Centrifugal Blood Separation Cassette Without Filter-Induced Cell Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blood separation systems, particularly those using centrifuges, face challenges in consistently separating Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) from whole blood with high purity and efficiency, often requiring additional filtration steps that can damage cells and introduce contamination risks, and are labor-intensive and costly.
Innovation Solution
A modular fluid separation cassette system that includes a fluid inlet, separation, and collection portions, with wax valves and heating elements to manage fluid flow and separation media, allowing for efficient separation of blood components during centrifugation without the need for external filters or complex equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional porous filters are used to separate platelets from white blood cells after centrifugation, then white blood cell removal is achieved, but platelet loss increases and platelet viability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the porous filter component from the blood separation system. Instead of using a porous filter to remove white blood cells, the system relies on optimized centrifugation parameters and chamber geometry to achieve separation, thereby eliminating platelet loss and viability issues associated with filtration
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the blood components to separate themselves through centrifugal force based on their inherent density differences. The centrifugation process naturally stratifies red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells, and plasma without requiring additional filtration steps, allowing the mixture to self-separate according to physical properties
2Reliability
If porous filtration is used to improve separation purity, then white blood cell removal is enhanced, but product quality and platelet viability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The porous filter is completely removed from the system. The invention achieves high purity separation through centrifugation alone, eliminating the harmful interaction between platelets and filter media that causes activation and viability loss
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the natural density difference between blood components, which previously required filtration to achieve separation, into a beneficial mechanism where centrifugal force directly separates components based on their inherent physical properties, preserving platelet integrity
3Reliability
If additional filtration steps are added to improve separation results, then purity increases, but processing time increases and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the separation function into the centrifugation process itself. By optimizing chamber geometry and centrifugation parameters, the system achieves both separation and purification in a single integrated step, eliminating the need for sequential filtration operations
Solution Approach 2:
The centrifugation chamber is designed to perform multiple functions: initial separation of blood components, purification by removing white blood cells, and concentration of platelets. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate filtration equipment and steps
4Productivity
If conventional centrifugation is used to separate blood components, then basic separation is achieved, but separation purity and consistency are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The centrifugation chamber features localized geometric variations including a conical bottom section and specific radial positioning of inlet/outlet ports. These local structural qualities create optimized flow patterns and centrifugal force distribution that enhance separation purity while maintaining processing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes specific centrifugation parameters including controlled rotational speed, acceleration rates, and duration. By optimizing these parameters alongside chamber geometry, the system achieves consistent high-purity separation that conventional centrifugation cannot reliably produce
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 system enhances the consistency and purity of PBMC separation, reduces labor and costs, and maintains cellular integrity by eliminating the need for additional filtration steps and complex equipment, while improving the efficiency of the separation process.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heating element configured to actuate the at least one wax valve
Implementation Method 2
The centrifuge rotates a blood reservoir to separate components within the reservoir using centrifugal force. The centrifugal force stratifies the blood components
Data Source
AI summary
A modular cassette and method for separating a composite fluid into at least two component parts thereof during centrifugation is provided. The modular cassette includes a fluid inlet portion, at least one fluid separation portion, at least one media chamber in fluid communication with the fluid separation portion, a fluid collection portion, at least one fluidic channel configured to form a fluid communication between at least two components of the cassette, at least one wax valve including undulating flow channel portions configured to close at least one of the fluidic channels, and at least one heating element configured to actuate the at least one wax valve.