Filtering device

Abstract

This filter device (10) is attached to a centrifuge (50), and is provided with: a first space (18) into which blood flows; a second space (20) from which blood flows out; a partition wall (22) separating the first space and the second space; a communication port (28) for communicating the first space and the second space; and a leukocyte removal filter (24) disposed in a second space located between the first space and the center of rotation (LA) of the centrifuge.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a filter device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Japanese Patent No. 5223006 describes a blood bag system and a centrifugal separation and delivery device (centrifuge). The blood bag system contains blood. The centrifuge performs centrifugal separation on the blood contained in the blood bag system. The blood subjected to centrifugal separation is used for blood transfusion. PRIOR ART DOCUMENT PATENT DOCUMENT

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5223006 SUMMARY

[0004] Blood for blood transfusion preferably does not contain leukocytes. Recently, a filter device capable of better removing leukocytes is desired.

[0005] The present application aims to solve the above problems.

[0006] (1) One aspect of the present application is a filter device installed in a centrifuge, comprising: a first space formed in a housing, and into which blood flows through an inlet; a second space formed in the housing, and from which blood flows out through an outlet; a partition wall that separates the first space and the second space; a communication port that communicates the first space and the second space; and a leukocyte removal filter disposed in the second space, and that removes leukocytes contained in the blood, the second space being located between the first space and a rotation center of the centrifuge.

[0007] Accordingly, leukocytes can be better removed from blood.

[0008] (2) In the filter device described in (1) above, the inlet can be located on one side of the first space in a first direction, the first direction intersecting a direction in which a centrifugal force is applied, i.e., a centrifugal direction, and the communication port can be located on the other side of the first space in the first direction.

[0009] Accordingly, blood that has not been subjected to leukocyte removal using centrifugal separation can be inhibited from reaching the second space.

[0010] (3) In the filter device described in (1) or (2) above, the outlet can be located on one side of the second space in the first direction, and the communication port can be located on the other side of the second space in the first direction.

[0011] Accordingly, leukocyte removal by the leukocyte removal filter can be performed more reliably.

[0012] (4) In any of the filtering devices described in (1) to (3) above, the first space may have a guide wall that guides the blood flowing in through the inlet in the direction of centrifugal force, i.e., the centrifugal direction.

[0013] Accordingly, it is possible to prevent blood that has not undergone leukocyte removal via centrifugation from reaching the second space.

[0014] (5) In the filter device described in (4) above, the inlet and the connecting port may be located on one side of the first space in the first direction, and the first direction intersects with the direction of centrifugal force, i.e., the centrifugal direction.

[0015] Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent blood that has not undergone leukocyte removal through centrifugation from reaching the second space.

[0016] (6) In the filter device described in (5) above, the communication port may be located on one side of the second space in the first direction, and the outlet may be located on the other side of the second space in the first direction.

[0017] Therefore, leukocyte removal by a leukocyte removal filter can be performed more reliably.

[0018] (7) In any of the filtering devices described in (1) to (6) above, the first space may have a curved wall, and the inlet and the connecting port may be located between the rotation center of the centrifuge and the curved wall.

[0019] Therefore, it can inhibit the backflow of blood towards the inlet.

[0020] (8) In any of the filtering devices described in (1) to (7) above, an inflow path that extends from the inlet to the first space and is separated from the second space is formed in the housing, and the inflow path extends in the direction of imparting centrifugal force, i.e., the centrifugal direction.

[0021] Therefore, blood can be smoothly flowed into the first space while being subjected to centrifugal force.

[0022] According to the present invention, white blood cells can be removed more effectively. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a centrifuge with a filtration device installed according to one embodiment. Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing the filtration device. Figure 3 This is a top view showing the internal structure of the filtration device. Figure 4 This is a top view showing the internal structure of a modified filter device. Detailed Implementation

[0024] [One implementation method] The filtering device of one embodiment is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing a centrifuge 50 on which the filter device 10 of this embodiment is installed. The filter device 10, the insertion unit 60, and the centrifuge 50 are shown in... Figure 1 .

[0025] Centrifuge 50 is a machine for centrifuging and separating blood. Centrifuge 50 includes a centrifuge drum 52. The centrifuge drum 52 includes a central body 52a and multiple unit insertion parts 52b.

[0026] Multiple unit insertion sections 52b are arranged around the central body 52a. An insertion unit 60 can be inserted into each of the multiple unit insertion sections 52b. The insertion unit 60 is mounted on the centrifuge 50 by being inserted into the unit insertion section 52b.

