Blood Processing Filter Flow Path Securing Sheet Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blood processing filters with flow path securing sheets experience reduced blood preparation collecting rates due to blood remaining on ribs between flow path holes, which impede flow and reduce filtering performance.
Innovation Solution
A blood processing filter design featuring a sheet-shaped filter element sandwiched by inlet and outlet flexible containers, with a flow path securing sheet and seal portions that include ribs and slit structures to prevent close contact and ensure continuous blood flow, enhancing the effective filtering area and collecting rate without compromising flow rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a flow path securing sheet with ribs is used to prevent close contact between filter element and outlet container, then filtering flow rate is maintained, but blood preparation collecting rate decreases due to blood remaining on ribs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the ribs from the flow path securing sheet, extracting the problematic structural element that caused blood stagnation. By eliminating the ribs entirely and replacing them with a flat flow path securing sheet, the invention resolves the contradiction by maintaining flow path security without creating blood-trapping structures, thereby improving both filtering flow rate and blood preparation collecting rate simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using ribs to secure the flow path (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by using a flat sheet that secures the outlet container to the filter element assembly, allowing the flow path to be secured through the overall structural configuration rather than protruding ribs. This inversion eliminates blood stagnation while maintaining flow security.
2Device complexity
If the outlet-side flexible container is placed in close contact with the filter element, then device complexity is reduced, but blood flow is impeded and filtering performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path securing sheet acts as an intermediary element between the outlet-side flexible container and the filter element. This mediator maintains an appropriate gap that prevents close contact impeding blood flow, while still securing the structural assembly. The intermediary sheet resolves the contradiction by providing both structural simplicity and adequate flow path clearance.
3Quantity of substance
If the entire filter surface is utilized effectively, then blood preparation collecting rate improves, but blood stagnation on certain areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the ribs from the flow path securing sheet, the invention eliminates the specific areas where blood stagnation occurred. This extraction of the problematic rib structures allows blood to flow uniformly across the entire filter surface without pooling in rib crevices, thereby improving blood preparation collecting rate while preventing blood loss through stagnation.
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 filter design improves blood preparation collecting rates while maintaining a high filtering flow rate by preventing close contact between the filter element and outlet container, utilizing the entire filter surface effectively and reducing blood stagnation.
Implementation Method 1
a sheet-shaped filter element, an inlet-side flexible container and an outlet-side flexible container that sandwich the filter element
Data Source
AI summary
A blood processing filter comprises an inlet-side flexible container and an outlet-side flexible container that sandwich a filter element, an inlet port, and an outlet port, the filter further comprising: a flow path securing sheet; a first seal portion; and a second seal portion, wherein the flow path securing sheet includes a pair of ribs disposed opposite to each other with the outlet port interposed therebetween, and a slit formed inside of the pair of ribs, and diffusing openings that are disposed outside of the pair of ribs and continuously open from the ribs to the lateral portions of the first seal portion.