Bioartificial Liver Thermostatic Heating Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bioartificial liver devices face issues with unstable heating, nonadjustable pH, and nonuniform cell distribution due to their design, leading to decreased detoxification performance and cell bioactivity.

Innovation Solution

An integrated on-line monitoring and thermostatic heating apparatus combining a plasma separator, oxygenator, heater, and bioreactor, with a thermostatic water tank and breathable fiber membrane tubes, along with wool yarns and polyurethane resin stent plates, to maintain stable temperature, pH, and uniform cell distribution, enhancing cell growth and bioactivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a heater is used to maintain ambient temperature in existing bioartificial liver devices, then temperature control is provided, but the heating is unstable and negatively impacts work efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveambient temperatureVSAvoidheating stability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the heater with the bioreactor module to form an integrated thermostatic heating system. The heater is positioned within the bioreactor module to directly heat the culture medium and cell suspension, ensuring stable and uniform temperature distribution throughout the system, thereby resolving the heating instability issue of existing devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If hollow fiber tubes are closely arranged in typical bioartificial liver devices, then device compactness is achieved, but liver cells cannot enter the central space of the fiber tubes leading to nonuniform cell distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiber tube arrangementVSAvoidcell distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bioreactor module into distinct functional regions: an outer region with closely arranged hollow fiber tubes for substance exchange, and a central region with a porous support structure for uniform cell distribution. This segmentation allows both compact fiber arrangement and uniform cell distribution to coexist by providing separate zones for different functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If hollow fiber tubes are closely arranged in typical bioartificial liver devices, then device compactness is achieved, but detoxification performance decreases due to nonuniform cell distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiber tube arrangementVSAvoiddetoxification performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different structural characteristics to different regions: the outer region has densely packed hollow fiber tubes optimized for substance exchange, while the central region has a porous support structure optimized for uniform cell distribution. This local differentiation ensures that each region performs its specific function optimally, maintaining detoxification performance while achieving compactness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

The apparatus provides a stable and uniform environment for liver cells, improving their activity and detoxification performance, and enables real-time monitoring of biochemical indexes, resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

Implementation Method 1

the oxygenator comprises breathable fiber membrane tubes, and the oxygen/carbon dioxide inlet communicates with the breathable fiber membrane tubes in the oxygenator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

The plasma separator comprises hollow fiber bundles. The blood/pre-filled liquid inlet communicates with the blood cell outlet through the hollow fiber bundles in the plasma separator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

The bioreactor module comprises a thermostatic water tank and a bioreactor disposed in the thermostatic water tank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10493195B2Integrated on-line monitoring and thermostatic heating apparatus for bioartificial liver device

Publication Date: 2019.12.03 ZHEJIANG TONGGAN MEDICAL TECH CO LTD

AI summary

An integrated on-line monitoring and thermostatic heating apparatus for a bioartificial liver device, the apparatus including a blood inlet, a blood pump, an arterial drip chamber, a bioreactor module, a venous drip chamber, and a blood reinfusion port which are connected in sequence. The bioreactor module includes a thermostatic water tank and a bioreactor disposed in the thermostatic water tank. The bioreactor includes a container, and a first partition and a second partition which are disposed in the container. The first partition and the second partition separate the container into three independent parts, that is, a plasma separator, an oxygenator, and a reactor. The plasma separator and the oxygenator are connected through an external connection pipe. The external connection pipe is equipped with a separation pump. The second partition includes a communication hole, and the reactor and the oxygenator are connected through the communication hole.