Hanging Device for Blood Bag Air Trapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing blood bag system requires manual air removal after adding red blood cell preservation liquid, increasing workload and potentially affecting the quality of blood products due to excess air.
Innovation Solution
A hanging device and method that utilize a height difference to transfer the additive solution, ensuring air from the second bag stops in the transfer line, eliminating the need for manual air removal by positioning the bags and transfer line to prevent air from mixing with the blood component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual air removal operation is performed after adding red blood cell preservation liquid, then the amount of air in the blood bag can be reduced below the predetermined value, but the workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer line is pre-configured with an air stop section positioned at a higher elevation than the blood bag. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that air naturally accumulates at the highest point during additive solution transfer, preventing air from entering the blood bag in the first place and eliminating the need for subsequent manual air removal operations
Solution Approach 2:
The air stop section acts as an intermediary structure between the additive solution bag and the blood bag. It serves as a designated accumulation zone for air bubbles, using its elevated position and specific configuration to intercept and hold air separate from the blood component, thereby mediating the transfer process to prevent air contamination
2Ease of operation
If air is not removed from the blood bag after adding red blood cell preservation liquid, then the workload is reduced, but the quality of blood products may be affected due to excess air
Solution Approach 1:
The air stop section is pre-positioned at a higher elevation than the blood bag before the transfer process begins. This preliminary elevation difference creates a natural air trap that prevents air from reaching the blood bag during additive solution transfer, ensuring blood product quality without requiring post-transfer air removal operations
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of viewing air as a harmful contaminant to be actively removed, the invention converts air's natural buoyancy and tendency to rise into a beneficial feature by designing the air stop section at a higher elevation. Air naturally accumulates at this elevated point during transfer, transforming the potential harm of air entry into a self-regulating mechanism that protects blood product quality
3Ease of manufacture
If the medical fluid bag is positioned at a higher position than the blood bag for gravity-driven transfer, then the transfer process is simplified, but air from the medical fluid bag flows into the blood bag
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the medical fluid bag at high position for gravity-driven flow, the air stop section at the highest elevation as a dedicated air accumulation zone, and the blood bag at lower position. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - gravity-driven transfer, air trapping, and blood component storage - without interfering with each other
Solution Approach 2:
The air stop section serves as an intermediary between the high-positioned medical fluid bag and the lower-positioned blood bag. It intercepts air that naturally rises during gravity-driven transfer and holds it in its elevated position, preventing air from continuing into the blood bag while allowing the additive solution to flow through to the blood bag
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 configuration efficiently produces blood products by minimizing air entry into the blood bag, reducing the need for air bleeding operations and ensuring quality standards are met.
Implementation Method 1
when the additive solution is transferred from the second bag to the first bag using a height difference between the first bag and the second bag
Data Source
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AI summary
A hanging device (100A) used in method for transferring an additive solution includes an upper hanging section (106) and a support mechanism (lower hanging section (108)). The upper hanging section (106) is used to hang a medical fluid bag (54) upside down. The support mechanism (lower hanging section (108)) supports a primary bag (50) or a transfer line (55) in a predetermined state such that, when a red blood cell preservation (M) is transferred from the medical fluid bag (54) to the primary bag (50) using the height difference between the primary bag (50) and the medical fluid bag (54), air from the medical fluid bag (54) is stopped in the middle of the transfer line (55).