Filter device

Abstract

A filter device (10) according to the present invention is attached to a centrifugal separator (50). The filter device comprises: a first space (18) into which blood flows; a second space (20) from which blood flows out; a partition wall (22) that separates the first space and the second space; a communication port (28) through which the first space and the second space are in communication; and a leukocyte removal filter (24) that is disposed in the second space. The first space and the second space are aligned in a first direction (D1) intersecting a centrifugal direction (DC), and an inflow port (14a) and the communication port are positioned between the center axis (C12) along the first direction and the rotation center (LA) of the centrifugal separator.

Description

Filter Device

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter device.

[0002] Japanese Patent No. 5223006 describes a blood bag system and a centrifugal separator. The blood bag system contains blood. The centrifuge separates the blood contained in the blood bag system. The centrifugal separator separates the blood. The separated blood is used for transfusion.

[0003] Patent No. 5223006

[0004] It is preferable that blood to be transfused does not contain white blood cells. Recently, there has been a demand for a filter device that can more effectively remove white blood cells.

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] (1) One aspect of the present invention is a filter device to be attached to a centrifuge, the filter device comprising: a first space formed within a housing and into which blood flows in via an inlet; a second space formed within the housing and into which the blood flows out via an outlet; a partition wall separating the first space from the second space; a communication port connecting the first space to the second space; and a leukocyte removal filter disposed within the second space and removing leukocytes contained in the blood; the first space and the second space are aligned in a first direction that intersects with a centrifugal direction in which centrifugal force is applied; and the inlet and the communication port are located between a center line of the housing along the first direction and the center of rotation of the centrifuge.

[0007] This allows for the effective removal of leukocytes from the blood.

[0008] (2) In the filter device described in (1) above, the outlet may be positioned in the centrifugal direction with respect to the center line.

[0009] This allows blood to be smoothly extracted from the outlet simply by running the centrifuge.

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

[0011] This makes it possible to prevent blood that has not been subjected to leukocyte removal by centrifugation from reaching the second space.

[0012] (4) In the filter device described in any one of (1) to (3) above, the first space may be provided with a curved wall, and the curved wall may be located in the centrifugal direction relative to the center line and on one side of the first space.

[0013] This can prevent blood from flowing back toward the inlet.

[0014] (5) In the filter device described in any one of (1) to (4) 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.

[0015] This allows the leukocyte removal filter to more reliably remove leukocytes.

[0016] (6) In the filter device described in any one of (1) to (5) above, a serpentine flow path may be formed in the first space to cause the blood flowing in through the inlet to meander.

[0017] This makes it possible to prevent blood that has not been subjected to leukocyte removal by centrifugation from reaching the second space.

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to preferably remove leukocytes.

[0019] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a centrifuge to which a filter device according to one embodiment is attached. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the filter device. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the filter device. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the internal structure of a filter device according to a first modified example. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the internal structure of a filter device according to a second modified example.

[0020] [One embodiment] A filter device according to one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a centrifuge 50 to which a filter device 10 according to this embodiment is attached. Fig. 1 shows the filter device 10, an insert unit 60, and the centrifuge 50.

[0021] The centrifuge 50 is a machine that performs centrifugal separation on blood. The centrifuge 50 includes a centrifugal drum 52. The centrifugal drum 52 includes a central body 52a and a plurality of unit insertion portions 52b.

[0022] The plurality of unit insertion sections 52b are arranged to surround the central body 52a. An insert unit 60 can be inserted into each of the plurality of unit insertion sections 52b. The insert unit 60 is attached to the centrifuge 50 by being inserted into the unit insertion section 52b.

[0023] The insert unit 60 houses a blood bag system (not shown). The blood bag system includes a blood bag containing blood before centrifuging. The blood contained in this blood bag is, for example, whole blood, but it may also be a buffy coat as described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent No. 5223006. The buffy coat contains red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells, etc.

[0024] The centrifuge 50 rotates the insert unit 60 inserted into the unit insertion section 52b around the central body 52a. More specifically, the centrifuge 50 rotates the insert unit 60 inserted into the unit insertion section 52b in the rotation direction DR around the rotation center line (rotation center) LA shown in FIG. 1. This applies centrifugal force to the entire insert unit 60. This centrifugal force causes the blood to be centrifuged. The rotation center line LA is, for example, along the direction of gravity (second direction D2, described below).

[0025] The filter device 10 is attached to the insert unit 60. The filter device 10 is attached to, for example, the upper part of the insert unit 60, but is not limited to this.

[0026] The filter device 10 is attached to the insert unit 60, and is then attached to the centrifuge 50 via the insert unit 60. The centrifugal force described above is applied not only to the insert unit 60 but also to the filter device 10. The filter device 10 may also be attached directly to the centrifuge 50.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the filter device 10. As shown in FIG.

