Blood Filtering Device with Piston-Driven Pressure Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current manual blood transfusion techniques in developing countries are labor-intensive, require multiple trained personnel, and suffer from sterility issues due to the lack of efficient blood filtering devices.

Innovation Solution

A blood filtering device comprising a hollow body with a piston and a filter module that generates negative and positive pressures to draw and expel blood, minimizing clotting and filtering out clots and foreign particulates, while allowing for controlled blood flow rates and incorporating a biocompatible filter module with anticoagulant coating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual blood transfusion technique is used with gauze pads for filtering, then blood can be filtered without advanced equipment, but the process becomes labor-intensive and requires multiple trained personnel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of filtering methodVSAvoidtransfusion efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the blood transfusion process into distinct functional modules: a reservoir for blood collection, a piston mechanism for controlled aspiration and delivery, and a filter system. This segmentation automates the manual process while maintaining the simplicity of the original method, allowing one person to perform tasks that previously required 3-4 personnel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a piston as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the blood transfusion process. The piston enables controlled aspiration and delivery of blood, replacing the need for multiple personnel to manually manage blood flow, while the filter acts as an intermediary to automatically remove clots and particulates during the process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If manual blood collection and filtering is performed, then equipment cost is reduced, but sterility issues arise due to lack of efficient filtering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow equipment costVSAvoidsterility maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a porous filter system that allows liquid blood to pass through while trapping clots and foreign particulates. The porous structure provides efficient filtration without requiring complex equipment, maintaining sterility through physical barrier separation while keeping the device simple and cost-effective for resource-limited settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Duration of action of stationary object

If blood is stored in a bag with anticoagulant solution, then blood can be preserved for later use, but clotting may occur during manual handling and storage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood storage durationVSAvoidblood clotting

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The piston mechanism enables continuous controlled movement of blood from the reservoir through the filter and into storage. This continuous action prevents stagnation and reduces the risk of clotting during transfer, while the integrated filter continuously removes clot-forming elements throughout the process, extending safe storage duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs preliminary filtration of blood clots and particulates before storage through the integrated filter system. By removing clotting elements in advance during the transfer process, the blood is prepared in a clot-free state for storage, preventing subsequent clotting issues during the storage period.

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 device effectively filters blood, reduces labor requirements, improves sterility, and facilitates efficient blood transfusions by minimizing clotting and foreign particulate presence, thus enhancing the safety and efficiency of the blood transfusion process.

Implementation Method 1

the piston and hollow body cooperatively generate a negative pressure within the hollow body relative to ambient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

the piston and hollow body cooperatively generate a positive pressure within the hollow body relative to ambient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPositive pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

filtering the blood though gauze pads to remove smaller blood clots

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS9254352B2Fluid filtering device and method

Publication Date: 2016.02.09 SISU GLOBAL HEALTH INC

AI summary

An apparatus including a hollow body, an inlet fluidly coupled to the hollow body, a piston slidably engaged within the hollow body, and a filter arranged within the hollow body between the inlet and piston. The piston and hollow body cooperatively generate a negative pressure, relative to ambient, within the hollow body during piston translation from a first position, proximal the inlet, to a second position, distal the inlet, to draw a fluid, such as blood, through the filter into the hollow body. The piston and hollow body cooperatively generate a positive pressure, relative to ambient, within the hollow body during piston translation from the second position to the first position to egress the filtered fluid from the hollow body.