Automated Blood Processing System for Additive Solution Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual combination and addition of two-part additive solutions with red blood cells in blood processing are cumbersome and time-consuming, introducing operator-to-operator variability, and are not suitable for solutions that undergo caramelization during autoclaving.
Innovation Solution
An automated system with a reusable hardware unit and disposable fluid processing circuit that includes container-holders, flow path opening devices, and a pre-programmed controller to automatically combine and add the additive solution to red blood cells, eliminating the need for manual handling and ensuring consistent mixing and addition sequences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual combination and addition of two-part additive solutions is performed, then operator flexibility is maintained, but operator-to-operator variability increases and the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-programmes the controller with the exact sequence of operations for combining and adding additive solutions to red blood cells. Flow path opening devices are pre-positioned in the disposable fluid processing circuit, ready to be activated automatically at the appropriate times, eliminating the need for manual decision-making during the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system performs the combination and addition operations autonomously without requiring operator intervention. The controller automatically actuates the flow path opening devices to combine the two parts of the additive solution and subsequently add them to the red blood cells, making the system self-sufficient.
2Device complexity
If manual handling of additive solutions is used, then equipment complexity is reduced, but operator variability and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time-consuming manual operations of combining and adding additive solutions from the overall blood processing workflow. By isolating these specific operations and automating them with a dedicated subsystem (controller with flow path opening devices), the system eliminates the time loss associated with manual handling while keeping the rest of the blood processing equipment relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the operator and the complex operations of combining and adding additive solutions. Instead of requiring direct manual manipulation, the operator simply initiates the process, and the controller mediates the automated execution of the multi-step procedure, reducing both time loss and operator variability.
3Productivity
If automated combination and addition is implemented, then operator variability is reduced and efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system is segmented into distinct functional components: a reusable hardware unit containing the controller and flow path opening devices, and a disposable fluid processing circuit containing the containers and flow paths. This segmentation allows the automation complexity to be isolated in the reusable unit while the disposable unit can be easily replaced and discarded after use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable fluid processing circuit that is used once and then discarded. This disposable component contains the containers for the additive solutions and the flow paths with flow blockers. By making this portion disposable, the system avoids the complexity and cost of sterilizing and reusing these components, while still providing automated functionality through the reusable hardware unit.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for processing biological fluids are disclosed. The systems and methods use a reusable hardware unit and a disposable fluid processing circuit that mounts onto the reusable hardware unit. The system and method, under the direction of a pre-programmed controller allow for automatically, opening one or more flow paths to effect addition of one or both parts of an additive solution to a biological fluid component.