Filter device

Abstract

A filter device (10) according to the present invention is mounted on a centrifugal separator (50), the filter device comprising: a first space (18) that is formed in a housing (12) and into which blood flows; a second space (20) that is formed in the housing (12) and through which blood flows out; a partition wall (22) that separates the first space and the second space and in which a communication port (28) communicating the first space and the second space is formed; and a leukocyte removal filter (24) that is disposed in the second space. The first space is positioned between the partition wall and the first main surface (12a) of the housing, and the second space is positioned between the partition wall and the second main surface (12b) of the housing.

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 mounted on 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 wall separating the first space from the second space and having 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, wherein the first space is located between a first main surface formed on the housing and the partition wall formed along the first main surface, and the second space is located between a second main surface formed on the housing and the partition wall.

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

[0008] (2) In the filter device described in (1) above, the inlet may be located between the center line of the housing along a first direction that intersects with the centrifugal direction in which centrifugal force is applied, and the center of rotation of the centrifuge.

[0009] This allows the blood to flow smoothly into the housing due to centrifugal force.

[0010] (3) In the filter device described in (1) or (2) above, the first space may be provided with a curved wall, and the curved wall may be positioned in a centrifugal direction, in which centrifugal force is applied to the inlet and the communication port.

[0011] This prevents blood from flowing back toward the inlet.

[0012] (4) In the filter device described in any one of (1) to (3) above, a serpentine flow path may be formed in the first space to cause the blood flowing in through the inlet to meander.

[0013] This makes it possible to prevent blood that has not been subjected to leukocyte removal by centrifugation from reaching the second space.

[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 centrifugal direction, which is the direction in which centrifugal force is applied, and the outlet may be located on the other side of the second space in the centrifugal direction.

[0015] This makes it possible to ensure a sufficient distance in the centrifugal direction between the communication port and the outlet.

[0016] (6) In the filter device described in (5) above, the direction from the outlet toward the communication port may be a direction along the centrifugal direction.

[0017] This makes it possible to prevent white blood cells from reaching the outlet.

[0018] (7) In the filter device described in (5) above, the direction from the communication port toward the outlet may be a direction along the centrifugal direction.

[0019] This allows the blood to be suitably guided toward the outlet by centrifugal force.

[0020] (8) In the filter device according to any one of (1) to (7) above, the thickness direction may be aligned vertically when the filter device is attached to the centrifuge.

[0021] This allows the horizontal dimension of the filter device to be shorter than when the first space and the second space are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

[0022] According to the present invention, leukocytes can be suitably removed from blood.

[0023] 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 cross-sectional view of the filter device. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a first space provided in a housing. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a second space provided in a housing. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the first space provided in a housing according to Modification 1. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the second space provided in a housing according to Modification 1. Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the first space provided in a housing according to Modification 2.

[0024]

[0023] [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 equipped with a filter device 10 according to this embodiment.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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).

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the filter device 10. As shown in FIG.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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 (vertical direction). 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.

[0034] The filter device 10 includes a housing 12. The housing 12 may be formed, for example, in a box shape. In this embodiment, when the filter device 10 is attached to the centrifuge 50, the thickness direction DT of the housing 12 coincides with (is parallel to) the second direction D2.

[0035] The housing 12 has a first main surface 12a and a second main surface 12b. The first main surface 12a is an outer surface on one side of the housing 12 in the thickness direction DT. The second main surface 12b is an outer surface on the other side of the housing 12 in the thickness direction DT. The first main surface 12a and the second main surface 12b extend along the centrifugal direction DC and the first direction D1.

[0036] In this embodiment, the first main surface 12 a forms the lower surface of the housing 12. In this embodiment, the second main surface 12 b forms the upper surface of the housing 12.

[0037] The housing 12 includes an inlet 14. The inlet 14 has an inlet 14a. The inlet 14a is an opening that communicates between the inside and outside of the housing 12. The inlet 14a is located in a centripetal direction DC- with respect to a center line C12 of the housing 12 that is aligned along the first direction D1. In other words, the inlet 14a is located between the center line C12 and the center of rotation LA ( FIG. 1 ) of the centrifuge 50. The inlet 14 shown in FIG. 2 protrudes from the housing 12, but is not limited to this.

