Trima

Trima is a brand name used for automated apheresis devices designed to collect specific blood components from donors or patients. The Trima systems are most commonly employed to harvest peripheral blood stem cells for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, but they are also used to collect plasma or platelets as part of therapeutic transfusion programs. The technology is widely used in hospital blood banks and transplant centers.

Operation and technology

Trima devices use centrifugal separation to fractionate blood drawn from a donor or patient into its component layers within a closed, sterile circuit. An anticoagulant is mixed with the blood to prevent clotting during processing. The operator selects the target product (for example, stem cells, plasma, or platelets) and the machine optimizes the collection while returning non-target components to the donor or patient. The system includes real-time monitoring, safety alarms, and automated volume and yield control to minimize donor risk and maximize product quality.

Manufacturer and evolution

The Trima family is produced by Terumo BCT, a company formed from or associated with earlier Gambro BCT designs. Over successive generations, the platform has incorporated improvements in automation, patient safety features, and compatibility with hospital information systems. The devices are used in allogeneic and autologous stem cell collection programs, as well as in the preparation of plasma or platelet components for transfusion.

See also

Related apheresis platforms and blood component collection technologies.