Apheresis System Peristaltic Pump Controlled Solution Addition

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Aphaeresis systems face challenges in reducing operator intervention and error, improving collection efficiency, and minimizing adverse effects on blood components, which affect commercial viability and product quality.

Innovation Solution

The system incorporates a controlled addition of storage solutions to red blood cells or platelets using a self-priming mechanism with peristaltic pumps and sensors to ensure accurate metering, reducing operator dependency and trauma to blood components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual addition of storage solution is used, then operator control is maintained, but operator error and intervention time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator error reductionVSAvoidautomation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-priming of the peristaltic pump by automatically detecting air bubbles in the tubing and reversing pump rotation to expel them, eliminating the need for manual priming intervention while maintaining system simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Optical sensors detect the presence of air bubbles or fluid in the tubing and provide feedback signals to the controller, which automatically adjusts pump operation to maintain proper fluid flow without operator intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If rapid collection is pursued, then productivity increases, but collection efficiency may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollection speedVSAvoidcollection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and pre-sets the storage solution addition volume based on the anticipated blood component collection volume, allowing rapid collection to proceed without interruption while ensuring accurate solution addition occurs at the optimal moment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The peristaltic pump operates continuously during both blood component collection and storage solution addition without stopping, maintaining uninterrupted flow and eliminating idle time that would reduce productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of time

If storage solution is added during collection, then processing time is reduced, but mixing precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing timeVSAvoidsolution mixing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mixing operations with a controlled peristaltic pump delivery system that uses rotational counting to precisely meter the storage solution volume, achieving both speed and precision simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses optical sensors to detect fluid characteristics and verify the presence and volume of storage solution added, providing automated verification that ensures mixing accuracy without requiring manual measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enhances operational efficiency, reduces operator error, and improves the quality of collected blood components by ensuring precise addition of storage solutions, thereby increasing productivity and donor convenience.

Implementation Method 1

peristaltic pumps, which move a known quantity of fluid per pump revolution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPeristalsis: Peristalsis

Data Source

PatentEP2222353B1Method and apparatus for controlled addition of solutions to blood components
Publication Date: 2018.08.08 TERUMO BCT INC
  • EP2222353B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2222353B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2222353B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A centrifugal blood processing apparatus comprising a centrifuge rotor (20), a separation chamber (12), a tubing set (8) for conducting blood components and fluids and having an inlet line, an outlet line (50) and a storage solution line (122) in fluid communication with the outlet line at a junction. The apparatus controls pumps to conduct a predetermined quantity of storage solution to a collected blood component. The apparatus also purges blood components in the tubing set by applying a negative pressure and positive pressure. A disposable blood processing set has a separation chamber; a tubing set including an inlet line in fluid and an outlet and a storage solution line connected to the outlet line at a junction.