Blood Flow Filter with Dynamic Pressure Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood filter devices fail to efficiently separate plasma and cellular components due to neglect of static pressure changes, leading to suboptimal separation efficiency and potential clogging of pores.
Innovation Solution
A flow-through filter with a pressure adjustment device that regulates pressure in hollow fibers, utilizing a second bundle of fibers for dynamic pressure generation and a control valve to adjust flow resistance, along with a unique arrangement to prevent adhesion and clogging, allowing for adjustable separation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If blood flows through the hollow fibers without pressure adjustment, then the filter structure remains simple, but separation efficiency deteriorates due to static pressure changes and pore clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a pressure adjustment device that modifies the pressure parameter within the hollow fibers. This allows dynamic control of the pressure gradient across the membrane, optimizing plasma separation efficiency while preventing pore clogging. The pressure can be adjusted to compensate for changes in blood density and hematocrit along the flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure adjustment device acts as an intermediary between the blood inlet and outlet, mediating the pressure conditions within the hollow fibers. This intermediary component enables independent control of intraluminal pressure, decoupling it from the external pressure conditions and allowing optimization of separation efficiency without requiring complex structural modifications to the fiber bundle itself.
2Reliability
If plasma separation is increased by adjusting pressure, then separation efficiency improves, but flow velocity decreases due to increased back pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the pressure adjustment device controllable and adjustable during operation. The pressure within the hollow fibers can be dynamically modified to optimize the balance between plasma separation efficiency and blood flow velocity. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to varying blood characteristics and separation requirements in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the pressure parameter within the hollow fibers, the patent optimizes the trade-off between separation efficiency and flow velocity. The pressure gradient across the membrane is adjusted to maximize plasma permeation while maintaining adequate blood flow through the fibers, preventing both excessive back pressure and insufficient separation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the same pore size is used throughout the fiber bundle, then manufacturing is simplified, but separation performance deteriorates due to varying blood density along the flow path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using hollow fibers with different pore sizes at different locations along the flow path. Fibers at the inlet end have smaller pores to handle higher blood density, while fibers at the outlet end have larger pores to accommodate lower blood density. This spatial variation in pore size optimizes separation performance at each location while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized fiber production processes.
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
Improves plasma separation efficiency by adjusting dynamic pressure and prevents pore clogging, enabling effective separation of blood components with adjustable yield and reduced adhesion of hollow fibers.
Implementation Method 1
the pores of the membrane for the cellular components of the blood are too small, so they are guided through the fibers
Implementation Method 2
the pressure conditions in the bundle can be regulated by applying pressure to the outflow end of the bundle by counteracting a corresponding flow resistance
Implementation Method 3
The amount of serum permeating through the hollow fiber membrane at a given pressure per unit time can of course be strongly influenced by the pore size
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A flow filter for separating blood into plasma and cellular constituents comprises a filter housing, which has a blood delivery line, a plasma removal line and a cell removal line, a fine-pore membrane, which comprises a bundle of parallel hollow fibres arranged in the filter housing, has an inflow end connected to the blood delivery line and which divides the filter housing into a first flow chamber that is connected to the cell removal line and a second flow chamber that is connected to the plasma removal line. The filter also comprises a pressure-adjusting device for adjusting the pressure in the hollow fibres, said device being connected to an outflow end of the bundle.