Composite Separator for Blood Tubes Using Photopolymer Sealant

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blood separation technologies face challenges such as contamination, analyte drift, cell trapping, and inefficiencies in separating whole blood into serum and cell-containing fractions, particularly due to issues with separator gels that interfere with assays and are prone to remixing during transport or storage.

Innovation Solution

A sample collection tube with a composite separator substance comprising a thixotropic gel component and a photocurable sealant component, where the gel liquefies during centrifugation and the sealant polymerizes to form a solid barrier between fractions, preventing remixing and maintaining analyte stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separator gels are used to separate blood fractions, then separation is achieved, but contamination and remixing occur during transport or storage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefraction separation stabilityVSAvoidcontamination through diffusion and remixing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the separator from gel to solid photopolymer. This parameter change eliminates the remixing and contamination issues that occur with gel separators during transport and storage, as the solid photopolymer maintains a stable barrier between blood fractions without the flow and diffusion problems inherent to gel materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the phase transition property of photopolymer materials that remain flowable during shipping but solidify upon UV exposure. This phase transition allows the separator to function as a stable solid barrier during storage and transport, preventing remixing and contamination, while still allowing for complete aspiration of the sample.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Reliability

If photopolymer sealant is used to prevent remixing, then separation stability improves, but complete aspiration becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefraction separation stabilityVSAvoidsample aspiration completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial polymerization by exposing only the separator material to UV light while leaving the blood sample unaffected. This partial action approach creates a solid photopolymer barrier in the separator region without interfering with the liquid blood sample, thereby maintaining both separation stability and ease of complete aspiration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The photopolymer separator acts as an intermediary barrier that is selectively polymerized. This intermediary layer provides the necessary solid barrier function to prevent remixing while being positioned and configured to allow complete aspiration of the blood sample without interference, thus resolving the contradiction between separation stability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If thixotropic gel is used for separation, then centrifugation flow is enabled, but cell trapping and analyte drift occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentrifugation separation efficiencyVSAvoidanalyte stability and cell contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from thixotropic gel to solid photopolymer. This parameter change eliminates cell trapping and analyte drift issues while maintaining centrifugation separation efficiency, as the solid photopolymer provides a stable barrier that does not trap cells or allow analyte migration during the centrifugation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution effectively separates blood fractions without contamination, reduces manual labor, and maintains analyte stability for extended periods, improving the accuracy and efficiency of blood analysis by minimizing interference with laboratory assays and allowing for repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Implementation Method 1

the gel is thixotropic (shear thins in centrifuge under ordinary clinical lab protocols)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShear thinning: Shear Thinning

Implementation Method 2

the photocurable sealant component layer material can comprise a photopolymer sealant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 3

the sealant polymerizes to form a solid barrier between fractions, preventing remixing and maintaining analyte stability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS11318460B2Composite separators for blood collection tubes

Publication Date: 2022.05.03 UNIV OF MARYLAND

AI summary

Sample collection tubes and methods of producing the same are provided. Contemplated collection tubes comprise a tube having a separator substance disposed therein. In some aspects, the separator substance preferably maintains a predetermined flowability during irradiation or heat sterilization, and can subsequently polymerize upon exposure to a UV light or other suitable source. In other aspects, the separator substance preferably includes a soft gel component (thixotropic gel), and a photocurable sealant component that is formulated to polymerize and form a solid barrier between fractions of a liquid.