Blood Cell Separation Material for Centrifugation-Free Fractionation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets from biological fluids are inefficient and often result in contamination, requiring centrifugation and complex processes, and fail to effectively recover mononuclear cell-rich fractions with low granular leukocyte contamination.
Innovation Solution
A method using a blood cell separation material, specifically a nonwoven fabric with a density of 2.0 × 10^4 to 1.9 × 10^5 g/m^3 and fiber diameter of 1 µm to 15 µm, that captures white blood cells and platelets, allowing for the separation of red blood cell-rich, white blood cell-rich, and platelet-rich fractions without centrifugation, using a separation solution to recover white blood cells and reduce contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If centrifugation or specific gravity solution is used for cell separation, then separation capability is improved, but contamination risk increases and closed system operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A filter material serves as an intermediary substance that enables separation of blood components without requiring centrifugation or specific gravity solutions. The filter material physically captures white blood cells and platelets while allowing red blood cells to pass through, achieving separation in a closed system without contamination risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical centrifugation system with a filtration-based passive separation system. Instead of using centrifugal force to separate cells by density, the system uses a filter material with specific pore structures and surface properties to selectively capture cells based on their physical characteristics
2Manufacturing precision
If different separation methods are used for different blood components, then separation effectiveness is improved, but process complexity increases and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter material is designed with multi-functional properties that enable simultaneous separation of different blood components through a single process. By adjusting flow rate and filter material characteristics, the same system can separate red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets without requiring multiple different separation methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple separation functions into a single filtration step. Instead of performing separate centrifugation for platelets, specific gravity separation for white blood cells, and filtration for red blood cells, the system combines these functions into one integrated filtration process
3Quantity of substance
If filter material with small pore size is used to capture white blood cells, then white blood cell recovery is improved, but platelet capture increases and purity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter material exhibits local quality variations in its structure, with different regions or zones having different pore sizes and capture characteristics. The upper portion may have smaller pores for white blood cell capture, while the lower portion has larger pores that allow platelets to pass through, enabling selective separation based on position-specific properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the filter material, such as gradient pore size distribution or varying surface charge density along the filter depth, to achieve differential cell capture. By changing the physical or chemical parameters of the filter material, the system can selectively recover white blood cells while minimizing platelet capture
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
Enables rapid and efficient separation of blood cell fractions with low contamination, facilitating safe therapeutic cell preparation for regenerative medicine and blood transfusions, while allowing for aseptic recovery and cryopreservation without red blood cell hemolysis.
Implementation Method 1
a blood cell separation material, specifically a nonwoven fabric with a density of 2.0 × 10^4 to 1.9 × 10^5 g/m^3 and fiber diameter of 1 µm to 15 µm, that captures white blood cells and platelets
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a separation system and a separation material for easily and rapidly separating a red blood cell-rich fraction, a white blood cell-rich fraction, and/or a platelet-rich fraction from a biological fluid containing these blood cell components without the necessity of performing centrifugation. The separation of a red blood cell-rich fraction, a white blood cell-rich fraction, and/or a platelet-rich fraction from a biological fluid can be accomplished by capturing white blood cells and platelets on a blood cell separation material by contacting the biological fluid with the blood cell separation material, thereby providing a red blood cell-rich fraction; and recovering a white blood cell-rich fraction by separating white blood cells captured from the resulting blood cell separation material using a separation solution.