[0028] As described above, the filter device 10 can be attached to the centrifuge 50. In the following, the configuration of the filter device 10 will be described on the assumption that the filter device 10 is attached to the centrifuge 50.

[0029] A centrifugal direction DC, a centripetal direction DC-, a first direction D1, and a second direction D2 are shown in Figure 2. The centrifugal direction DC is the direction of centrifugal force applied to the filter device 10 by the centrifuge 50. The first direction D1 is the direction of tangential velocity in the circular motion of the filter device 10 performed by the centrifuge 50. The first direction D1 is perpendicular to (intersects 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 perpendicular to the second direction D2. The centripetal direction DC- is the opposite direction to the centrifugal direction DC.

[0030] The filter device 10 includes a housing 12. The housing 12 may be formed, for example, in a box shape. In this embodiment, the thickness direction of the housing 12 coincides with the second direction D2.

[0031] The housing 12 has an inlet portion 14 and an outlet portion 16. The inlet portion 14 has an inlet port 14a. The outlet portion 16 has an outlet port 16a. The inlet port 14a and the outlet port 16a are each an opening that communicates between the inside and outside of the housing 12. The inlet portion 14 and the outlet portion 16 shown in FIG. 2 protrude from the housing 12, but are not limited to this.

[0032] The inlet 14a is located between a center line C12 of the housing 12 along the first direction D1 and the center of rotation LA (FIG. 1) of the centrifuge 50. In contrast, the outlet 16a is located in the centrifugal direction DC with respect to the center line C12 of the housing 12.

[0033] Different blood bags are connected to the inlet 14 and the outlet 16. The blood bag connected to the inlet 14 is a blood bag that contains blood before it is centrifuged. The blood bag connected to the outlet 16 is a blood bag for containing blood (blood components) that has passed through the filter device 10.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the filter device 10. As shown in FIG.

[0035] The housing 12 further includes a first space 18, a second space 20, a partition wall 22, a leukocyte removal filter 24, and a communication port 28. The first space 18, the second space 20, the partition wall 22, and the leukocyte removal filter 24 are provided within the housing 12. The first space 18 and the second space 20 are separated by the partition wall 22.

[0036] The first space 18 and the second space 20 are aligned in the first direction D1. The second space 20 is positioned in the first direction D1 relative to the first space 18.

[0037] The inlet 14a is connected to the first space 18. Therefore, blood flows into the first space 18 from outside the housing 12 via the inlet 14a (FL1).

[0038] The inlet 14a is located between the center line C18 of the first space 18 and the center of rotation LA of the centrifuge 50. The center line C18 of the first space 18 extends in the first direction D1. More specifically, the inlet 14a is located on the centripetal direction DC- side of the first space 18.

[0039] In this embodiment, the center line C12 of the housing 12 coincides with the center line C18 of the first space 18. Therefore, the inlet 14a is located between the center line C12 of the housing 12 and the rotation center LA of the centrifuge 50.

[0040] The inlet 14 a is preferably formed along the centrifugal direction DC. In this case, the centrifugal force applied by the centrifuge 50 causes the blood to flow smoothly through the inlet 14 a and into the first space 18.

[0041] The first space 18 is provided with a curved wall 26. The curved wall 26 is a part of the inner wall that defines the first space 18. The curved wall 26 is located in the centrifugal direction DC with respect to the center line C18 (C12) of the first space 18. The curved wall 26 is also located on one side of the first space 18 in the first direction D1.

[0042] The curved wall 26 is curved to guide the blood to the other side of the first space 18 in the first direction D1. This allows the blood to flow along the curved wall 26 without flowing back toward the inlet 14a (FL2, FL3). Note that the partition wall 22 described above is located on the other side of the first space 18 in the first direction D1.

[0043] The blood that has flowed into the first space 18 is centrifuged by the centrifuge 50. As a result, the blood in the first space 18 forms a supernatant liquid layer and a sediment liquid layer. The sediment liquid layer is located in the centrifugal direction DC relative to the supernatant liquid layer.

[0044] The main component of the sediment is white blood cells. This is because white blood cells are a relatively heavy blood component. In other words, white blood cells are a blood component that settles relatively easily, and therefore are 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 large amount of platelets, etc.

[0045] In this way, the white blood cells contained in the blood that has flowed into the first space 18 are collected on the centrifugal direction DC side of the first space 18 by the centrifugal force applied by the centrifuge 50 (FL2). On the other hand, blood components other than white blood cells are collected on the centripetal direction DC- side of the first space 18 (FL3).

[0046] The communication port 28 is an opening that communicates the first space 18 and the second space 20. The communication port 28 is located between the center line C18 (C12) and the rotation center LA of the centrifuge 50. More specifically, the communication port 28 is located on the centripetal direction DC- side of the first space 18. The communication port 28 is formed in the partition wall 22, for example, but is not limited to this.