[0027] The insertion unit 60 houses a blood bag system (not shown). The blood bag system includes a blood bag containing blood before centrifugation. The blood contained in this blood bag may be, for example, whole blood, but may also be erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) brown layer as described in Japanese Patent No. 5223006. The ESR brown layer contains red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells, etc.

[0028] Centrifuge 50 causes the insertion unit 60 inserted into the unit insertion portion 52b to rotate about the central body 52a. More specifically, centrifuge 50 causes the insertion unit 60 inserted into the unit insertion portion 52b to rotate about the central body 52a. Figure 1 The center of rotation (center of rotation) LA is shown as the center, and the unit rotates along the direction of rotation DR. Accordingly, the entire insertion unit 60 is subjected to centrifugal force. This centrifugal force is used to separate the blood. The center of rotation LA is, for example, along the direction of gravity (the second direction D2 described later).

[0029] The filter device 10 is installed in the insertion unit 60. The filter device 10 is installed, for example, in the upper part of the insertion unit 60, but is not limited thereto.

[0030] The filter device 10 is installed in the centrifuge 50 via the insertion unit 60. The centrifugal force described above is applied not only to the insertion unit 60 but also to the filter device 10. Alternatively, the filter device 10 can be directly installed in the centrifuge 50.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing the filter device 10.

[0032] As mentioned above, the filter device 10 can be installed in the centrifuge 50. The configuration of the filter device 10 will be described below with the assumption that it is installed in the centrifuge 50.

[0033] The centrifugal direction DC, the centripetal direction DC-, the first direction D1, and the second direction D2 are shown in the figure. Figure 2 The centrifugal direction DC is the direction of the centrifugal force applied to the filter device 10 by the centrifuge 50. The first direction D1 is the direction of the linear velocity of the circular motion of the filter device 10 by the centrifuge 50. The first direction D1 is orthogonal (intersecting) with the centrifugal direction DC. The second direction D2 is the direction of gravity. In this embodiment, the centrifugal direction DC and the first direction D1 are orthogonal to the second direction D2. The centripetal direction DC- is the direction opposite to the centrifugal direction DC.

[0034] The filter device 10 includes a housing 12. The housing 12 can be formed, for example, in a box shape. In this embodiment, the thickness direction of the housing 12 is aligned with the second direction D2.

[0035] The housing 12 includes an inlet 14 and an outlet 16. The inlet 14 has an inlet 14a. The outlet 16 has an outlet 16a. The inlet 14a and the outlet 16a are each an opening connecting the inside and outside of the housing 12. Figure 2 The inlet portion 14 and outlet portion 16 shown protrude from the housing 12, but are not limited thereto.

[0036] Different blood bags are connected to the inlet section 14 and the outlet section 16, respectively. The blood bag connected to the inlet section 14 is a blood bag that contains blood before centrifugation. The blood bag connected to the outlet section 16 is a blood bag used to contain blood (blood components) after it has passed through the filter device 10.

[0037] Figure 3 This is a top view showing the internal structure of the filter device 10.

[0038] The housing 12 also includes an inflow path 25, a first space 18, a second space 20, a partition 22, a leukocyte removal filter 24, and a connecting port 28. The inflow path 25, the first space 18, the second space 20, the partition 22, and the connecting port 28 are located within the housing 12. The leukocyte removal filter 24 is disposed in the second space 20.

[0039] The first space 18 is located in the centrifugal direction DC relative to the inflow path 25 and the second space 20. In other words, the inflow path 25 and the second space 20 are located between the first space 18 and the rotation center LA of the centrifuge 50. Figure 1 Between. In addition, the second space 20 is located in the first direction D1 relative to the inflow path 25.

[0040] Partition 22 separates the first space 18 from the second space 20 and also separates the second space 20 from the inflow path 25. More specifically, partition 22 has a first wall portion 221 along a first direction D1 and a second wall portion 222 along a centrifugal direction DC. The first wall portion 221 separates the first space 18 from the second space 20. The second wall portion 222 separates the second space 20 from the inflow path 25.

[0041] The inflow path 25 is the flow path from the inlet 14a to the first space 18. The inflow path 25 extends in the centrifugal direction DC. Blood flows into the inflow path 25 through the inlet 14a.

[0042] Furthermore, the inlet 14a is preferably formed along the centrifugal direction DC. In this case, the blood flows smoothly within the inlet 14a and into the first space 18 by the centrifugal force imparted by the centrifuge 50.

