Centrifugal Blood Separation Using Sequential Acceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating whole blood into its components, such as plasma and platelets, often result in suboptimal recovery of these components and may contain cellular contamination, which can lead to reduced efficacy and increased side effects in transfusions.
Innovation Solution
A centrifuge-based system with a 'top/top' design and automated valve and sensor control is used to separate whole blood into its components, allowing for sequential centripetal accelerations to maximize plasma and platelet recovery while minimizing cellular contamination, using expressors to transfer fluids between chambers based on density differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional centrifugation is used to separate whole blood into components, then separation of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets is achieved, but the recovery amount of platelets and plasma is suboptimal and cellular contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The centrifugation process is divided into multiple sequential stages with different acceleration levels. The first stage uses lower acceleration to separate major components, while the second stage uses higher acceleration to further separate platelets from plasma. This segmentation allows optimal recovery of each component at the appropriate separation stage, maximizing overall yield while minimizing contamination between components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary separation at a first centripetal acceleration to establish initial component layers before transferring portions to a second chamber for further separation at higher acceleration. This preliminary action prepares the fluid for more refined separation, enabling better recovery of platelets and plasma while maintaining purity by preventing premature mixing of cellular components.
2Productivity
If single-stage centrifugation is used, then the process is simple and quick, but the quality of separated components is reduced due to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The centrifugation process is divided into multiple sequential stages with different acceleration levels. The first stage uses lower acceleration to separate major components, while the second stage uses higher acceleration to further separate platelets from plasma. This segmentation allows optimal recovery of each component at the appropriate separation stage, maximizing overall yield while minimizing contamination between components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary separation at a first centripetal acceleration to establish initial component layers before transferring portions to a second chamber for further separation at higher acceleration. This preliminary action prepares the fluid for more refined separation, enabling better recovery of platelets and plasma while maintaining purity by preventing premature mixing of cellular components.
3Speed
If maximum centripetal acceleration is applied throughout the separation process, then separation speed is increased, but component integrity is compromised and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the centripetal acceleration level based on the separation stage. Lower acceleration is applied during initial separation to maintain component integrity, while higher acceleration is applied in subsequent stages to increase separation speed. This dynamic adjustment optimizes both the speed and quality of separation throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The centrifugation process uses periodic changes in acceleration levels, alternating between lower and higher centripetal forces at different stages. This periodic action allows the system to maintain component integrity during initial separation while achieving faster separation rates in later stages, balancing speed and component stability.
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 effectively increases plasma recovery and improves the quality of platelet products by reducing plasma contamination, potentially lowering transfusion reactions and enhancing the efficiency of blood component separation.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting a volume of composite liquid to a first centripetal acceleration in a centrifuge apparatus. The volume of liquid may then be separated into components
Implementation Method 2
an expressor in the centrifuge apparatus may then transfer a first portion of the plasma from the first chamber to a second chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments are described that include systems and methods for separating components of a composite fluid, e.g., whole blood. Some embodiments provide for processing a composite fluid by subjecting a volume of the fluid to a first centripetal acceleration for an initial separation, followed by a second centripetal acceleration for a second separation.