Blood Component Collection Circuit Pressure Measurement Zero Reset

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biological component collection systems face challenges in accurately measuring circuit internal pressure, leading to measurement errors due to changes in reaction force over time, which affects the accuracy of pressure measurements during blood component separation and return operations.

Innovation Solution

A biological component collection system with a separation device and a control unit that performs a zero reset process by setting the pressure value to zero at predetermined pump stop times, reducing measurement errors by minimizing changes in the reaction force of the pressed soft portion, thereby enhancing measurement accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If continuous pressure measurement is performed during pump operation, then real-time monitoring capability is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to reaction force changes over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time monitoring capabilityVSAvoidpressure measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs periodic zero reset processes at predetermined intervals during pump operation. The load detecting unit periodically resets its baseline measurement, compensating for the gradual changes in reaction force of the pressed soft portion. This periodic calibration maintains measurement accuracy without requiring continuous interruption of the blood component collection process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the pump stop periods (which occur naturally during the collection and return operations) to automatically perform zero reset processes. The control unit detects when the pump stops and automatically initiates the zero reset, utilizing the existing operational cycle rather than requiring separate calibration procedures. This self-calibrating mechanism maintains accuracy without adding external intervention steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If zero reset process is performed frequently, then measurement accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure measurement accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The zero reset process is performed periodically at predetermined intervals or at specific operational phases (such as during pump stop periods between collection and return operations). This periodic approach ensures measurements remain accurate while avoiding excessive resetting that would waste time. The system balances calibration frequency with operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs zero reset processes in advance during natural pump stop periods before the next measurement cycle begins. By preparing the baseline measurement during idle time, the system ensures accuracy is maintained for the upcoming operational phase without causing delays during active blood component collection or return.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 zero reset process allows for accurate measurement of circuit internal pressure, reducing errors and maintaining high measurement accuracy even with short or long cycle times of collection and return operations, while preventing overall processing time from becoming excessively long.

Implementation Method 1

a pressed soft portion forming one part of the flow path, and which is pressed by the load detecting unit in order to measure an internal pressure of the flow path

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReaction force measurement: Force

Implementation Method 2

a blood component collection system, and a circuit internal pressure acquisition method, which are capable of accurately measuring the circuit internal pressure... a separation device having a load detecting unit, and adapted to separate a biological component from a liquid containing at least one biological component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentEP3687593B1Biological component collection system and circuit internal pressure acquisition method
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 TERUMO KK
  • EP3687593B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3687593B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3687593B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A blood component collection system (10), which is one form of a biological component collection system, is equipped with a centrifugal separation device (14) and a biological component collection device (27). The biological component collection device (27) comprises a pressed soft portion (60) pressed by a load detecting unit (88). The centrifugal separation device (14) includes a collection and returning pump (100), and a control unit (102) having an internal pressure computation unit (103) which calculates a circuit internal pressure of the biological component collection device (27) on the basis of a detection value of the load detecting unit (88). The internal pressure computation unit (103) performs a zero reset process of setting a pressure value corresponding to the detection value of the load detecting unit (88), so as to become zero at each instance of a predetermined timing at which the collection and returning pump (100) is stopped.