System for blood cell separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood cell separation systems face difficulties in accurately collecting smaller volumes of higher concentrated target cells due to negative pressure pulling back fluid, which complicates the collection process.
Innovation Solution
The second end of the red blood cell tube extends into the volume of the reservoir for pressure equalization during pumping, increasing the reservoir volume for the red cell fraction and preventing the use of whole blood for equalization, allowing for a more compact target cell layer collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the red blood cell tube is positioned above the reservoir, then the system structure is simple, but negative pressure pulls back solutions into the separation chamber making accurate collection of target cells difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The red blood cell tube is inserted into the reservoir, with the tube positioned inside the reservoir volume. This nesting arrangement allows the tube to extend into the reservoir for pressure equalization during pumping, preventing negative pressure from pulling solutions back into the separation chamber, thereby enabling accurate collection of target cells without requiring external pressure control systems.
2Quantity of substance
If whole blood is used for pressure equalization, then the system can maintain pressure during pumping, but this consumes valuable blood volume that could be used for target cell collection
Solution Approach 1:
The red blood cell tube acts as an intermediary conduit extending into the reservoir, allowing plasma to flow through the tube and equalize pressure during pumping operations. This intermediary arrangement provides the necessary pressure stability without consuming whole blood volume, as the pressure equalization is achieved through the tube-reservoir interface rather than by sacrificing blood volume.
3Measurement precision
If the reservoir volume is increased to allow pressure equalization, then target cells can be collected more accurately, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The red blood cell tube is nested within the reservoir structure, with the tube extending into the reservoir volume. This nested configuration allows the system to utilize the existing reservoir space efficiently, enabling pressure equalization during pumping without requiring a proportionally large increase in overall reservoir volume, thus maintaining compact device dimensions while achieving accurate target cell collection.
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 arrangement enables easier and more accurate collection of target cells, particularly smaller volumes with higher concentration, without modifying the existing separation chamber or drip chamber design.
Implementation Method 1
the second end of the red blood cell tube extends into the volume of the reservoir for pressure equalization during pumping from the outlet port for plasma
Implementation Method 2
The separation chamber is usually comprised in a centrifuge unit that is configured to separate the blood components by density and size
Data Source
AI summary
A system for blood cell separation, comprising:a separation chamber (10) comprising an inlet port for blood (12), an outlet port for plasma (14) and at least an outlet port for cellular blood components (16) for the separation of whole blood;a blood pump (20) for pumping whole blood into the inlet port for blood (12);a plasma pump (22) for pumping plasma and/or target cells from the outlet port for plasma (14) out of the separation chamber (10);a red blood cell tube (30) comprising a first end (32) and a second end (34), wherein the first end (32) of the red blood cell tube (30) is connected to the outlet port for cellular blood components (16) for allowing red blood cells to leave the separation chamber (10); anda drip chamber (40) comprising a reservoir (42) and an inlet (46), wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) is connected to the inlet (46), wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) extends into the volume of the reservoir (42) for pressure equalization during pumping from the outlet port for plasma (14).