[0038] The housing 12 further includes an outlet 16. The outlet 16 has an outlet port 16a. The inlet port 14a is an opening that communicates between the inside and outside of the housing 12. The outlet 16 shown in FIG. 2 protrudes from the housing 12, but is not limited to this.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the filter device 10. A cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.

[0041] The housing 12 includes a first space 18, a second space 20, and a partition wall 22 therein.

[0042] The first space 18 is a space located between the first main surface 12a and the partition wall 22. The first space 18 is in communication with the inlet 14a. In contrast, the second space 20 is a space located between the partition wall 22 and the second main surface 12b. The second space 20 is in communication with the outlet 16a.

[0043] The partition wall 22 extends along the centrifugal direction DC and the first direction D1, similar to the first main surface 12 a, the second main surface 12 b, etc. The first space 18 and the second space 20 are separated by the partition wall 22. The partition wall 22 may form the top surface of the first space 18 and the bottom surface of the second space 20.

[0044] The first space 18 is provided with an obstructing wall 32. The partition wall 22 is also formed with a communication opening 28. The communication opening 28 and the obstructing wall 32 will be described in more detail later.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the first space 18 provided in the housing 12. As shown in FIG.

[0046] As described above, the first space 18 communicates with the inlet 14a, so that blood flows into the first space 18 via the inlet 14a.

[0047] 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.

[0048] An inflow channel 25 may be formed in the first space 18. The inflow channel 25 is a channel extending from the inlet 14a along the centrifugal direction DC. Blood that has flowed into the first space 18 via the inlet 14a may flow in the centrifugal direction DC along the inflow channel 25 (FL1).

[0049] The first space 18 may also be provided with a curved wall 26. The curved wall 26 is located in the centrifugal direction DC relative to the inlet 14a and the above-described communication port 28. The curved wall 26 is curved so as to guide blood from one side of the first space 18 to the other side in the first direction D1. By flowing along the curved wall 26, the blood can flow from one side of the first space 18 to the other side in the first direction D1 without flowing back toward the inlet 14a (FL2, FL3).

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] The communication port 28 is an opening that communicates the first space 18 and the second space 20. As described above, the communication port 28 is formed in the partition wall 22. Blood can flow from the first space 18 into the second space 20 through the communication port 28 (FL4 in FIG. 3 ).

[0053] The obstruction wall 32 prevents blood flowing into the first space 18 through the inlet 14a from immediately reaching the communication port 28. In order for blood to reach the communication port 28 from the inlet 14a, it must bypass the obstruction wall 32. The obstruction wall 32 has a first obstruction wall portion 321 and a second obstruction wall portion 322. The first obstruction wall portion 321 is a wall portion extending in the centrifugal direction DC. The first obstruction wall portion 321 is located between the communication port 28 and the inlet 14a in the first direction D1. The second obstruction wall portion 322 is a wall portion extending from the first obstruction wall portion 321 in the first direction D1.

[0054] 4, the second obstruction wall portion 322 protrudes in the first direction D1 from the tip end of the first obstruction wall portion 321. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The second obstruction wall portion 322 may be omitted.

[0055] Here, as described above, centrifugation by the centrifuge 50 causes the white blood cells to collect on the centrifugal direction DC side of the first space 18 (FL2). In other words, when centrifugation by the centrifuge 50 is performed, the white blood cells are less likely to flow in the centripetal direction DC-. Therefore, once the white blood cells flow in the centrifugal direction DC from the communication port 28, they are less likely to reach the communication port 28.

[0056] In contrast, as described above, blood components other than white blood cells can flow more toward the centripetal direction DC- than white blood cells due to centrifugal separation by the centrifuge 50. Therefore, blood components other than white blood cells can reach the communication port 28 even after they have once flowed in the centrifugal direction DC from the communication port 28 (FL3).

[0057] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the second space 20 provided in the housing 12. As shown in FIG.

[0058] A leukocyte removal filter 24 is provided in the second space 20 (see also FIG. 3 ). 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 (FL5 in FIG. 5 ). As a result, even if leukocytes flow into the second space 20, the leukocyte removal filter 24 will remove the leukocytes.

[0059] As described above, the second space 20 is in communication with the outlet 16a, so that the blood in the second space 20 can flow out of the housing 12 via the outlet 16a (FL6).

