the first connector on the fluid connection set is connected to the outlet, thereby fluidly connecting the first blood salvage reservoir to the automated blood processing system, the automated blood processing system configured to process and autologously reinfuse at least a portion of the shed blood.