Blood Component Separation Device Parallel Cycle Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current blood component separation devices require multiple cycles to collect a predetermined amount of high-concentration platelet liquid, prolonging the donation process and inconveniencing donors, who may need to choose between platelet or whole blood donation due to time constraints.

Innovation Solution

A blood component separation device that allows whole blood to be drawn in parallel with the circulation/acceleration step in the first cycle, with the low-concentration platelet liquid from previous cycles being reintroduced into the centrifugal separator with new whole blood, reducing the time needed for subsequent cycles and overall donation time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple cycles are performed to collect high-concentration platelet liquid, then collection efficiency is improved, but total donation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollection efficiencyVSAvoidtotal donation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by performing the circulation/acceleration step in advance during the first cycle before the actual blood drawing in the second cycle. This allows the system to prepare the platelet liquid concentration gradient beforehand, so that when blood drawing occurs in the second cycle, high-concentration platelet liquid can be collected more efficiently, thereby reducing the total number of cycles needed and overall donation time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements continuity of useful action by overlapping the circulation/acceleration step with the blood drawing step across cycles. Instead of completing all circulation/acceleration steps before blood drawing, the system maintains continuous operation by performing circulation/acceleration in the first cycle while drawing blood in the second cycle, eliminating idle time and keeping the system continuously productive

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple cycles are performed to collect high-concentration platelet liquid, then platelet concentration is improved, but donor convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatelet concentrationVSAvoiddonor convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By performing circulation/acceleration in advance during the first cycle, the system prepares the optimal conditions for high-concentration platelet collection before the donor's blood drawing time, ensuring high platelet concentration is achieved without extending the actual donor engagement time, thus maintaining donor convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If blood drawing is performed sequentially in each cycle, then process simplicity is maintained, but time efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidtime efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention achieves time efficiency by making the blood component separation device operate continuously across cycles. The circulation/acceleration step in the first cycle runs concurrently with blood drawing in the second cycle, eliminating idle time between operations. This continuous operation mode improves time efficiency while maintaining reasonable process simplicity through automated control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful 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

This approach shortens the time required for each blood drawing cycle by approximately one minute, reducing the total donation time and minimizing donor inconvenience, while maintaining high-concentration platelet collection efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a centrifugal separator for separating a predetermined blood component from blood

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentEP2835140B1Blood component separation device
Publication Date: 2017.11.08 TERUMO KK
  • EP2835140B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2835140B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2835140B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a blood component separation device that can shorten the overall time to collect high-concentration platelet liquid for blood component donation, thereby reducing time to keep a donor for blood drawing. The blood component separation device includes a temporary storage bag (20) (also used as a buffy coat bag) which is also used as a whole blood bag for storing whole blood drawn from the donor. A control means performs whole blood drawing from the donor in parallel with performing at least either of a circulation flow step and an acceleration step, thereby storing the collected whole blood in the temporary storage bag (20).