[0060] The second space 20 has a first portion 201 and a second portion 202. The first portion 201 is a region on one side of the second space 20 in the centrifugal direction DC. In contrast, the second portion 202 is a region on the other side of the second space 20 in the centrifugal direction DC. More specifically, the first portion 201 is a region of the second space 20 on the centrifugal direction DC side with respect to the center line C20. In contrast, the second portion 202 is a region of the second space 20 on the centripetal direction DC- side with respect to the center line C20. The center line C20 is a virtual straight line that passes through the center of the second space 20 and is parallel to the first direction D1.

[0061] The communication port 28 is located in the first portion 201. In contrast, the communication portion between the outlet 16a and the second space 20 is located in the second portion 202. In this manner, a blood flow path sufficient for removing leukocytes by the leukocyte removal filter 24 can be secured between the communication port 28 and the outlet 16a. As a result, leukocytes contained in the blood can be more reliably removed by the leukocyte removal filter 24 before the blood reaches the outlet 16a from the communication port 28.

[0062] Furthermore, in order for the blood that has flowed into the second space 20 to reach the outlet 16a, the blood must flow in the centripetal direction DC- from the communication port 28. As described above, when centrifugation is performed by the centrifuge 50, white blood cells do not easily flow in the centripetal direction DC-. In other words, by making the direction from the outlet 16a toward the communication port 28 the centrifugal direction DC as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to prevent white blood cells from reaching the outlet 16a. This makes it possible to more effectively reduce the amount of white blood cells contained in the blood withdrawn from the outlet 16a.

[0063] 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.

[0064] [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.

[0065] (Modification 1) Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a first space 18 (18A) provided in a housing 12 according to Modification 1. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a second space 20 (20B) provided in a housing 12 according to Modification 1.

[0066] In the embodiment, the communication opening 28 is located in the centrifugal direction DC with respect to the center line C12 of the housing 12, but this is not limiting. As shown in Fig. 6, the communication opening 28 may be located in the centripetal direction DC- with respect to the center line C12. By positioning the communication opening 28 as close to the centripetal direction DC- as possible within the first space 18A, it is possible to prevent white blood cells from reaching the communication opening 28.

[0067] 7, the communication port 28 may be located in the second portion 202 of the second space 20B. When the communication port 28 is located in the second portion 202 of the second space 20B, the communication portion between the outlet 16a and the second space 20B may be located in the first portion 201. In this case as well, a blood flow path sufficient for removing leukocytes by the leukocyte removal filter 24 can be secured between the communication port 28 and the outlet 16a.

[0068] In this modification, the direction from the communication port 28 toward the outlet 16a is along the centrifugal direction DC (FL5 in FIG. 7 ), so that the centrifugal force allows the blood that has flowed into the second space 20B to smoothly reach the outlet 16a from the communication port 28.

[0069] (Modification 2) FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the first space 18 (18C) provided in the housing 12 according to Modification 2. As shown in FIG.

[0070] 8, a serpentine flow path 30 is formed in the first space 18C to cause the blood flowing in through the inlet 14a to meander. The serpentine flow path 30 can be formed by, for example, a plurality of obstruction walls 32.

[0071] The blood flowing in from the inlet 14a reaches the communication port 28 via the serpentine flow path 30. This prevents the blood from immediately flowing from the inlet 14a into the communication port 28. In other words, it is possible to prevent 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 example shown in FIG. 8 .

[0072] (Combination of Multiple Modifications) The multiple modifications described above may be combined as appropriate within a range that does not cause inconsistency.

[0073] 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 mounted on a centrifuge, comprising: a first space formed within a housing into which blood flows in via an inlet; a second space formed within the housing into which the blood flows out via an outlet; a partition separating the first space from the second space and having 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 is located between a first main surface formed on the housing and the partition formed along the first main surface, and the second space is located between a second main surface formed on the housing and along the first main surface and the partition.

2. A filter device as described in claim 1, wherein the inlet is located between the center line of the housing along a first direction intersecting the centrifugal direction in which centrifugal force is applied, and the center of rotation of the centrifuge.

3. A filter device as described in claim 1, wherein the first space is provided with a curved wall, and the curved wall is positioned in a centrifugal direction in which centrifugal force is applied relative to the inlet and the communication port.

4. 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.

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

6. A filter device according to claim 5, wherein the direction from the outlet to the communication port is along the centrifugal direction.

7. A filter device according to claim 5, wherein the direction from the communication port toward the outlet is along the centrifugal direction.

8. A filter device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness direction of said filter device is aligned vertically when said filter device is mounted in said centrifuge.

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