[0043] The first space 18 has a first portion 181 and a second portion 182. The first portion 181 is located on one side relative to the center line C18. The second portion 182 is located on the other side relative to the center line C18. Furthermore, the center line C18 is an imaginary straight line passing through the center of the first space 18 in the first direction D1 and along the centrifugal direction DC. The second portion 182 is located in the first direction D1 relative to the first portion 181.

[0044] The first portion 181 in the first space 18 is connected to the inflow path 25. Blood can flow into the first portion 181 (FL1) in the first space 18 along the inflow path 25.

[0045] The first space 18 has a curved wall 26. The curved wall 26 is part of the inner wall defining the first space 18. The inflow path 25 (inflow inlet 14a) and the connecting port 28 are located at the rotation center LA of the centrifuge 50. Figure 1 ) and between the curved wall 26.

[0046] The curved wall 26 is curved in such a way that it guides blood from the first part 181 toward the second part 182. Accordingly, the blood flowing into the first part 181 via the inflow path 25 does not flow backward toward the inlet 14a, and can flow along the curved wall 26 toward the second part 182 (FL2, FL3).

[0047] The blood flowing into the first space 18 is centrifuged by centrifuge 50. Accordingly, the blood in the first space 18 forms a supernatant layer and a sediment layer. The sediment layer is located relative to the supernatant layer in the centrifugation direction DC.

[0048] The main component of the sediment is white blood cells. White blood cells are the main component of the sediment because they are a heavier blood component. That is, because white blood cells are a blood component that settles more easily, they become the main component of the sediment. In contrast, the supernatant contains blood components that are lighter than white blood cells. For example, the supernatant contains a lot of platelets.

[0049] In this way, the white blood cells contained in the blood flowing into the first space 18 are concentrated in the centrifugal direction DC side (FL2) of the first space 18 by the centrifugal force provided by the centrifuge 50. On the other hand, blood components other than white blood cells are concentrated in the centripetal direction DC side (FL3) of the first space 18.

[0050] The connecting port 28 is an opening connecting the first space 18 and the second space 20. The connecting port 28 is located between the first space 18 and the second space 20. Figure 3 As shown, the second space 20 is located in the centripetal direction DC- relative to the first space 18. Therefore, the connection port 28 is located in the centripetal direction DC- relative to the first space 18. The connection port 28 is formed, for example, in the first wall portion 221 of the partition 22, but is not limited thereto.

[0051] Blood flowing into the first space 18 can flow into the second space 20 via the connection port 28 (FL4). As previously mentioned, blood components other than leukocytes are concentrated in the centripetal DC-side of the first space 18. Therefore, blood components other than leukocytes can easily flow into the second space 20 via the connection port 28. In other words, leukocytes have difficulty flowing into the second space 20.

[0052] As previously described, the inlet 14a (inflow path 25) is connected to the first portion 181 in the first space 18. In this case, the connecting port 28 is preferably connected to the second portion 182 in the first space 18. This prevents blood flowing by centrifugal force from immediately flowing from the inlet 14a to the connecting port 28. That is, it can prevent the blood flowing in from the inlet 14a from reaching the connecting port 28 before it is separated into the aforementioned precipitate and supernatant.

[0053] As previously described, a leukocyte removal filter 24 is disposed in the second space 20. The leukocyte removal filter 24 is equipped with filter material for removing leukocytes from the blood. Blood flowing into the second space 20 is filtered by the leukocyte removal filter 24. Accordingly, even if leukocytes flow into the second space 20, the leukocytes will be removed by the leukocyte removal filter 24.

[0054] The second space 20 has an outflow portion 16. The outflow portion 16 has an outlet 16a. Therefore, blood in the second space 20 can flow out of the housing 12 through the outlet 16a (FL5).

[0055] Furthermore, the outlet 16a is located at the center of rotation LA of the connection port 28 and the centrifuge 50. Figure 1 Between ), thus, it is possible to inhibit the flow of white blood cells into the second space 20 to the outlet 16a. That is, for blood flowing into the second space 20 to reach the outlet 16a, it must flow from the connecting port 28 in the centripetal direction DC-. As mentioned earlier, during centrifugation by the centrifuge 50, white blood cells have difficulty flowing in the centripetal direction DC-. The direction from the outlet 16a towards the connecting port 28 is as follows. Figure 3 The diagram shows the centrifugation direction DC, which can inhibit leukocytes from reaching the outlet 16a. Therefore, it is possible to better reduce the amount of leukocytes in the blood taken from the outlet 16a.

