Improving How Blood Platelets Are Stored
This patent describes new chemical compounds and methods to prevent damage to blood platelets when they are stored, like in blood banks, making them last longer and more effective for transfusions.
Original patent title: “Platelet storage methods and compositions”
This patent describes new chemical compounds and methods to prevent damage to blood platelets when they are stored, like in blood banks, making them last longer and more effective for transfusions. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent introduces specific chemical compounds, referred to as 'formula I,' and compositions containing them. These compounds are designed to slow, prevent, or even reverse damage to platelets. This damage often happens during blood banking or when platelets are kept cold. By using these compounds, the patent aims to improve how long platelets survive after being transfused into a patient. For example, a blood bank could add these special compounds to bags of platelets before refrigeration to ensure they remain viable for a longer period.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover methods for storing whole blood or other blood components like red blood cells or plasma.
- Does not cover methods of platelet storage that do not involve the specific chemical compounds described by 'formula I'.
- Does not cover diagnostic methods for assessing platelet damage or viability.
- Does not cover treatments for platelet disorders that are not related to storage damage.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in identifying specific chemical structures (compounds according to 'formula I') that can effectively protect platelets from common storage-related damage, particularly cold-induced injury, without negatively affecting their crucial function upon transfusion. This precise chemical intervention aims to overcome a long-standing challenge in blood banking.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Blood banks
Hospitals performing transfusions
Trauma centers
Cancer treatment facilities
Military field hospitals
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Platelets are essential for blood clotting and are frequently needed by patients with cancer, severe injuries, or those undergoing major surgery. However, platelets have a very short shelf life, typically only 5-7 days, even with current storage techniques. This short window often leads to waste and can make it challenging to maintain a sufficient supply. This patent aims to extend that shelf life, which could significantly reduce waste and ensure more platelets are available when critically needed.
Filed
January 13, 2021
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies specializing in blood storage solutions and transfusion medicine, such as Terumo BCT, Macopharma, and Fresenius Kabi, are continuously researching ways to improve blood product preservation. Academic research institutions and biotech startups also actively explore novel compounds and methods to enhance platelet viability and extend their shelf life for clinical use.
Market impact
Improved platelet storage methods could significantly impact the global blood supply chain by reducing spoilage and increasing the availability of this critical blood component. This could lead to fewer platelet shortages, better patient outcomes, and more efficient use of donated blood. It could also enable new logistical approaches for delivering platelets to remote or underserved areas.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent introduces specific chemical compounds, referred to as 'formula I,' and compositions containing them. These compounds are designed to slow, prevent, or even reverse damage to platelets. This damage often happens during blood banking or when platelets are kept cold. By using these compounds, the patent aims to improve how long platelets survive after being transfused into a patient. For example, a blood bank could add these special compounds to bags of platelets before refrigeration to ensure they remain viable for a longer period.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in identifying specific chemical structures (compounds according to 'formula I') that can effectively protect platelets from common storage-related damage, particularly cold-induced injury, without negatively affecting their crucial function upon transfusion. This precise chemical intervention aims to overcome a long-standing challenge in blood banking.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover methods for storing whole blood or other blood components like red blood cells or plasma.
- Does not cover methods of platelet storage that do not involve the specific chemical compounds described by 'formula I'.
- Does not cover diagnostic methods for assessing platelet damage or viability.
- Does not cover treatments for platelet disorders that are not related to storage damage.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 14.3 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Improving How Blood Platelets Are Stored (U.S. Patent No. 12,733,635). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733635/platelet-storage-methods-and-compositions
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Improving How Blood Platelets Are Stored cover?
This patent describes new chemical compounds and methods to prevent damage to blood platelets when they are stored, like in blood banks, making them last longer and more effective for transfusions.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Platelets are essential for blood clotting and are frequently needed by patients with cancer, severe injuries, or those undergoing major surgery. However, platelets have a very short shelf life, typically only 5-7 days, even with current storage techniques. This short window often leads to waste and can make it challenging to maintain a sufficient supply. This patent aims to extend that shelf life, which could significantly reduce waste and ensure more platelets are available when critically needed.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover methods for storing whole blood or other blood components like red blood cells or plasma.
Patent monitoring