Gravity-Fed Blood Purifier with Electrostatic RBC Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for improving the quality and extending the shelf life of red blood cells (RBCs) through washing are time-consuming and can damage cells due to repeated centrifugation, failing to effectively distinguish between young and old RBCs, and do not adequately address the accumulation of harmful byproducts like free hemoglobin and iron during prolonged storage.
Innovation Solution
A gravity-fed blood purifier device utilizing a porous component with an electrode to generate a negative potential, repelling waste particles while retaining healthy RBCs, allowing for rapid purification without the need for centrifugation, and distinguishing between young and old RBCs based on size and charge differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional washing methods are used to remove harmful byproducts from RBCs, then the quality of RBCs is improved, but the process takes 30-120 minutes and can damage RBCs through repeated centrifugation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical centrifugation system with an electrostatic field-based separation system. The electrostatic precipitator uses high-voltage electrodes to create an electric field that charges and collects harmful particles (free hemoglobin, microparticles, potassium) from the RBC suspension, eliminating the need for repeated centrifugation cycles while maintaining purification effectiveness and reducing processing time to under 5 minutes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the RBC suspension by adjusting pH to 6.0-7.4 and using chelating agents to bind metal ions. These parameter changes enhance the electrostatic separation process by optimizing particle charging characteristics and preventing aggregation, enabling rapid purification without mechanical damage to RBCs.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If repeated centrifugation is used to wash RBCs, then harmful byproducts are removed, but RBCs are damaged through mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical centrifugation system with an electrostatic field-based separation system. The electrostatic precipitator uses high-voltage electrodes to create an electric field that charges and collects harmful particles (free hemoglobin, microparticles, potassium) from the RBC suspension, eliminating the need for repeated centrifugation cycles while maintaining purification effectiveness and reducing processing time to under 5 minutes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces chelating agents (EDTA, citrate) as intermediary substances that bind to metal ions and harmful particles, facilitating their removal through electrostatic attraction to charged surfaces. These intermediaries enhance the separation process without requiring mechanical stress on the RBCs, preserving cell integrity while effectively removing harmful byproducts.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional washing is used to remove free hemoglobin and iron, then complications are reduced, but the process is time-consuming and saturates protective systems in newborns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical centrifugation system with an electrostatic field-based separation system. The electrostatic precipitator uses high-voltage electrodes to create an electric field that charges and collects harmful particles (free hemoglobin, microparticles, potassium) from the RBC suspension, eliminating the need for repeated centrifugation cycles while maintaining purification effectiveness and reducing processing time to under 5 minutes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs oxidizing agents (hydrogen peroxide, ozone) to accelerate the breakdown and removal of free hemoglobin and iron through oxidative reactions. This chemical acceleration works synergistically with the electrostatic separation process, rapidly neutralizing harmful substances that would otherwise require prolonged mechanical washing, thereby reducing preparation time while effectively eliminating compounds that saturate newborn protective systems.
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 reduces harmful components such as free hemoglobin and microparticles, extending the life and quality of RBCs, achieving comparable or better results than conventional washing in significantly less time, with purified RBCs showing increased resilience and longer circulation.
Implementation Method 1
An electrode is connected to the porous component and configured to generate a negative potential across the porous component causing it to repel RBCs
Implementation Method 2
a porous component having pores sized to allow waste particles to pass but to prevent healthy red blood cells from passing through the porous component
Implementation Method 3
A gravity-fed blood purifier device utilizing a porous component
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide a gravity-fed blood purifier device for removing waste particles from blood. In one embodiment, the blood purifier device includes a pair of end plates and a first cylindrical tube located between the end plates. The blood purifier device also includes a porous tube contained within the space defined by the first cylindrical tube. An inlet provides unpurified red blood cells into blood purifier device. An electrode generates a negative potential across the porous tube to repel red blood cells so that the waste particles pass through the porous tube and the red blood cells do not. An outlet can be coupled to one of the end plates to receive the purified red blood cells.