
Lakewood, Colorado-based Terumo designed the Rika system to include safety features that minimize operator errors while collecting plasma in 35 minutes or less.
According to a news release, the company developed Rika in response to the industry’s need for technological advancement and process improvements to drive efficiency while maintaining donor safety and a sufficient plasma supply. Terumo focused the technology on donor and plasma collection center employee experience, with a collection time of 35 minutes or less and a volume of 200 milliliters or less outside the donor’s body, there can be a more comfortable donation experience.
Rika has an advanced control system to enhance donor safety by monitoring the process and providing alerts and visual cues that guide the operator, while the platform makes automatic adjustments during each procedure.
Terumo plans to debut Rika in a limited market release at CSL Plasma collection centers in the Denver, Colorado, area, with plans for rollout at additional CSL Plasma centers in 2022.
“Rika will revolutionize plasma collection center operations,” Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies President and CEO Antoinette Gawin said in the release. “We innovated around the donor and plasma center experience, creating an entire new ecosystem. At the heart of our innovation is operational efficiency designed to collect plasma in 35 minutes or less. … This is such an important moment for us to Contribute to Society through Healthcare and fulfill our purpose of reaching more patients.”