[0047] The blood that has flowed into the first space 18 flows into the second space 20 via the communication port 28 (FL4). As described above, blood components other than white blood cells are collected on the centripetal direction DC- side of the first space 18. Therefore, blood components other than white blood cells are likely to flow into the second space 20 via the communication port 28. In other words, white blood cells are unlikely to flow into the second space 20.

[0048] The inlet 14a is located on one side of the first space 18 in the first direction D1. In contrast, the communication port 28 is located on the other side of the first space 18 in the first direction D1. This prevents blood flowing due to centrifugal force from immediately flowing from the inlet 14a to the communication port 28. In other words, it is possible to prevent the blood that has flowed in from the inlet 14a from reaching the communication port 28 before being separated into the sediment and supernatant liquid described above.

[0049] The above-mentioned leukocyte removal filter 24 is disposed in the second space 20. The leukocyte removal filter 24 includes a filter material for removing leukocytes from blood. The blood that flows into the second space 20 is filtered by the leukocyte removal filter 24. As a result, even if leukocytes flow into the second space 20, the leukocyte removal filter 24 will remove the leukocytes.

[0050] The second space 20 is provided with an outflow section 16. The outflow section 16 is provided with an outlet 16a. Therefore, blood in the second space 20 can flow out of the housing 12 through the outlet 16a (FL5).

[0051] The outlet 16a is located in the centrifugal direction DC with respect to the center line C20 of the second space 20 extending in the first direction D1. On the other hand, the communication port 28 is located in the centripetal direction DC- with respect to the center line C20 of the second space 20 extending in the first direction D1. Because of this positional relationship between the outlet 16a and the communication port 28, blood that has flowed into the second space 20 easily reaches the outlet 16a due to the centrifugal force applied by the centrifuge 50. In other words, blood can be smoothly extracted from the outlet 16a simply by operating the centrifuge 50. In this embodiment, the center line C12 of the housing 12 coincides with the center line C20 of the second space 20.

[0052] The communication port 28 is located on one side of the second space 20 in the first direction D1. In contrast, the outlet 16a is located on the other side of the second space 20 in the first direction D1. Because the positional relationship between the communication port 28 and the outlet 16a is as described above, a sufficiently long path for blood flow can be secured within the leukocyte removal filter 24. This allows the leukocyte removal filter 24 to more reliably remove leukocytes.

[0053] As described above, according to this embodiment, the blood that has flowed into the first space 18 is centrifuged by the centrifuge 50. This reduces the amount of leukocytes contained in the blood that flows into the second space 20. Leukocytes remaining in the blood that has flowed into the second space 20 are removed by the leukocyte removal filter 24. In other words, according to this embodiment, it is possible to perform both leukocyte removal by centrifugation and leukocyte removal by the leukocyte removal filter 24 on the blood by simply operating the centrifuge 50.

[0054] [Modifications] Modifications of the above embodiment are described below. However, descriptions that overlap with the above embodiment will be omitted as appropriate. Elements that have already been described in the above embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals as in the above embodiment unless otherwise specified.

[0055] Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the filter device 10 (10A) according to Modification 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the filter device 10 (10B) according to Modification 2.

[0056] 4 and 5 , a serpentine flow path 30 may be formed in the first space 18 to cause blood flowing in through the inlet 14a to meander. The blood flowing in from the inlet 14a reaches the communication port 28 through the serpentine flow path 30. This more reliably prevents blood from immediately flowing from the inlet 14a into the communication port 28. In other words, it more reliably prevents blood that has not been subjected to leukocyte removal by centrifugation from reaching the second space 20. The specific shape of the serpentine flow path 30 is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 .

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the above disclosure, and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Claims

1. A filter device to be attached to a centrifuge, comprising: a first space formed within a housing and into which blood flows in via an inlet; a second space formed within the housing and into which the blood flows out via an outlet; a partition separating the first space from the second space; a communication port connecting the first space to the second space; and a leukocyte removal filter disposed within the second space for removing leukocytes contained in the blood; wherein the first space and the second space are aligned in a first direction intersecting a centrifugal direction in which centrifugal force is applied, and the inlet and the communication port are located between a center line of the housing along the first direction and the center of rotation of the centrifuge.

2. A filter device according to claim 1, wherein the outlet is located in the centrifugal direction relative to the center line.

3. A filter device as described in claim 1, wherein the inlet is located on one side of the first space in the first direction, and the communication port is located on the other side of the first space in the first direction.

4. A filter device according to claim 3, wherein the first space is provided with a curved wall, the curved wall being positioned in the centrifugal direction with respect to the center line and on the one side of the first space.

5. A filter device as described in claim 1, wherein the communication port is located on one side of the second space in the first direction, and the outlet port is located on the other side of the second space in the first direction.

6. A filter device according to claim 1, wherein the first space is formed with a meandering flow path for causing the blood flowing in through the inlet to meander.