Blood Flow Assist Device

A blood processing system, comprising:

• a blood flow assist device including
• a flexible sleeve with a first portion configured to receive at least a part of an arm of a patient or donor and a second portion configured to engage a portion of a hand of the patient or donor,
• at least one blood flow stimulator incorporated into the flexible sleeve, with the first and second portions of the flexible sleeve being configured to position the at least one blood flow stimulator at a target location of the arm, and
• an actuator assembly configured to individually control and selectively actuate each blood flow stimulator to apply a stimulus to the arm to control blood flow through a vein in the arm or hand having a vein access device connected thereto;
• and
• a blood processing device including
• a blood draw pump configured to draw blood from the vein via said vein access device,
• a pressure sensor, and
• a controller configured to receive a signal from the pressure sensor that is indicative of a capability of flow within the vein and to control operation of the blood draw pump and the actuator assembly based at least in part on said signal.

A method of controlling blood flow during a blood draw, comprising:

• associating a first portion of a flexible sleeve of a blood flow assist device to an arm of a patient or donor and a second portion of the flexible sleeve to a hand of the patient or donor;
• drawing blood from a vein of the arm or hand;
• detecting a pressure at which the blood is being drawn from the arm or hand;
• and
• automatically applying a stimulus to and/or removing a stimulus from the arm using at least one blood flow stimulator of the blood flow assist device based at least in part on the pressure so as to modify a capability of flow within the vein, wherein the first and second portions of the flexible sleeve are configured to position the at least one blood flow stimulator at a target location of the arm.