Blood Centrifuge Interface Control via Optical Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blood separation technologies face challenges in consistently and accurately separating white blood cells from platelets within the buffy coat layer during centrifugation, leading to inefficiencies in blood component collection.
Innovation Solution
A blood component separation apparatus that uses a camera and image processing to monitor and control the interface between blood components, adjusting rotor speed and pump rates to maintain precise control over the phase boundaries, allowing for real-time detection and stabilization of the interface between red blood cells, buffy coat, and plasma layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If centrifugal force is used to separate blood components, then separation of red blood cells and plasma is achieved, but consistent and accurate separation of white blood cells from platelets in the buffy coat layer is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a camera to continuously monitor the position of phase boundaries between blood components and provides real-time feedback to a controller. The controller adjusts pump rates and rotor speed based on this feedback to maintain precise separation of white blood cells from platelets in the buffy coat layer, resolving the inconsistency problem of traditional centrifugal separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters including rotor speed and pump rates during the separation process. By adjusting these parameters in real-time based on detected phase boundary positions, the system achieves consistent and accurate separation of white blood cells from platelets that cannot be achieved with fixed parameter centrifugal separation alone.
2Manufacturing precision
If automated control systems are added to monitor and adjust separation parameters, then separation precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an automated control system that uses a camera for detection and electronic control for adjustment. This substitution of mechanical systems with automated sensing and control achieves precise phase boundary control while managing device complexity through integration of standard components.
3Productivity
If real-time monitoring of phase boundaries is implemented, then collection efficiency of blood products is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses light as an intermediary to detect phase boundaries. A light source illuminates the separation chamber and a camera detects the light patterns created by different blood components at different phases. This optical intermediary approach enables real-time monitoring of phase boundaries and improves blood product collection efficiency while managing the detection difficulty through non-invasive optical measurement.
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 approach enables accurate and stable separation of blood components, improving the collection efficiency of desired products by maintaining consistent phase boundaries and allowing for real-time adjustments to ensure high-quality blood product collection.
Implementation Method 1
The centrifuge rotates a blood separation vessel to separate components within the vessel or reservoir using centrifugal force
Implementation Method 2
A camera monitors a separation chamber and image processing determines the location of boundaries
Data Source
AI summary
A centrifuge for separating blood having a camera observing fluid flow, and a controller controlling the flow. The location of an interface is detected by image processing steps, which may comprise the steps of “spoiling” the image, “diffusing” the image, “edge detection”, “edge linking”, “region-based confirmation”, and “interface calculation”. “Spoiling” reduces the number of pixels to be examined preferentially on orthogonal axis oriented with respect to the expected location of the interface or phase boundary. “Diffusing” smoothes out small oscillations in the interface boundary, making the location of the interface more distinct. “Edge detection” computes the rate of change in pixel intensity. “Edge linking” connects adjacent maxima. “Region-based confirmation” creates a pseudo image of the regions that qualify as distinct. “Final edge calculation” uses the points where the shade changes in the pseudo image, averages the radial displacement of these points for the interface position.