Flow-through Centrifuge for Continuous Buffy Coat Platelet Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for deriving platelet products from buffy coats are limited by separation inefficiencies, requiring multiple buffy coats to produce a single-dose product, and involve significant operator intervention, leading to increased costs and risks of human error.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a centrifuge with a flow-through separation chamber that continuously separates platelets from other cellular blood components, allowing for the processing of multiple buffy coats in a single procedure without volume limitations, improving separation efficiency and reducing operator intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional floor centrifuges are used to separate platelets from pooled buffy coats, then separation can be performed, but separation efficiency is insufficient requiring multiple buffy coats per product

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of buffy coats required

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the separation process into distinct functional zones within the separation chamber: a stacking zone for initial layer formation and a separation zone for platelet isolation. This segmentation allows continuous processing of multiple buffy coats simultaneously, improving separation efficiency and reducing the number of buffy coats needed per product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The centrifuge system operates continuously to separate platelets from multiple buffy coats in a single procedure, eliminating the batch processing limitations of conventional floor centrifuges. The continuous flow-through design maintains constant separation action, maximizing productivity and reducing the quantity of buffy coats required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Productivity

If multiple buffy coats are pooled together in conventional centrifuges, then platelet products can be generated, but the process requires significant operator intervention increasing costs and error risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of platelet products per procedureVSAvoidoperator intervention level

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs multiple functions including continuous centrifugal separation, automated stacking of buffy coat layers, and automated platelet product collection. The control system manages the entire process from multiple buffy coat inputs to separated platelet outputs without requiring manual operator intervention, reducing costs and error risks while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If conventional centrifuges process pooled buffy coats, then platelet separation is achieved, but volume limitations prevent processing of large numbers of buffy coats simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of buffy coats processedVSAvoidcontainer volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from processing buffy coats in a single container volume to processing multiple buffy coats simultaneously in a continuous flow through the separation chamber. This dimensional change from batch to continuous processing allows an essentially unlimited number of buffy coats to be processed in a single procedure, overcoming the volume limitations of conventional centrifuges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 enables the production of multiple single-dose platelet products from a larger supply of buffy coats with improved separation efficiency, requiring fewer buffy coats per product and minimizing operator involvement, thus reducing costs and errors.

Implementation Method 1

conveying a plurality of buffy coats into a centrifuge, where platelets are continuously separated from the other cellular blood components of the plurality of buffy coats

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentUS10772916B2Systems and methods for deriving and collecting platelet products

Publication Date: 2020.09.15 FENWAL INC

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for deriving a platelet product from a plurality of buffy coats. A plurality of buffy coats are separately collected, for example, using a conventional floor centrifuge. Plasma and/or a platelet additive solution may be added to the buffy coats. The buffy coats are pooled into a container and conveyed into a centrifuge or are sequentially conveyed into the centrifuge without being pooled, where they are continuously processed to separate platelets from the other cellular blood components. The separated platelets are conveyed out of the centrifuge as a platelet product, which may be passed through a leukocyte removal filter to reduce the white blood cell content of the platelet product. By continuously separating the buffy coats, fewer buffy coats are required to produce a single-dose platelet product, while also allowing for the derivation and collection of a plurality of single-dose platelet products.