Dynamic Adjustment of Optical Detection Assembly Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood processing systems face challenges in dynamically adjusting detection assembly components to ensure proper alignment and performance, particularly when a disposable fluid flow circuit is mounted to a reusable hardware, which can affect the monitoring of blood components during centrifugation.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates an adjustable mechanism for the optical sensor assembly, allowing for dynamic adjustment of the light source and light detector's position and orientation relative to the centrifugal separation chamber, using components like prismatic reflectors and movable supports to ensure optimal alignment and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a disposable fluid flow circuit is mounted to reusable hardware, then fluid processing can be performed with sterile separation, but misalignment of the circuit may cause improper alignment of the detection assembly components
Solution Approach 1:
The detection assembly incorporates movable supports that allow dynamic adjustment of the light source and light detector positions. This dynamic capability enables the system to compensate for misalignment caused by disposable circuit mounting variations, maintaining proper optical alignment without requiring perfect manufacturing precision in the disposable component
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows adjustment of positional parameters of the detection assembly components (light source and light detector) to optimize alignment. By changing these positional parameters, the system adapts to different disposable circuit orientations while maintaining reliable detection functionality
2Device complexity
If the light source and light detector positions are fixed, then the device structure is simpler, but alignment accuracy deteriorates when the disposable circuit is not perfectly mounted
Solution Approach 1:
The detection assembly uses movable supports with adjustment mechanisms that allow repositioning of the light source and light detector. This dynamic adjustment capability improves interface monitoring accuracy by enabling optimal alignment even when the disposable circuit is not perfectly mounted, accepting the additional structural complexity as necessary for precision
3Ease of manufacture
If the detection assembly components are statically positioned, then the system is easier to manufacture, but performance deteriorates due to improper alignment with the centrifugal separation chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The detection assembly incorporates movable supports that enable adjustment of component positions to achieve proper alignment with the centrifugal separation chamber. This dynamic positioning capability improves separation efficiency by ensuring optimal detection alignment, accepting increased manufacturing complexity as a trade-off for enhanced performance
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 adjustment mechanism enhances the accuracy of interface monitoring between blood components, improving separation efficiency and quality by ensuring the light beam is properly directed to the light detector, even when the disposable circuit is not perfectly aligned, thereby maintaining optimal fluid processing performance.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor assembly to monitor the flow of blood and/or blood components through the flow circuit in the centrifuge
Implementation Method 2
As the whole blood is spun by the centrifuge, the heavier (greater specific gravity) components, such as red blood cells, move radially outwardly away from the center of rotation toward the outer or 'high-G' wall of the separation chamber. The lighter (lower specific gravity) components, such as plasma, migrate toward the inner or 'low-G' wall of the separation chamber.
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid processing device includes a detection assembly having a source (50) and a detector (52). The source (50) emits a signal to fluid or a fluid component in the fluid processing device, with at least a portion of the signal reaching the detector (52). The detection assembly further includes one or more adjustment systems (98, 102) configured to adjust the position and/or orientation of one or more components of the detection assembly. The position and/or orientation of the entire source and/or the entire detector, the position and/or orientation of a component of the source with respect to another component of the source, and/or the position and/or orientation of a component of the detector with respect to another component of the detector may be adjusted to increase the signal received by the detector.