Blood Sequestration Device for Reducing Blood Culture Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blood culture contamination during sample collection leads to false positive results, increasing healthcare costs and patient anxiety, due to improper skin disinfection and vein collapse risks, which conventional methods struggle to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A blood sequestration device with an air permeable blood barrier is used to passively collect a first aliquot of blood, sequestering potential contaminants before drawing uncontaminated samples using the patient's own blood pressure, eliminating the need for additional user steps and reducing vein collapse risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional blood collection methods are used, then blood samples can be obtained, but contamination occurs leading to false positive results
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary sequestration of the initial blood aliquot that may contain contaminants from skin or collection equipment. By collecting and isolating this first portion of blood before it enters the culture bottle, the system prevents potential contaminants from affecting the culture results, thereby improving reliability without adding complex user steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The blood collection process is segmented into two distinct portions: a first aliquot that is sequestered and potentially discarded, and a second aliquot that is collected for culture. This segmentation allows the system to isolate and remove the contaminant-prone initial sample while preserving the cleaner subsequent sample for accurate testing.
2Reliability
If additional collection steps are added to reduce contamination, then sample purity improves, but device complexity and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sequestration function is merged into a single integrated device that combines the sequestration chamber, collection mechanism, and transfer system. This unified design allows the complex function of separating and isolating blood portions to be performed automatically through one device operation, maintaining sample purity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity or user burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs the sequestration and separation functions automatically using the patient's own blood pressure to drive blood flow through the system. The blood naturally flows into the sequestration chamber first, then into the collection container, without requiring manual intervention or additional user steps beyond standard collection procedures.
3Productivity
If vacuum pressure is applied to draw blood quickly, then collection speed increases, but vein collapse risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies vacuum pressure in a controlled, staged manner. The sequestration chamber is filled first at a lower pressure gradient, allowing the vein to remain open and blood flow to be gentle. Only after the sequestration chamber is filled does the system activate the main collection vacuum, and even then at a rate that prevents vein collapse while maintaining adequate collection speed.
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 system significantly reduces blood culture contamination by ensuring uncontaminated samples are collected, thereby minimizing false positives and associated healthcare costs while maintaining existing clinical processes.
Implementation Method 1
a sequestration chamber having a vent comprising an air permeable blood barrier
Implementation Method 2
draw uncontaminated samples using the patient's own blood pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Blood sample optimization systems and methods are described that reduce or eliminate contaminates in collected blood samples, which in turn reduces or eliminates false positive readings in blood cultures or other testing of collected blood samples. A blood sample optimization system can include a blood sequestration device located between a patient needle and a sample needle. The blood sequestration device can include a sequestration chamber for sequestering an initial, potentially contaminated aliquot of blood, and may further include a sampling channel that bypasses the sequestration chamber to convey likely uncontaminated blood between the patient needle and the sample needle after the initial aliquot of blood is sequestered in the sequestration chamber.