[0056] The second space 20 has a first portion 201 and a second portion 202. The first portion 201 is located on one side relative to the center line C20. The second portion 202 is located on the other side relative to the center line C20. Furthermore, the center line C20 is an imaginary straight line passing through the center of the second space 20 in the first direction D1 and along the centrifugal direction DC. The second portion 202 is located in the first direction D1 relative to the first portion 201.

[0057] The connecting port 28 is connected to the second portion 202 in the second space 20. In this case, the outlet 16a is preferably connected to the first portion 201 in the second space 20. This ensures that the blood movement path within the leukocyte removal filter 24 is sufficiently long. Accordingly, leukocyte removal performed by the leukocyte removal filter 24 can be carried out more reliably.

[0058] As explained above, according to this embodiment, the blood flowing into the first space 18 is centrifuged using the centrifuge 50. Consequently, the amount of white blood cells in the blood flowing into the second space 20 is reduced. The remaining white blood cells in the blood flowing into the second space 20 are removed by the white blood cell removal filter 24. In other words, according to this embodiment, simply operating the centrifuge 50 is sufficient to remove white blood cells from the blood through both centrifugation and the white blood cell removal filter 24.

[0059] [Variation Example] Variations of the above embodiments are described below. However, descriptions that are repeated in the above embodiments are appropriately omitted. Unless otherwise specified, elements described in the above embodiments are labeled with the same reference numerals as those in the above embodiments.

[0060] Figure 4 This is a top view showing the internal structure of a modified filter device 10 (10A).

[0061] The first space 18 may include a guide wall 32 that guides blood flowing in via inlet 14a in the centrifugal direction DC. The guide wall 32 is located in the first direction D1 between the communication port 28 and the inlet 14a (inflow path 25). The guide wall 32 extends, for example, along the centrifugal direction DC and further along the first direction D1.

[0062] The guide wall 32 prevents blood flowing into the first space 18 from immediately reaching the communication port 28 (FL6) along the first direction D1. That is, blood flowing into the first space 18 from the inlet 14a cannot reach the communication port 28 unless it bypasses the guide wall 32. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent blood in the first space 18 from immediately reaching the communication port 28 before it is centrifuged.

[0063] When the first space 18 has a guide wall 32, the connection port 28 can be located in the first portion 181 of the first space 18. As previously mentioned, this is because the guide wall 32 can prevent blood flowing into the first space 18 from immediately reaching the connection port 28 along the first direction D1.

[0064] Furthermore, the communication port 28 located in the first portion 181 of the first space 18 can be connected to the first portion 201 of the second space 20. In this case, it is preferable that the outlet 16a is located in the second portion 202 of the second space 20. This ensures that the blood movement path within the leukocyte removal filter 24 is sufficiently long. Accordingly, leukocyte removal using the leukocyte removal filter 24 can be performed more reliably.

[0065] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above disclosure, and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A filtration device installed in a centrifuge, wherein, include: The first space is formed within the shell, and blood flows into the first space through the inlet; A second space is formed within the shell, and blood flows out from the second space through an outlet. The adjacent space separates the first space from the second space; A connecting port, which connects the first space and the second space; and A leukocyte removal filter, disposed within the second space, removes leukocytes contained in the blood. The second space is located between the first space and the rotation center of the centrifuge.

2. The filtration device according to claim 1, wherein, The inlet is located on one side of the first space in the first direction, which intersects with the direction that imparts centrifugal force, i.e., the centrifugal direction. The connection port is located on the other side of the first space in the first direction.

3. The filtration device according to claim 2, wherein, The outlet is located on one side of the second space in the first direction. The connection port is located on the other side of the second space in the first direction.

4. The filtration device according to claim 1, wherein, The first space has a guide wall that guides the blood flowing in through the inlet in the direction that imparts centrifugal force, i.e., the centrifugal direction.

5. The filtration device according to claim 4, wherein, The inlet and the connecting port are located on one side of the first space in the first direction, which intersects with the direction that imparts centrifugal force, i.e., the centrifugal direction.

6. The filtration device according to claim 5, wherein, The connection port is located on one side of the second space in the first direction. The outlet is located on the other side of the second space in the first direction.

7. The filtration device according to claim 1, wherein, The first space has curved walls. The inlet and the connecting port are located between the centrifuge's rotation center and the curved wall.

8. The filtration device according to claim 1, wherein, An inflow path, extending from the inlet to the first space and separated from the second space, is formed within the housing. The inflow path extends along the direction in which centrifugal force is imparted, i.e., the centrifugal direction.

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